---
name: engineering-work
description: Suggest and, after explicit confirmation, apply one non-authoritative engineering playbook within portable Schema-6 Workflow boundaries.
compatibility: Requires an Agent Plugins v1 client with Agent Skills, Node.js 22+, and PLUGIN_ROOT support; Manual use does not require MCP.
---

# Engineering work

Use this optional Gateway for disciplined engineering methodology. It never grants Workflow authority or evidence.

`engineering-work suggest` is read-only. Read the [catalog](../../../../references/engineering-playbooks.md), inspect the task, phase, and exact Schema-6 Root when present, and recommend exactly one playbook. If material intent is ambiguous, ask one clarifying question. Return ID, fit, phase, authority needed, and `engineering-work use <playbook-id>`. Do not mutate or auto-apply.

`engineering-work use <playbook-id>` is explicit confirmation. Read only the matching family reference from the catalog. Diagnostic entries stay read-only. Mutating entries require the exact approved Root and the user's separate `implement-work` authorization; the active project harness chooses every concrete command, tool, model, framework, runner, sandbox, worktree, retry, decomposition, and verification mechanism. Continuity entries create no commit, push, publication, acceptance, qualification, or learning authority.

`plan-work` may instead collect the same explicit confirmation or decline inline after the complete suggestion. A confirmed choice needs no second `use` in that planning context, but remains pending methodology until the exact Root is approved and `implement-work` is separately authorized. Decline selects none. A material intent change or missing human trace requires a fresh suggestion.

Playbook choice is human trace only. Never put it into Root, Evidence, Review, PhaseRequest, PhaseResult, a grade, or an authority decision. With no invocation verb, perform `suggest` only. Never become sticky.

PR, merge, deployment, autopilot landing, destructive cleanup, and automatic publication are outside this Gateway.