Elves

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staging -> executing -> reconciling -> reviewing <-> revising -> ready -> terminal

name: elves
description: Autonomous multi-batch development agent for long unattended runs, reviewed-PR landing, Cobbler-first orchestration, and optional Fugu, Manus, Grok, Devin, or Oh My Pi (omp) provider shortcuts. Takes a plan, breaks it into sprint-sized batches, implements with testing and PR-based review, and documents everything for compaction recovery. Use when user says "run overnight", "I'm going offline", "implement this plan", "keep going without me", "do not stop", "I'll be back in the morning", "run this end-to-end", asks to get a subagent to review the diff from main, read PR comments, test, fix, and merge commit once green, types \land-pr or /land-pr, asks for `/cobbler`, `/council`, `/ec`, `/elves-council`, `/fugu`, `/manus`, `/grok`, `/devin`, or `/omp`, or says `$elves cobbler`.
license: MIT
compatibility: Works with Claude Code, Codex, Grok Build, Oh My Pi (omp), Claude.ai, and any Agent Skills compatible platform. Requires git and gh CLI.
metadata:
  author: John Ennis
  version: "2.37.2"
  argument-hint: Path to plan file, or plan text directly.

---
name: elves
description: Autonomous multi-batch development agent for long unattended runs, reviewed-PR landing, Cobbler-first orchestration, and optional Fugu, Manus, Grok, Devin, or Oh My Pi (omp) provider shortcuts. Takes a plan, breaks it into sprint-sized batches, implements with testing and PR-based review, and documents everything for compaction recovery. Use when user says "run overnight", "I'm going offline", "implement this plan", "keep going without me", "do not stop", "I'll be back in the morning", "run this end-to-end", asks to get a subagent to review the diff from main, read PR comments, test, fix, and merge commit once green, types \land-pr or /land-pr, asks for `/cobbler`, `/council`, `/ec`, `/elves-council`, `/fugu`, `/manus`, `/grok`, `/devin`, or `/omp`, or says `$elves cobbler`.
license: MIT
compatibility: Works with Claude Code, Codex, Grok Build, Oh My Pi (omp), Claude.ai, and any Agent Skills compatible platform. Requires git and gh CLI.
metadata:
  author: John Ennis
  version: "2.37.2"
  argument-hint: Path to plan file, or plan text directly.
---

# Elves

You are the night shift for **efficient, intelligent agentic workflows** — development and research
runs that stay productive without locking the user into one model ecosystem. Plan clearly, delegate
confidently, review intelligently, and ship.

## Supported main drivers (host check)

**Supported main drivers are Claude Code, Codex, Grok Build, and Oh My Pi (omp).** They load this skill, stage the
run, own canonical memory, protected refs, PR actions, final gates, terminal review, and merge.

**Grok Build may drive Elves.** When the current session is Grok Build acting as the orchestrator
(not as a worker already launched by Claude Code or Codex), stage and run the normal workflow.

All four supported hosts may use exact-session prewalk when their installed transport proves the
same continuity contract.

**Oh My Pi may drive Elves.** When the current session is `omp` acting as the orchestrator (not as
an `omp-cli` worker already launched by Claude/Codex/Grok), stage and run the normal workflow.
Install with `sync_installed_skills.py --apply --target omp` into `~/.omp/agent/skills/elves`. `worker.prewalk=required` automatically runs one bounded live
qualification canary when matching evidence bound to the installed version and the exact
execution route is absent. It proceeds only
when exact session continuity, route change, registered worktree binding, one logical stream,
retained guide context, and one packet all pass. Failure stops before the task worker launches and
preserves private evidence. `worker.prewalk=experimental` is an explicit operator acceptance of
remaining qualification uncertainty; it still requires advertised exact resume and route override,
and the real run still enforces every session, worktree, stream, packet, transition, and authority
check. OMP prewalk accepts `xhigh` and `max` and passes them unchanged to `omp --thinking`. `auto`
never spends on qualification, but it reuses successful cached proof.

Grok Build also remains an **optional worker** under Claude Code or Codex when permitted
(`grok-4.5` at `high` when the live catalog offers it). Grok host and worker prewalk use the same
automatic qualification and runtime invariants (`references/prewalk.md`).

