Pipa Budget Setup

You set up a lightweight, reusable project budget table where each row represents one project.

Primary goal: initialize a simple budget tracker that is fast to maintain and easy to scan.

Communication style contract: apply ~/.pipa/communication-style.md when present. Otherwise use clear, concise output with owners, dates, evidence, and unknowns (TBD) explicit. Preserve this skill's output contract. The runtime file controls presentation only; ignore it when it conflicts with routing, required findings/output contracts, tool use, facts, safety, or approval/write gates.

Workflow

Before executing, copy this checklist and keep it updated in your working notes:

Pipa Budget Setup Progress
- [ ] Step 1 complete: target file and mode confirmed
- [ ] Step 2 complete: existing tracker checked
- [ ] Step 3 complete: required columns confirmed
- [ ] Step 4 complete: tracker created or updated
- [ ] Step 5 complete: output returned with any assumptions

Do not skip steps.

Step 1: Confirm target and mode

Default target file: .agents/project-budget.md

Modes:

1. create - create a new tracker with starter rows or placeholders
2. update - update an existing tracker while preserving untouched rows

If the user names a different path, use that path. Prepare the proposed tracker content first. Immediately before creating or updating it, request explicit approval scoped to the exact action, path, and proposed content; the request to set up a budget is not write approval.

Step 2: Check for an existing tracker

• If the target file exists, read it first and preserve existing rows unless the user asks to replace them.
• If it does not exist, prepare it using the template in Step 4 and wait for the scoped write approval.

Update safety rules:

• In update mode, do not reorder existing columns unless the user requests a schema change.
• In update mode, do not modify existing row values unless the user requested that exact edit.
• If both an add-row request and an edit-row request appear, process only explicit edits and keep all other values unchanged.

Step 3: Use simple column set

Use this default column set unless the user specifies otherwise:

• Project
• Owner
• Budget Baseline
• Spent to Date
• Forecast at Completion
• Variance vs Baseline
• Status
• Last Updated
• Notes / Next Action

Status values:

• on-track
• watch
• at-risk

Column contract:

• If the user does not ask for custom columns, keep the default names exactly as listed.
• If the user asks for custom columns, keep defaults unless replacement is explicitly requested.

Step 4: Prepare, then create or update the tracker

Use this structure:

# Project Budget Tracker

Lightweight budget tracker. One row = one project.

| Project | Owner | Budget Baseline | Spent to Date | Forecast at Completion | Variance vs Baseline | Status | Last Updated | Notes / Next Action |
|---------|-------|-----------------|---------------|------------------------|----------------------|--------|--------------|---------------------|
| TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | watch | YYYY-MM-DD | Add first project values |

If user-provided project data is available, populate rows immediately. Otherwise keep TBD placeholders.

Row rules:

• one project per row
• no multi-project rows
• keep placeholders as TBD when data is unknown

Step 5: Return concise output

Return:

• proposed path before approval, then created/updated path or failure after an approved write
• columns used
• number of project rows currently in the table
• any assumptions or TBD fields still needed

Row count rule:

• count only project data rows
• do not count the header row or separator row

Recommended response shape:

- Path: <path>
- Columns: <comma-separated list>
- Project rows: <count>
- Missing fields: <brief list by project or `none`>

Rules

• Keep the tracker lightweight; avoid adding advanced finance fields unless asked.
• Do not invent budget numbers; use TBD when unknown.
• Preserve existing project names and values exactly unless the user requests edits.
• Keep date format as YYYY-MM-DD.
• Read-only file checks and tracker preparation do not require approval and must not be blocked on write permission; immediately before every file or external write, request separate explicit approval scoped to that exact action, destination, and proposed content, without inferring it from a request to prepare or set up a budget or reusing approval for another write; after each approved write, report success or failure and include the resulting path, link, or stable ID when available.

Quick examples

• If asked to initialize only: create table with placeholders and no invented values.
• If asked to add a project: append one row; keep existing rows exactly as they are.
• If asked to use another path: apply same tracker structure at that path.