Add agent change process (C0/C1/C2) and docs-mikado tool (#225)

## Summary
- Introduce C0/C1/C2 change classification based on the Mikado method, where documentation cards serve as persistent context for agents across sessions
- Add `docs-mikado` mise task to visualize active Mikado dependency chains from `status: active` and `requires` frontmatter fields
- Rename `zk-docs` task to `ai-docs`

## Changes
- **New:** `docs/how-to/agent-change-process.md` — methodology card
- **New:** `mise-tasks/docs-mikado` — Python uv script for dependency graph visualization
- **Renamed:** `mise-tasks/zk-docs` → `mise-tasks/ai-docs`
- **Updated:** `CLAUDE.md` — added Change Classification section, updated references
- **Updated:** `ai-assistance-guide.md`, `exploring-the-docs.md`, `how-to.md` — updated references and index

## Verification
- [x] `mise run ai-docs` works
- [x] `mise run docs-mikado` runs (no active chains yet, as expected)
- [x] `docs-check-links` — all valid
- [x] `docs-check-index` — all indexed
- [x] `docs-check-frontmatter` — all valid
- [x] All pre-commit hooks pass

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Reviewed-on: https://forge.ops.eblu.me/eblume/blumeops/pulls/225

CLAUDE.md

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ blumeops is Erich Blume's GitOps repository for personal infrastructure, orchest
 
 ## Rules
 
-1. **Always run `mise run zk-docs -- --style=header --color=never --decorations=always` at session start**
+1. **Always run `mise run ai-docs -- --style=header --color=never --decorations=always` at session start**
     This will refresh your context with important information you will be assumed to know and follow.
 2. **Always use `--context=minikube-indri` with kubectl** (or `--context=k3s-ringtail` for ringtail services) - work contexts must never be touched
 3. **Feature branches only** - checkout main, pull, create branch, commit often
@@ -25,6 +25,18 @@ blumeops is Erich Blume's GitOps repository for personal infrastructure, orchest
 9. **Never merge PRs or push to main without explicit request**
 10. **Verify deployments** - `mise run services-check`
 
+## Change Classification
+
+Before starting work, classify the change:
+
+| Class | Scope | Process |
+|-------|-------|---------|
+| **C0** | Quick fix, single-file, obvious | Read `ai-docs`, implement directly |
+| **C1** | Moderate, potential hidden complexity | Mikado method, single session, single PR |
+| **C2** | Complex, multi-session | Mikado method, documentation-driven, single PR |
+
+See [[agent-change-process]] for the full methodology.
+
 ## Project Structure
 
 ```
@@ -45,7 +57,7 @@ blumeops is Erich Blume's GitOps repository for personal infrastructure, orchest
 ~/code/3rd/             # mirrored external projects
 ~/code/work             # FORBIDDEN
 ```
-Other code paths will be listed via zk-docs, this is just an overview. When you
+Other code paths will be listed via ai-docs, this is just an overview. When you
 encounter wiki-links (`[[like-this]]`) it is referring to docs/ cards.
 
 ## Service Deployment

docs/changelog.d/feature-agent-change-process.feature.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Add agent change process (C0/C1/C2) documentation and `docs-mikado` tool for Mikado method dependency chain resolution. Rename `zk-docs` task to `ai-docs`.

