gsd-trace

Name: gsd-trace
Author: Tibsfox/gsd-skill-creator

$npx mdskill add Tibsfox/gsd-skill-creator/gsd-trace

Traces decisions and requirements through GSD artifacts to reconstruct history.

Answers why decisions were made or what happened to requirements.
Depends on PROJECT.md, STATE.md, ROADMAP.md, and git history.
Identifies query type, searches sources by authority, and builds timeline.
Returns direct answers citing specific sources and dates.

SKILL.md

.github/skills/gsd-traceView on GitHub ↗

---
name: gsd-trace
description: Traces decisions and requirements through GSD artifacts. Use when user asks "why did we...", "what happened to...", or mentions decision history.
type: skill
category: gsd
status: stable
origin: tibsfox
modified: false
first_seen: 2026-02-07
first_path: examples/gsd-trace/SKILL.md
superseded_by: null
---
# GSD Decision Archaeology

Excavate GSD artifact timeline to reconstruct decision chains, requirement evolution, and phase rationale.

## Sources (authority order)

1. PROJECT.md Key Decisions
2. STATE.md Session Continuity
3. ROADMAP.md phase goals/criteria
4. Phase CONTEXT.md / RESEARCH.md
5. Plan SUMMARY.md outcomes
6. Git commit messages
7. Archived milestone docs

## Trace Process

1. **Identify query type** — decision rationale, requirement status, phase outcome, impact analysis
2. **Search sources** — start with highest authority, cross-reference downward
3. **Build timeline** — chronological events from artifacts
4. **Trace causality** — link decisions to requirements to implementation
5. **Answer directly** — cite specific sources and dates

## Query Types

| Type | Primary Sources |
|------|----------------|
| Why decision X? | PROJECT.md Key Decisions, RESEARCH.md |
| What happened to req Y? | REQUIREMENTS.md, STATE.md, milestones/ |
| Phase N outcome? | ROADMAP.md, SUMMARY files, git commits |
| What depends on X? | PLAN files, git history, code search |
| What was tried/abandoned? | RESEARCH.md, STATE.md |

## Limitations

Can only trace what GSD documented. Undocumented decisions, verbal discussions, and vague commit messages are untraceable.

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