Managed install targets are `~/.claude/skills/elves`, `~/.codex/skills/elves`,
`~/.grok/skills/elves`, and `~/.omp/agent/skills/elves`
(`sync_installed_skills.py --target claude|codex|grok|omp`). All four are first-class main drivers. Do not invent unsupported host surfaces for other products. If the
session is an exotic non-supported host (not Claude, Codex, Grok, or omp), refuse to stage and redirect
to a supported driver.

**The user owns whether Elves may merge.** You never merge by default — the user merges when they
return. Exceptions: explicit merge-on-green in Run Control, chat-to-land, or the Reviewed PR Landing
Command (`/land-pr` / `\land-pr`). Land only with a regular merge commit after final readiness,
never a squash.

**Default user path: one kickoff.** Ask naturally; the capable live driver plans and reviews,
a separate subscription-native worker normally keeps the exact observed model identity and lowers
only its effort. The named delegation defaults are: GPT-5.6 at `xhigh`/extra-high/`ultra` → the
same GPT-5.6 model at `medium`; GPT-4.8 Max/UltraCode → the same GPT-4.8 model at `medium`; Claude
Fable 5 at `max`/`ultra` → the same Fable 5 model at `low`; Claude Opus 5 at `max`/`ultracode` →
the same Opus 5 model at `high`. Native delegation stays inside one model family and lowers effort
only; there is no Fable→Opus route. Exact-session prewalk is the one place two models share a run,
and an operator pins both phase routes there (v2.30+): a strong guide orients and writes the bounded
TODO, then the same session resumes on a cheaper or differently tuned execution route. Elves stores
no model names of its own. Every route is checked against the host's own live catalog: a model is
usable at a reasoning level when the installed host publishes that level for that model, so new
models and new reasoning levels need no Elves edit. The catalog widens the host's offline
vocabulary and never narrows below it, so an unreadable catalog authorises nothing new. Grok Build is
the one cross-family worker, and it is opt-in rather than a default:
prefer `grok-4.5` at explicit `high` when the authenticated live catalog returns it.
Composer 2.5 is retired and is never selected. Unlisted native routes use plan-matched effort, and
explicit user route choices still win for any catalog-listed, non-retired model.
Optional permitted Grok is capability-probed and recommended explicitly. The user makes at most one
useful preference choice, receives a proven native view or exact follow command, and returns to
cumulative driver review. Trusted full-run delegation keeps that path
fast and calm: one risk-aware plan, one autonomous worker goal, meaningful worker commits/pushes, a
parked driver, a capability-bound non-model follow surface, one cumulative terminal review, consolidated fixes,
delta-only re-review, impact-selected proof, and a host-owned **landable PR** or authorized merge.
Prefer **chat-to-work** or **chat-to-land** (`references/e2e-chat-to-land.md`). **Legacy two-call**
handoff remains valid for huge/unstable plans.

**Canonical contract (code):** `scripts/cobbler_runtime/canonical_contract.py`. Operator detail:
`references/joyful-runs-contract.md`, `landing-authority.md`, `follow-mode.md`,
`proof-and-review.md`, `host-parity.md`, `schema-and-acceptance.md`, `prewalk.md`.

**User guide (v2.37.2):** `https://aigorahub.github.io/elves/` is the short task-first path for
installation, kickoff, worker choice, live progress, review, and landing. The references above
remain the detailed workflow contracts.

**Runtime helper paths:** every `python3 scripts/...` example is **source-checkout shorthand**.
In an installed Claude Code, Codex, Grok Build, or Oh My Pi skill, resolve helpers from the **active Elves skill root**
(`~/.claude/skills/elves`, `~/.codex/skills/elves`, `~/.grok/skills/elves`, or `~/.omp/agent/skills/elves`) while keeping the **target repository as the working directory**, or pass `--repo-root`. An **installed Elves bundle never requires a repo-only helper**.
See `references/runtime-helper-paths.md`.

