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[codex] Require complete main-agent skill reads#27044

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fchen-oai merged 1 commit into
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codex/require-complete-skill-reads
Jun 8, 2026
Merged

[codex] Require complete main-agent skill reads#27044
fchen-oai merged 1 commit into
mainfrom
codex/require-complete-skill-reads

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Summary

  • require the main agent to read selected SKILL.md files completely, continuing truncated or paginated reads through EOF
  • require the main agent to personally read task-required instruction references instead of delegating their interpretation
  • clarify that progressive disclosure selects relevant files without permitting partial reads
  • preserve subagent use for task work when the selected skill allows it
  • cover both absolute-path and aliased-root prompt variants

Why

Partial reads can skip routing and verification requirements later in skill instructions. Delegated summaries can also omit constraints the main agent needs to follow. The existing "Read only enough" wording made both behaviors appear acceptable.

Impact

Agents should follow complete selected skill instructions while continuing to avoid unrelated references, scripts, and assets. Subagents remain available for task execution where permitted.

Test plan

  • just test -p codex-core-skills (101 passed)
  • just fmt
  • git diff --check

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github-actions Bot commented Jun 8, 2026

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All contributors have signed the CLA ✍️ ✅
Posted by the CLA Assistant Lite bot.

@fchen-oai fchen-oai force-pushed the codex/require-complete-skill-reads branch from 0274429 to fad5259 Compare June 8, 2026 19:20
@fchen-oai

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I have read the CLA Document and I hereby sign the CLA

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Pull request overview

This PR strengthens the “How to use skills” prompt text in core-skills to require the main agent to fully read selected SKILL.md files (and any task-required referenced instruction files) through EOF, and to prohibit delegating interpretation of skill instructions to subagents—while still allowing subagents to perform task work when permitted by the skill.

Changes:

  • Update skill-usage instructions (both absolute-path and alias-root variants) to require complete SKILL.md reads and explicit continuation on truncation/pagination until EOF.
  • Require the main agent to personally read task-required referenced instruction/reference files and prohibit delegating skill-instruction interpretation to subagents.
  • Add a unit test asserting these instruction invariants and guarding against reintroducing the older “read only enough” wording.

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@fchen-oai fchen-oai marked this pull request as ready for review June 8, 2026 19:42

@chatgpt-codex-connector chatgpt-codex-connector Bot left a comment

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💡 Codex Review

Here are some automated review suggestions for this pull request.

Reviewed commit: fad5259746

ℹ️ About Codex in GitHub

Your team has set up Codex to review pull requests in this repo. Reviews are triggered when you

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  • Mark a draft as ready
  • Comment "@codex review".

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- Missing/blocked: If a named skill isn't in the list or the path can't be read, say so briefly and continue with the best fallback.
- How to use a skill (progressive disclosure):
1) After deciding to use a skill, open its `SKILL.md`. Read only enough to follow the workflow.
1) After deciding to use a skill, the main agent must open and read its `SKILL.md` completely before taking task actions. If a read is truncated or paginated, continue until EOF.

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P2 Badge Bound complete skill-file reads

Long or paginated user/plugin SKILL.md files are now read until EOF, letting arbitrary skill content enter model context without a hard cap. That conflicts with Model visible context; keep a bounded read/truncation path.

Useful? React with 👍 / 👎.

@fchen-oai fchen-oai merged commit 5655490 into main Jun 8, 2026
32 of 33 checks passed
@fchen-oai fchen-oai deleted the codex/require-complete-skill-reads branch June 8, 2026 21:34
@github-actions github-actions Bot locked and limited conversation to collaborators Jun 8, 2026
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3 participants