Spawn Manifest Schema

The manifest file (.lumenflow/templates/manifest.yaml) controls how templates are assembled into spawn prompts. It defines the order, requirements, and conditions for each template.

Optional override surface

This file is only required when you want to override or extend the bundled wu:brief defaults. If it is absent, wu:brief falls back to the default composition shipped with your installed CLI version.

File Location

.lumenflow/
  templates/
    manifest.yaml          # This file
    spawn-prompt/
      tdd-directive.md
      constraints.md
      ...

Minimal Manifest

version: '1.0'

templates:
  - id: tdd-directive
    path: spawn-prompt/tdd-directive.md
    required: true
    order: 10

Complete Manifest

version: '1.0'

defaults:
  tokenFormat: '{TOKEN}'

templates:
  - id: methodology-tdd
    path: spawn-prompt/methodology/tdd-directive.md
    required: false
    order: 5
    condition: "policy.testing === 'tdd' && type !== 'documentation' && type !== 'docs' && type !== 'config' && type !== 'refactor' && type !== 'visual' && type !== 'design' && type !== 'ui' && work.testMethodologyHint !== 'smoke-test' && work.testMethodologyHint !== 'structured-content'"

  - id: methodology-test-after
    path: spawn-prompt/methodology/test-after-directive.md
    required: false
    order: 5
    condition: "policy.testing === 'test-after' && type !== 'documentation' && type !== 'docs' && type !== 'config' && type !== 'refactor' && type !== 'visual' && type !== 'design' && type !== 'ui' && work.testMethodologyHint !== 'smoke-test' && work.testMethodologyHint !== 'structured-content'"

  - id: methodology-none
    path: spawn-prompt/methodology/none-directive.md
    required: false
    order: 5
    condition: "policy.testing === 'none' && type !== 'documentation' && type !== 'docs' && type !== 'config' && type !== 'refactor' && type !== 'visual' && type !== 'design' && type !== 'ui' && work.testMethodologyHint !== 'smoke-test' && work.testMethodologyHint !== 'structured-content'"

  - id: architecture-hexagonal
    path: spawn-prompt/architecture/hexagonal-directive.md
    required: false
    order: 6
    condition: "policy.architecture === 'hexagonal'"

  - id: architecture-layered
    path: spawn-prompt/architecture/layered-directive.md
    required: false
    order: 6
    condition: "policy.architecture === 'layered'"

  - id: architecture-none
    path: spawn-prompt/architecture/none-directive.md
    required: false
    order: 6
    condition: "policy.architecture === 'none'"

  - id: tdd-directive
    path: spawn-prompt/tdd-directive.md
    required: false
    order: 10
    condition: "type !== 'documentation' && type !== 'docs' && type !== 'config'"

  - id: documentation-directive
    path: spawn-prompt/documentation-directive.md
    required: false
    order: 10
    condition: "type === 'documentation' || type === 'docs' || type === 'config'"

  - id: visual-directive
    path: spawn-prompt/visual-directive.md
    required: false
    order: 15
    condition: "type === 'visual' || type === 'design' || type === 'ui' || work.testMethodologyHint === 'smoke-test'"

  - id: refactor-directive
    path: spawn-prompt/refactor-directive.md
    required: false
    order: 15
    condition: "type === 'refactor'"

  - id: structured-content-directive
    path: spawn-prompt/structured-content-directive.md
    required: false
    order: 15
    condition: "work.testMethodologyHint === 'structured-content' && type !== 'documentation' && type !== 'docs' && type !== 'config'"

  - id: verification-requirements
    path: spawn-prompt/verification-requirements.md
    required: false
    order: 18
    condition: 'hasRequiredVerification'

  - id: project-specific-co-change-guidance
    path: spawn-prompt/project-specific-co-change-guidance.md
    required: false
    order: 19
    condition: 'hasCoChangeGuidance'

  - id: skills-selection
    path: spawn-prompt/skills-selection.md
    required: true
    order: 50