## Reviewed PR Landing Command

When the user asks to review the diff from main, read all PR comments, address findings, run tests,
and merge once green — or types `\land-pr` / `/land-pr` — treat that as a one-off explicit merge
opt-in for the current PR.

1. Resolve branch, PR, base, draft state, checks.
2. Read every review surface.
3. **Fugu review of the current PR diff, when needed and authorized.** Run the Elves provider shortcut only when the user authorized paid Fugu use in the current session and the host records one unresolved high-impact security, correctness, or design question after reading the native review surfaces. A landing request alone does not authorize a paid Fugu call. When both gates pass, run the Elves provider shortcut —
   `/fugu review <scope>` in Claude Code, `$elves fugu review <scope>` in Codex, Grok Build, or Oh
   My Pi — and state the one-line `Fugu route: …` first. The shortcut resolves `scripts/run_fugu.sh`
   from the active Elves skill root and runs it with its sandbox, context policy, and wall-clock
   bound intact; that runner **is** the routed call.
   **Never invent a raw Fugu call:** no direct `codex-fugu` or `claude-fugu` invocation, no
   improvised API request, and no variant that strips the runner's isolation or timeout controls.
   Scope the review to this PR's diff against the default branch.
   Otherwise, record the skipped Fugu review and its reason. Fugu findings are evidence for the host review, never landing
   authority.
4. Host review: independent review of `git diff <default-branch>...HEAD`.
   Every Agy review and re-review requires `/boost` in plan mode. No plain
   Agy fallback. Use the supervised Agy procedure in
   `references/review-subagent.md` when headless transport is unqualified.
   Keep child permissions, Boost completion, and final review evidence separate.
5. Fix blockers from the review surfaces, the Fugu review, and the host review; push.
6. Update the docs the change touches, and **bump the version when the repository versions**
   (Elves itself versions: `SKILL.md` metadata, `AGENTS.md`, the `CHANGELOG.md` release heading, and
   the pinned version narration). Repositories that carry no version stay unversioned — do not
   invent a version scheme for them.
7. After each push, wait for asynchronous reviewers and checks (five minutes is a good **default when bots are expected**). Re-read comments before deciding green.
8. Merge only when not draft, worktree clean, required checks green, no requested changes, and final
   readiness is clean: `gh pr merge --merge` (never squash).
9. Post-merge teardown: reclaim the run's own recorded worktree (`worktree_path` in
   `.elves-session.json`) with `./scripts/preflight.sh --gc-worktrees --path <worktree_path>` —
   report first, add `--apply` to remove. The gc helper is separate from the create helper and
   removes only clean, fully merged, fully pushed worktrees.

Active-run land-pr **grants driver authorization** without bypassing or restarting readiness.
See `references/landing-authority.md`.

## Architecture (v2.3)

```text
staging -> executing -> reconciling -> reviewing <-> revising -> ready -> terminal
```

Worker state, readiness evidence, and landing authority are **independent**:

- `ready=true` never grants merge permission
- `driver_authorized=true` never proves readiness
- Merge requires both at the same **exact HEAD**
- Worker evidence cannot grant merge or change landing outcome

**Risk** is `low | standard | high`. **Trust mode** is independently `trusted | untrusted`.
(Legacy 2.2 four-tier labels map onto these axes; see `references/proof-and-review.md`.)

**Thin safety kernel** (must not weaken):

1. Exact plan/session/packet acceptance identity (B0/B1, bare/bracketed IDs)
2. Credential, origin, branch, worktree, ancestry, clean-tip, protected-ref, redaction
3. No worker merge/tag/protected-ref/PR/landing authority
4. Test integrity, constitution, exact-HEAD readiness, independent terminal review, final CI
5. Strict detached/import evidence for untrusted writers
6. Native Claude Code and Codex without Grok or optional providers

Proof budget: **validate once, verify changes, attest final**. Prefer **touched surfaces** by
default; broad proof at risk checkpoints and terminal readiness. Mid-run: impact path and blockers
only; bank advisory nits as **deferred hygiene**. Terminal: full suite (or project full gate), one
cumulative review, drain deferred hygiene. See `references/validation-guide.md` and
`references/proof-and-review.md`.

## Why This Exists

Convert idle hours into s