docs/how-to/agent-change-process.md

@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+---
+title: Agent Change Process
+modified: 2026-02-20
+tags:
+  - how-to
+  - ai
+---
+
+# Agent Change Process
+
+How to classify and execute infrastructure changes, especially when working with AI agents that may lose context across sessions.
+
+## Change Classification
+
+Before starting work, classify the change:
+
+| Class | Scope | Process |
+|-------|-------|---------|
+| **C0** | Quick fix, single-file, obvious | Read `ai-docs`, implement directly |
+| **C1** | Moderate, potential hidden complexity | Mikado method, single session, single PR |
+| **C2** | Complex, multi-session | Mikado method, documentation-driven, single PR |
+
+## C0 — Quick Fix
+
+1. Run `mise run ai-docs` to load context
+2. Implement the change directly
+3. Commit, push, create PR
+
+Examples: fix a typo, bump a version, add a simple config value.
+
+## C1 — Guided Change (Single Session)
+
+Use the [Mikado method](https://mikadomethod.info/) within a single session:
+
+1. Run `mise run ai-docs` to load context
+2. Attempt the change on a feature branch, amending a single commit as you iterate
+3. **If it works:** push and create PR
+4. **If it fails:** revert the broken change (`git revert`), then:
+   - Amend or add a commit with documentation updates noting what prerequisite was discovered
+   - Update frontmatter: add `requires: [prerequisite-card]` to the goal card
+   - Work the leaf nodes (prerequisites with no further dependencies) first
+   - Repeat until the goal succeeds
+
+Single feature branch, squash-merge when complete. GitOps may require pushing to test — if a pushed commit breaks, revert it promptly.
+
+## C2 — Documented Change (Multi-Session)
+
+Like C1 but designed to survive agent context loss across sessions:
+
+1. **Goal card:** Create a how-to doc in `docs/how-to/` describing the desired end state
+   - Add `status: active` to frontmatter
+2. **Attempt the change**, amending the working commit. On failure, revert the broken change and:
+   - Create/update prerequisite cards as how-to docs with `status: active`
+   - Add `requires: [prerequisite-stem, ...]` to the goal card's frontmatter
+   - Commit the doc updates (the documentation IS the Mikado graph)
+3. **Work leaf nodes first** — cards with `status: active` and no unmet `requires`
+4. **New agent sessions** pick up state by running `mise run docs-mikado`
+5. When a card's change succeeds, remove `status: active` (or the entire field) from its frontmatter
+
+Documentation IS the Mikado graph. Each card captures what was learned from failed attempts, so the next agent session doesn't repeat mistakes.
+
+## Card Conventions
+
+### Frontmatter
+
+```yaml
+---
+title: Deploy Authentik
+status: active          # omit when complete
+requires:               # explicit dependencies
+  - configure-postgres
+  - setup-redis
+tags:
+  - how-to
+---
+```
+
+- `status: active` marks in-progress work; omit when done
+- `requires` lists card stems (filenames without `.md`) that must be completed first
+- `required-by` is NOT stored — it's computed by `docs-mikado`
+
+### Writing Cards
+
+- Cards live in `docs/how-to/` — they're how-to docs with lifecycle metadata
+- Keep cards brief (<30 seconds to read)
+- Link to other cards rather than inlining their content
+- Document what was learned from failures, not just what to do
+
+### Git Discipline
+
+- Single feature branch per C1/C2 change
+- Amend a single working commit as you iterate; keep the branch history clean
+- GitOps requires pushing to test — if a pushed commit breaks, revert it promptly
+- Commit doc updates noting what was learned from failures
+
+## Tools
+
+| Command | Purpose |
+|---------|---------|
+| `mise run docs-mikado` | List all active Mikado chains |
+| `mise run docs-mikado <card>` | Show dependency chain for a goal card |
+| `mise run docs-mikado <card> --all` | Include completed cards in full |
+
+## Related
+
+- [[ai-assistance-guide]] — General AI agent conventions
+- [[exploring-the-docs]] — Documentation structure overview

docs/how-to/how-to.md

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ Task-oriented instructions for common BlumeOps operations. These guides assume y
 |-------|-------------|
 | [[review-documentation]] | Periodically review and maintain documentation |
 | [[review-services]] | Periodically review services for version freshness |
+| [[agent-change-process]] | C0/C1/C2 change classification and Mikado method for agents |
 
 ## Operations
 

docs/tutorials/ai-assistance-guide.md

@@ -17,12 +17,12 @@ This guide provides context for AI agents (like Claude Code) assisting with Blum
 These are non-negotiable for AI agents working in this repo:
 
 1. **Always use `--context=minikube-indri` with kubectl** - Work contexts exist that must never be touched
-2. **Run `mise run zk-docs` at session start** - Review current infrastructure state
+2. **Run `mise run ai-docs` at session start** - Review current infrastructure state
 3. **Never commit secrets** - The repo is public at github.com/eblume/blumeops
 4. **Wait for user review before deploying** - Create PRs, don't auto-deploy
 5. **Never merge PRs without explicit request** - The user merges after review
 
-Full rules are in the repo's `CLAUDE.md`.
+Full rules are in the repo's `CLAUDE.md`. See [[agent-change-process]] for the C0/C1/C2 change classification methodology.
 
