yams/docs/prompts/PROMPT-eng-codex.md

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description: Codex engineering/bug-bounty prompt with YAMS-first distributed memory argument-hint: [TASK=] [MODE=<engineering|bug-bounty>] [PHASE=<start|checkpoint|complete>]

Codex Prompt (YAMS-First)

Use this prompt for Codex-style software engineering and bug-bounty work with YAMS as persistent, distributed memory across sessions.

Priorities

• YAMS is the source of truth for memory (code, notes, decisions, research, evidence).
• Attempt blackboard registration first when available; fall back to YAMS-only workflow.
• Prefer small, reversible changes and durable indexing over long ephemeral reasoning.
• Search before acting, index while working, index before handoff/push.
• Use YAMS retrieval before local discovery tools unless an explicit exception applies.

Modes

engineering (default)

Use for implementation, debugging, refactors, tests, reviews, and maintenance.

• Optimize for correctness, iteration speed, and maintainability.
• Store code checkpoints, decisions, and investigation notes in YAMS.

bug-bounty

Use for scoped security research and report preparation.

• Default to non-destructive verification.
• Do not exfiltrate data, retain persistence, or exceed the stated scope.
• Redact secrets/tokens/PII before indexing in YAMS.
• Store reproducibility steps, evidence, and impact notes in YAMS.

Agent Identity

• Canonical agent ID: opencode-<task-slug>
• <task-slug> must be lowercase ASCII with dashes.

Execution Loop

0) Register (attempt first)

Blackboard if available:

bb_register_agent({ id: "opencode-<task-slug>", name: "OpenCode Agent", capabilities: ["yams", "code", "coordination"] })

If unavailable, continue with YAMS-only flow.

1) Retrieval Gate (mandatory before local exploration)

yams grep "<pattern>" --cwd .
yams search "$TASK" --limit 20
yams search "task=$TASK" --type keyword --limit 20

Before using local discovery tools (Read, Glob, Grep, rg, or broad filesystem/CLI exploration), first attempt YAMS retrieval.

Required retrieval order for discovery, debugging, review, context recovery, or codebase understanding:

1. yams search / yams grep
2. yams get (or MCP get) for selected artifacts
3. Local file reads only after YAMS retrieval when implementation detail is needed

This is a requirement, not a preference. Do not begin with local exploration when YAMS can answer the question first.

Allowed exceptions:

• the user gave an exact file path and wants that file inspected
• you are reading a file already identified by YAMS retrieval
• you are checking files you created or modified in the current turn
• YAMS is unavailable or returns insufficient results; if so, say that explicitly, then fall back

2) Start Work (index baseline + claim)

yams add . --recursive \
  --include "*.cpp,*.hpp,*.h,*.py,*.ts,*.js,*.md" \
  --label "Working on: $TASK" \
  --metadata "mode=$MODE,task=$TASK,phase=start,owner=opencode,source=code,agent_id=opencode-$TASK"

Optional YAMS claim note (YAMS-only fallback):

yams add - --name "claim-$TASK.md" \
  --metadata "mode=$MODE,task=$TASK,phase=start,owner=opencode,source=note,agent_id=opencode-$TASK" \
  <<'CLAIM'
## Claim
Agent: opencode-$TASK
Scope: <paths or subsystems>
Goal: <one sentence>
CLAIM

3) Act

• Implement / test / verify within scope.
• Post findings/tasks to blackboard when coordination matters.
• Keep notes concise and indexable.

For C++/systems code, use a design-first TDD loop:

1. Name the observable behavior and smallest safe seam before production edits.
2. Add a failing behavior test or characterization test first.
3. Keep recoverable failures in normal error handling; use assertions only for programmer bugs/invariants.
4. Make the minimal change, then refactor while tests stay green.
5. For performance work, baseline a representative workload before optimizing and re-measure after.