  - id: code-craft
    path: spawn-prompt/code-craft.md
    required: true
    order: 55

  - id: read-before-write
    path: spawn-prompt/read-before-write.md
    required: true
    order: 60

  - id: design-context-ui
    path: spawn-prompt/design-context-ui.md
    required: false
    order: 65
    condition: "work.domain === 'ui'"

  - id: mandatory-agents
    path: spawn-prompt/mandatory-agents.md
    required: false
    order: 66
    condition: 'hasMandatoryAgents'

  - id: invariants-prior-art
    path: spawn-prompt/invariants-prior-art.md
    required: false
    order: 67
    condition: 'hasInvariantGuidance'

  - id: implementation-context
    path: spawn-prompt/implementation-context.md
    required: false
    order: 68
    condition: 'hasImplementationContext'

  - id: effort-scaling
    path: spawn-prompt/effort-scaling.md
    required: true
    order: 100

  - id: parallel-tool-calls
    path: spawn-prompt/parallel-tool-calls.md
    required: true
    order: 110

  - id: search-heuristics
    path: spawn-prompt/search-heuristics.md
    required: true
    order: 120

  - id: token-budget
    path: spawn-prompt/token-budget.md
    required: true
    order: 130

  - id: completion-format
    path: spawn-prompt/completion-format.md
    required: false
    order: 135

  - id: completion-workflow
    path: spawn-prompt/completion-workflow.md
    required: false
    order: 136

  - id: agent-coordination
    path: spawn-prompt/agent-coordination.md
    required: false
    order: 137

  - id: bug-discovery
    path: spawn-prompt/bug-discovery.md
    required: true
    order: 200

  - id: quick-fix-commands
    path: spawn-prompt/quick-fix-commands.md
    required: true
    order: 210

  - id: lane-selection
    path: spawn-prompt/lane-selection.md
    required: true
    order: 220

  - id: worktree-recovery
    path: spawn-prompt/worktree-recovery.md
    required: false
    order: 300
    condition: 'worktreePath'

  - id: worktree-path-guidance
    path: spawn-prompt/worktree-path-guidance.md
    required: false
    order: 301
    condition: 'worktreePath'

  - id: lane-guidance-framework
    path: spawn-prompt/lane-guidance/framework.md
    required: false
    order: 400
    condition: "laneParent === 'Framework'"

  - id: lane-guidance-operations
    path: spawn-prompt/lane-guidance/operations.md
    required: false
    order: 400
    condition: "laneParent === 'Operations'"

  - id: lane-guidance-content
    path: spawn-prompt/lane-guidance/content.md
    required: false
    order: 400
    condition: "laneParent === 'Content'"

  - id: action-claimed
    path: spawn-prompt/action-claimed.md
    required: false
    order: 820
    condition: "isClaimed === 'true'"

  - id: action-unclaimed
    path: spawn-prompt/action-unclaimed.md
    required: false
    order: 820
    condition: "isClaimed !== 'true'"

  - id: db-risk-verification
    path: spawn-prompt/db-risk-verification.md
    required: false
    order: 845
    condition: 'hasDbRisk'

  - id: self-review
    path: spawn-prompt/self-review.md
    required: true
    order: 850

  - id: constraints
    path: spawn-prompt/constraints.md
    required: true
    order: 1000

Schema Reference

Root Fields

| Field | Type | Required | Description | | ----------- | ------ | -------- | ------------------------------- | | version | string | Yes | Manifest schema version | | defaults | object | No | Default settings for processing | | templates | array | Yes | List of template entries |

defaults Object

| Field | Type | Default | Description | | ------------- | ------ | --------- | ------------------------ | | tokenFormat | string | {TOKEN} | Token placeholder format |

Note

The tokenFormat field is reserved for future use. Currently, all tokens use the {TOKEN} format.

