detect-drift

Detect source drift in extracted artifacts and curated schematics via date comparison.

Updated Apr 19, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/nickgogan/improvement-loop --skill detect-drift-nickgogan
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: detect-drift
Source: https://github.com/nickgogan/improvement-loop/tree/main/.claude/skills/detect-drift
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/nickgogan/improvement-loop --skill detect-drift-nickgogan

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? When research findings are updated after artifacts (rules, skills, templates, agents) were extracted from them, or after schematics were curated against them, the artifacts silently go stale. This Skill scans those artifacts, compares each source finding's last_updated date against the artifact's extraction or curation date, and produces a dated drift report so a human can decide what needs re-extraction or re-evaluation. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Dual-root scanning: Walks extracts/{rules,skills,templates,agents}/ using scalar source_finding pointers and knowledge/schematics/ using array grounded_in pointers, flagging drift when a finding's last_updated strictly post-dates the artifact's baseline date. - Closed-enum recommendations: Each drift hit gets one of three extract recommendations (re-run /extract-artifacts, dismiss as cosmetic, reclassify) or one of two schematic recommendations, keeping the report machine-checkable. - Read-only reporting: Writes only a per-run report to operations/drift-reports/ and never modifies artifacts or invokes other pipeline skills. - Use Case: After a large research-finding intake, run the scan to learn which existing rules, skills, templates, agents, and schematics are now backed by newer source material before planning a re-extraction pass. ## Quick Start Run the detect-drift skill to scan all extracts and schematics for source drift and write a dated report to operations/drift-reports/.

Frequently Asked Questions about detect-drift

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I detect stale artifacts after research findings are updated?▼

Run the drift scan, which reads each artifact's source_finding pointer and compares the finding's last_updated date against the artifact's extraction_date. Any finding updated after extraction is flagged in a dated drift report with a recommendation.

How does drift detection work for curated schematics?▼

Schematics carry an array grounded_in instead of a scalar source_finding and have no extraction_date. The scanner flags a schematic when any grounding finding's last_updated strictly post-dates the schematic's updated curation date, listing every moved grounding.

Does the drift scanner modify or re-extract artifacts automatically?▼

No. The scanner is read-only by contract: it never edits frontmatter, bodies, or pipeline_status, and never invokes /extract-artifacts or /identify-artifacts. It only writes a report; a human gates all re-extraction decisions.

Can I limit the drift scan to specific artifact forms?▼

Yes. Pass --include or --exclude with comma-separated values from rules, skills, templates, agents, and schematics. The two flags cannot be combined, and invalid values are rejected with an error naming the valid set.

What happens when an artifact is missing source_finding or a finding file is gone?▼

Artifacts missing source_finding or extraction_date are logged as enumeration gaps and skipped. Unresolvable or malformed findings are logged as unresolvable sources with a reason. Both surface in dedicated report sections for human review.

Why are guides and patterns excluded from drift scanning?▼

Guides follow a preservation and companion-changelog lifecycle, and pattern findings route to guides through re-synthesis. Their drift surfaces through those separate mechanisms, so the scanner only covers non-guide extracts and schematics.