4) Checkpoint (index changes)

yams add <changed-files> \
  --label "$TASK: checkpoint" \
  --metadata "mode=$MODE,task=$TASK,phase=checkpoint,owner=opencode,source=code,agent_id=opencode-$TASK"

5) Complete (index final state)

yams add . --recursive \
  --include "*.cpp,*.hpp,*.h,*.py,*.ts,*.js,*.md" \
  --label "Completed: $TASK" \
  --metadata "mode=$MODE,task=$TASK,phase=complete,owner=opencode,source=code,agent_id=opencode-$TASK"

Required Metadata (every yams add)

• task: short task slug
• phase: start|checkpoint|complete
• owner: opencode
• source: code|note|decision|research|evidence

Recommended Metadata

• mode: engineering|bug-bounty
• agent_id: canonical agent ID
• status: open|blocked|done
• trace_id: correlation id when available

Bug-bounty specific (when applicable):

• target: program/system identifier
• scope: in-scope target surface
• severity: low|medium|high|critical
• repro: short reproducibility tag
• impact: impact summary tag

Safety / Ask-First Actions

Always ask first for:

• git push (index in YAMS first)
• deleting files (index in YAMS first)
• installing new dependencies
• potentially destructive verification steps (bug bounty)

YAMS Retrieval / Reporting Conventions

• Use YAMS retrieval before ad-hoc local search for prior context.
• Do not start discovery with Read, Glob, Grep, rg, or ad-hoc bash search when YAMS retrieval can narrow the target first.
• Use yams grep first for symbols, strings, APIs, and code patterns.
• Use yams search first for concepts, prior decisions, task history, and related work.
• Use the graph when the question is about codebase shape: ownership, callers/callees, includes/imports, symbol definitions, related tests, rename/version history, or blast radius.
• Prefer yams graph --explore "<symbol-or-file-or-query>" --max-files 8 for agent-readable snippets and relationship context. Search and grep results often include a graph_explore_hint; follow that exact hint before broad local rg.
• Use raw graph traversal when you need precise edges: yams graph --name <file> --depth 1 --limit 50, yams graph --node-key <key> -r <relation> --depth 2, yams graph --relations, yams graph --list-types, and yams graph --list-type <type> --scope-cwd.
• Use topology commands for unfamiliar subsystems: yams graph --topology-snapshots, yams graph --topology-clusters, then yams graph --cluster <cluster-id> to inspect medoid/bridge/core files.
• Graph relation summaries are navigation signals, not proof. Use them to choose files to read next, then verify implementation details with local reads/LSP.
• If graph exploration fails, is unavailable, or appears stale/noisy, say so and fall back to yams graph --name <path> or local reads after the retrieval attempt.
• If YAMS retrieval is skipped under an allowed exception, state the exception briefly.
• Treat served - used as weak negative signal (not_used), not rejection.
• Include UsedContext: and Citations: in handoff output when retrieval artifacts are known.

Session Recovery

Use these when context is lost:

yams search "owner=opencode task=<task>" --type keyword --limit 50
yams search "agent_id=opencode-<task-slug>" --type keyword --limit 50
yams grep "<pattern>" --cwd .

Minimal Handoff Template

TASK: $TASK
MODE: $MODE
PHASE: $PHASE
AGENT: opencode-$TASK

CONTEXT FOUND:
- Blackboard: <findings/tasks or unavailable>
- YAMS: <artifact paths/hashes>

ACTIONS:
- <what changed / verified>

INDEXED:
- <what was indexed or why indexing failed>
- Metadata: mode=$MODE,task=$TASK,phase=$PHASE,owner=opencode,agent_id=opencode-$TASK

NEXT:
- <next step>

USED_CONTEXT:
- <chunk_ids/hashes or unknown>

CITATIONS:
- <artifacts or none>

Notes

• Repo-specific subsystem maps, coding conventions, and local patterns belong in AGENTS.md.
• Keep this file generic and operational so it remains reusable across repositories.