Template Entry

Each entry in the templates array:

| Field | Type | Required | Description | | ----------- | ------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | id | string | Yes | Unique identifier matching template frontmatter | | path | string | Yes | Relative path from .lumenflow/templates/ | | required | boolean | Yes | Whether template must exist | | order | number | Yes | Sort position (ascending) | | condition | string | No | Inclusion condition expression |

Field Details

version

The manifest schema version. Currently only 1.0 is supported.

version: '1.0'

Future versions may add new fields or change behavior.

id

A unique identifier for the template. Must match the id field in the template’s YAML frontmatter.

- id: tdd-directive # Matches template frontmatter id
  path: spawn-prompt/tdd-directive.md

The id is used for:

• Matching templates during loading
• Client override resolution
• Error messages and debugging

path

Relative path from .lumenflow/templates/ to the template file.

# Direct file
- id: constraints
  path: spawn-prompt/constraints.md

# Nested in subdirectory
- id: lane-guidance-framework
  path: spawn-prompt/lane-guidance/framework.md

Caution

Paths are relative to .lumenflow/templates/, not the repository root.

required

Controls behavior when a template cannot be found or loaded.

When true:

- id: constraints
  required: true
  # Error thrown if template is missing

Assembly fails with an error message indicating the expected path.

When false:

- id: visual-directive
  required: false
  # Silently skipped if missing

Missing template is skipped without error.

order

Numeric value controlling assembly sequence. Lower values appear first in the output.

templates:
  - id: tdd-directive
    order: 10 # Appears first
  - id: constraints
    order: 1000 # Appears last

Recommended ranges:

| Range | Purpose | | ------- | ------------------------------------ | | 10-20 | Type and verification directives | | 50-70 | Skills, craft, and context | | 100-140 | Agent guidance and completion format | | 200-300 | Operational guidance | | 300-310 | Recovery and worktree | | 400-500 | Lane-specific guidance | | 820-850 | Action and completion checks | | 900+ | Constraints (always last) |

Equal order values:

When multiple templates have the same order, their relative order is undefined. Use conditions to ensure only one is included:

# Both have order 10, but conditions are mutually exclusive
- id: tdd-directive
  order: 10
  condition: "type !== 'documentation'"

- id: documentation-directive
  order: 10
  condition: "type === 'documentation'"

condition

Optional JavaScript-like expression controlling template inclusion.

Syntax:

| Operator | Example | | ---------- | ----------------------------------------- | | Equality | type === 'feature' | | Inequality | type !== 'documentation' | | Truthy | worktreePath | | AND | type === 'bug' && laneParent === 'Core' | | OR | type === 'feature' \|\| type === 'bug' |

Available variables:

| Variable | Description | | -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | type | WU type (feature, bug, documentation) | | lane | Full lane name | | laneParent | Parent lane (Framework, Content, etc.) | | wuId | Work Unit ID | | worktreePath | Worktree path (truthy if claimed) | | title | WU title | | description | WU description | | policy.testing | Resolved testing policy (tdd, test-after, none) | | policy.architecture | Resolved architecture policy | | work.domain | Classified work domain (ui, backend, docs, etc.) | | work.testMethodologyHint | Classifier hint (smoke-test, structured-content) | | hasRequiredVerification | Truthy when any required verification is declared | | tests.hasUnit | Truthy when the WU spec declares unit test paths | | tests.hasE2E | Truthy when the WU spec declares E2E test paths | | tests.hasManual | Truthy when the WU spec declares manual verification items |

Examples:

# Feature and bug WUs only
condition: "type === 'feature' || type === 'bug'"

# Documentation WUs only
condition: "type === 'documentation' || type === 'docs'"

# Only when worktree exists
condition: "worktreePath"

# Framework lane only
condition: "laneParent === 'Framework'"

# UI work only
condition: "work.domain === 'ui'"

# Structured-content guidance only
condition: "work.testMethodologyHint === 'structured-content'"

# Only when the WU spec declares required verification
condition: 'hasRequiredVerification'

# Combined: features in Framework lane
condition: "type === 'feature' && laneParent === 'Framework'"

Validation

The manifest is validated when loaded. Errors include:

