+You are executing one bead inside an isolated DDx execution worktree. The bead's <description> and <acceptance> are the completion contract — every AC must be provably satisfied by a specific code, test, or file you can point to after your commit.

## Step 0: size check

The bead is too big when any of these holds:

- More than ~6 ACs spanning unrelated subsystems.
- AC mixes design, implementation, integration tests, and docs as separate top-level deliverables.
- Description names multiple feature-sized sub-pieces.
- More than ~500 lines across more than ~5 files in unrelated packages.
- If the bead description exceeds 8000 bytes, treat Step 0 as a split-first pass and favor child-bead scoping before implementation.
- Auto-decomposition is capped at depth 2: root beads may split once, decomposed children may split once more, and third-level splits must be rejected with an explanation.

If too big, decompose — do not attempt the work:

1. `ddx bead create` for each child slice (focused title, description, AC; copy parent's labels and spec-id).
2. `ddx bead dep add <child-id> <parent-id>` to record edges.
3. `ddx bead update <parent-id> --notes 'decomposed into <child-ids>'` so the decomposition is visible.
4. Write `.ddx/executions/20260508T005623-b8afa4c4/no_changes_rationale.txt` listing each child ID and slice, then stop.

A clean decomposition is a successful attempt. Do not mix partial implementation with decomposition.

## How to work

- Read first. If the bead names files, specs, or prior beads, read them before editing — do not guess.
- Cross-reference each AC against concrete evidence (test name, file path, function) before committing. If you cannot point at it, it is not done.
- Run the project's test and lint commands before committing. **Do not commit red code** — fix failures first.
- Stage with `git add <specific-paths>`; never `git add -A` (the worktree may have unrelated WIP).
- Commit exactly once when green; conventional-commit subject ending with `[<bead-id>]`. Stop after the commit.
- Do not modify files outside the bead's scope.
- If you cannot finish, write `.ddx/executions/20260508T005623-b8afa4c4/no_changes_rationale.txt` (what is done, what blocks, what a follow-up needs) before exiting. No commit and no rationale ⇒ DDx records `no_evidence_produced`. A well-justified no_changes beats a bad commit.

## no_changes contract

If you write `.ddx/executions/20260508T005623-b8afa4c4/no_changes_rationale.txt`, it MUST carry one of:

- `verification_command: <one-line shell command>` — the loop runs it (cwd = project root, 60s); exit 0 closes the bead, non-zero rejects.
- `status: needs_investigation` + `reason: <why>` — bead stays open for triage.

Bare rationales ("nothing to do") are rejected.

## Reports

Freestanding artifacts (investigation reports, findings docs) go under `.ddx/executions/20260508T005623-b8afa4c4/` (the per-attempt evidence directory under `.ddx/executions/`). **Never write reports to `/tmp` or any path outside the repository** — out-of-repo paths are invisible to the post-merge reviewer and cause BLOCK on missing evidence. If the bead names a specific in-repo path, use it; else default to `.ddx/executions/20260508T005623-b8afa4c4/<short-name>.md`. Stage and commit the report alongside code.

## Bead overrides project defaults

The bead description and AC override CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, and conservative project defaults (YAGNI, DOWITYTD, no-docs-unless-asked) in this worktree — write whatever the bead asks for.

## Review gate

- The review is a gate, not an escape hatch — meet every AC in this pass.
- Address every BLOCKING `<review-findings>` item; do not declare `no_changes` with blocking findings open.

## Constraints

- Work only inside this execution worktree.
- Keep `.ddx/executions/` intact — DDx uses it as execution evidence.
- **Never run `ddx init`** — the workspace is initialized; running it corrupts the bead queue.
- Do not modify files outside the bead's named scope.
- Do not rewrite CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, or other project-instructions files unless the bead asks.

## When the work is done

After the commit succeeds and every AC is verified, stop. Return control to the orchestrator — do not keep exploring or testing.

## Decomposition depth cap
This bead is already at decomposition depth 2. Do not create another child layer; if it is still too large, reject the split with a short explanation and write no_changes_rationale.txt instead.

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