Comparison Prototype

Accept a prompt, idea, screenshot, spec, ticket, code, or design reference as input. Keep standalone artifacts under .tigerkit/prototypes/<slug>/. Before writing, prove that Git effectively ignores .tigerkit/ and no path under it is tracked. The effective rule may come from per-directory, local-exclude, or user-level-exclude configuration. Do not edit .gitignore or use an external scratch fallback. A repository-native route/harness is allowed only when the selected runtime requires it; record and clean up only run-owned files.

Before execution, use the host's structured question surface when the user must choose a path, data boundary, verification question, or variant: Claude Code AskUserQuestion, Codex requestuserinput, or Hermes clarify. If unavailable, ask in plain chat.

Workflow

1. hypothesis/success criteria: Derive measurable criteria from the idea, reference,

and verification question.

1. temporary path/boundary: Inspect repository preflight and select the existing

toolchain/UI stack/component/token, temporary path, artifact ownership, and fake | real integration boundary.

1. variants/harness: Create 2–3 variants or a harness using realistic example I/O.
2. run: Execute the selected variant/harness and capture actual output or screenshots

and command results.

Record each run under ## Tested with the following receipt fields. Do not summarize the command; record the exact executed values.

Command: <exact command and arguments>
CWD: <absolute worktree or route path>
Exit code: <integer>
Output: <bounded summary or absolute output path>
Artifact: <absolute path | none>; ownership: run-owned | pre-existing
Screenshot: <absolute path | N/A>; actual inspection: yes | no | N/A

1. compare: Map evidence to criteria and summarize verified differences, unverified

items, and the next decision. If the parent contract records image PR evidence: required, the comparison is Pass, and the inspected screenshot directly proves it, retain the run-owned absolute Screenshot: <path> and actual image inspection under ## Tested, and expose the same producer-neutral manifest consumed by publication: evidencerequired: true, evidencekind: visual-change, verificationstatus: Pass, the criterion, comparison, limitations, and an inspected artifact with role, absolute path, exact origin-free displayroute, state/region, and viewport. Use the metadata returned by tk-browser-verify; do not derive it from a filename, raw URL, or producer identity. This proves the prototype comparison, not official product runtime acceptance. For Fail | Blocked | Unverifiable, preserve owned failure artifacts and return the real status, but do not emit a verification_status: Pass publication manifest. If required image publication cannot be satisfied, report that publication requirement as blocked or unverifiable.

1. terminal summary: Render the applicable sections under the output contract below;

do not add a separate provenance/status block.

For unresolved UI comparisons, create 2–3 switchable, genuinely different rendered alternatives. Do not change only colors; vary information architecture, flow, hierarchy, navigation, or feedback. For logic, prefer a small pure harness using example input/output and a minimal adapter.

For a web prototype, inspect the repository's run command, installed UI stack, components, and design tokens. Reuse a safe isolated route/harness without adding dependencies or changing manifest/lockfiles. If none exists, use a small .tigerkit/prototypes/<slug>/index.html, styles.css, and app.js.

Compare 2–3 decision-relevant concepts while keeping content, data, and interaction state identical. Default to 2–3 side-by-side columns on wide screens and stacked on narrow screens. Use an explicit A/B or A/B/C toggle only when simultaneous rendering would harm the concept or minimum legibility. Stop at A/B when a third option adds no independent value. Do not create a prototype when repository evidence already resolves the decision.

Verify web output through tk-browser-verify, including actual interaction, the run URL/command, and success-criteria screenshots. If a development server is required, handoff the exact command/cwd/target URL/auth mode/readiness condition; tk-browser-verify owns server start, wait, and shutdown. Check both wide and narrow only when the hypothesis concerns responsiveness/layout. Clean up only run-owned tracked harness files; preserve any existing route, dependency, and production source.

Failure Paths

Record pre-existing temporary paths and run-created files before writing.

🔴 CHECKPOINT · 🛑 STOP · Execution Boundary

Before execution, confirm the temporary path, fake/real data, and verification question. If environment or production-scope expansion occurs, stop at Blocked | Unverifiable.

Before reporting, reconcile the command, actual output/screenshot, fake/real boundary, and unverified scope. If any are missing or execution failed, the result cannot be Pass. Use Fail | Blocked | Unverifiable.

Contract

Record decision-relevant status only once in its owning section. Start with ## Confirmed, followed by ## Production implication, ## Tested, ## Variants or harness, and ## Still fake, omitting empty sections. Confirmed owns evidence-backed conclusions; Production implication owns discard/iterate/next decision; Tested owns command results; Variants or harness owns alternatives/paths/run URLs and final kept | removed state; and Still fake owns fake/real and unverified scope. Place command mechanics after the decision.

Use exactly one terminal status: Pass | Fail | Blocked | Unverifiable.

When comparing multiple criteria or variants, render ## Confirmed as a concise Criterion | A | B [| C] | Conclusion | Evidence table. Use a sentence when there is only one user-relevant row. Record whether content/data/state remained identical. Use not observed for differences that were not observed and unverifiable when evidence is absent. Do not elevate unaudited aesthetic preferences into conclusions. Summarize the result and selection rationale in 2–5 bullets or option rows. If there are 8 or more observations, show the top 5–7 and cite the prototype or evidence path that owns the rest. This is a budget, not a quota.

Prohibited Patterns

• Do not call a prototype production-ready, auto-promote/commit it, or invoke

another user skill.

• Do not report fake integration as real or claim success without run evidence.
• Do not add color-only variants, dependencies, manifest/lockfile edits, unnecessary

production abstractions, or a third option with no value.