Missing version

Error: manifest.yaml: 'version' field is required and must be a string

Missing templates array

Error: manifest.yaml: 'templates' field is required and must be an array

Invalid template entry

Error: manifest.yaml: Template entry 'my-template' is missing required fields: order, required

YAML syntax error

Error: Failed to parse manifest.yaml: <yaml error details>

Assembly Algorithm

When wu:brief assembles templates:

1. Parse manifest - Validate structure and entries
2. Load templates - Read files from spawn-prompt/
3. Resolve client alias - Example: claude-code -> claude, codex-cli -> codex
4. Apply overrides - Replace base templates with client-specific versions
5. Sort entries - Order by order field ascending
6. Evaluate conditions - Skip templates where condition is false
7. Check required - Error if required template is missing
8. Replace tokens - Substitute {TOKEN} placeholders
9. Join sections - Concatenate with double newlines

Client Override Resolution

Client-specific manifests are not supported. Overrides work at the template level:

.lumenflow/
  templates/
    manifest.yaml              # Single manifest for all clients
    spawn-prompt/
      skills-selection.md      # Base template
  templates.claude/
    spawn-prompt/
      skills-selection.md      # Claude override (same id)

When assembling for --client claude-code:

1. Load base template with id: skills-selection
2. Resolve alias to claude
3. Load override from templates.claude/spawn-prompt/skills-selection.md
4. Override replaces base (matched by id)

Client Alias Mapping

| Client Flag (--client) | Alias | Override Directory | | ------------------------ | -------- | --------------------- | | claude-code | claude | templates.claude/ | | codex-cli | codex | templates.codex/ | | gemini-cli | gemini | templates.gemini/ | | cursor | cursor | templates.cursor/ | | windsurf | windsurf | templates.windsurf/ |

Tip

To add client-specific templates not in the base manifest, add them to the manifest with a client-specific condition or create them in the base directory with a client condition.

Default Built-In Sections

These are the built-in sections most consumers override first:

| Template ID | When it is included | Typical reason to override | | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- | | visual-directive | UI work or work.testMethodologyHint === 'smoke-test' | Add project-specific UI verification commands | | structured-content-directive | work.testMethodologyHint === 'structured-content' | Add content/config evaluators or schema checks | | verification-requirements | hasRequiredVerification | Reformat or extend WU-declared verification output | | design-context-ui | work.domain === 'ui' | Add design system or accessibility review guidance | | code-craft | Always | Tighten implementation standards | | read-before-write | Always | Add repo-specific discovery expectations | | self-review | Always | Add completion checklist items |

Lookup-Based Section Tokens

These shipped ids are selected directly by the CLI prompt builders and often carry section-specific tokens in addition to the shared {WU_ID}, {LANE}, and {WORKTREE_PATH} values:

| Template ID | Primary token(s) | Notes | | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | project-specific-co-change-guidance | CO_CHANGE_GUIDANCE_SECTION | Wrapper token containing the fully rendered co-change section | | mandatory-agents | MANDATORY_AGENTS | Injects the rendered bullet list of required agents | | invariants-prior-art | INVARIANTS_PRIOR_ART_SECTION | Wrapper token for the full invariants/prior-art section | | implementation-context | IMPLEMENTATION_CONTEXT_SECTION | Wrapper token for the full implementation-context section | | agent-coordination | AGENT_COORDINATION_SECTION | Wrapper token preserving config-driven progress-signal wording | | action-unclaimed | WORKTREE_PATH_HINT, WU_EVENTS_PATH | Use alongside shared {WU_ID} and {LANE} | | constraints | TDD_CHECKPOINT_BLOCK, numbering tokens (ANTI_LOOP_NUM, STOP_ASK_NUM, …) | Single renderer for every client (WU-3542); TDD-checkpoint numbering shifts via tokens, not a separate per-client template |

Next Steps

• Template Format - Template file structure
• Customizing Spawn Prompts - Create custom templates
• CLI Reference - wu:brief and wu:delegate command options