 ## Workflow Conventions
 
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ BlumeOps operations are driven by mise tasks. Run `mise tasks` to list all avail
 
 | Task | When to Use |
 |------|-------------|
-| `zk-docs` | At session start - review infrastructure documentation |
+| `ai-docs` | At session start - review infrastructure documentation |
+| `docs-mikado` | View active Mikado dependency chains for C1/C2 changes |
 | `provision-indri` | Deploy changes to [[indri]]-hosted services via Ansible |
 | `services-check` | After deployments - verify all services are healthy |
 | `pr-comments` | Check unresolved PR comments during review |

docs/tutorials/exploring-the-docs.md

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ You probably want quick access to operational details:
 - [[plans]] captures migration and transition plans for future execution
 - [[reference]] has service URLs, commands, and config locations
 - [[ai-assistance-guide]] explains how to work effectively with Claude
-- Run `mise run zk-docs` to prime AI context with key documentation
+- Run `mise run ai-docs` to prime AI context with key documentation
 
 ### For Claude/AI Agents
 
@@ -77,10 +77,10 @@ Pre-commit hooks automatically validate that all wiki-links point to existing fi
 
 ## AI Context Priming
 
-The `zk-docs` mise task concatenates key documentation files for AI context:
+The `ai-docs` mise task concatenates key documentation files for AI context:
 
 ```bash
-mise run zk-docs -- --style=header --color=never --decorations=always
+mise run ai-docs -- --style=header --color=never --decorations=always
 ```
 
 This outputs the AI assistance guide, reference index, how-to index, architecture overview, and tutorials index - providing Claude with essential context for BlumeOps operations.

mise-tasks/ai-docs

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
-#MISE description="Prime AI context with key BlumeOps documentation"
+#MISE description="Prime AI context with key BlumeOps documentation (formerly zk-docs)"
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ DOCS_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)/docs"
 # Key files for AI context priming, in order of importance
 FILES=(
     "$DOCS_DIR/tutorials/ai-assistance-guide.md"
+    "$DOCS_DIR/how-to/agent-change-process.md"
     "$DOCS_DIR/index.md"
     "$DOCS_DIR/reference/reference.md"
     "$DOCS_DIR/how-to/how-to.md"

mise-tasks/docs-check-frontmatter

@@ -22,7 +22,10 @@ from rich.console import Console
 from rich.table import Table
 
 DOCS_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "docs"
+HOWTO_DIR = DOCS_DIR / "how-to"
 REQUIRED_FIELDS = {"title", "tags", "modified"}
+# These fields are only permitted in docs/how-to/
+HOWTO_ONLY_FIELDS = {"status", "requires"}
 
 # Match YAML frontmatter block
 FRONTMATTER_PATTERN = re.compile(r"^---\n(.*?)\n---\n", re.DOTALL)
@@ -47,7 +50,8 @@ def main() -> int:
     console.print(f"Required fields: {', '.join(sorted(REQUIRED_FIELDS))}")
     console.print()
 
-    issues: list[tuple[str, set[str]]] = []
+    missing_issues: list[tuple[str, set[str]]] = []
+    misplaced_issues: list[tuple[str, set[str]]] = []
 
     for md_file in sorted(DOCS_DIR.rglob("*.md")):
         if "changelog.d" in md_file.parts:
@@ -57,25 +61,50 @@ def main() -> int:
         keys = extract_frontmatter_keys(md_file)
 
         if keys is None:
-            issues.append((rel_path, REQUIRED_FIELDS))
+            missing_issues.append((rel_path, REQUIRED_FIELDS))
             continue
 
         missing = REQUIRED_FIELDS - keys
         if missing:
-            issues.append((rel_path, missing))
+            missing_issues.append((rel_path, missing))
 
-    if issues:
+        # Check that status/requires only appear in how-to docs
+        is_howto = HOWTO_DIR in md_file.parents or md_file.parent == HOWTO_DIR
+        if not is_howto:
+            misplaced = keys & HOWTO_ONLY_FIELDS
+            if misplaced:
+                misplaced_issues.append((rel_path, misplaced))
+
+    has_issues = bool(missing_issues or misplaced_issues)
+
+    if missing_issues:
         console.print("[bold red]Missing Required Frontmatter[/bold red]")
         console.print()
         table = Table(show_header=True, header_style="bold")
         table.add_column("File")
         table.add_column("Missing Fields")
 
-        for rel_path, missing in issues:
+        for rel_path, missing in missing_issues:
             table.add_row(rel_path, ", ".join(sorted(missing)))
 
         console.print(table)
         console.print()
+
+    if misplaced_issues:
+        console.print("[bold red]Misplaced Frontmatter Fields[/bold red]")
+        console.print(f"[dim]These fields are only allowed in {HOWTO_DIR.relative_to(DOCS_DIR)}/[/dim]")
+        console.print()
+        table = Table(show_header=True, header_style="bold")
+        table.add_column("File")
+        table.add_column("Disallowed Fields")
+
+        for rel_path, misplaced in misplaced_issues:
+            table.add_row(rel_path, ", ".join(sorted(misplaced)))
+
+        console.print(table)
+        console.print()
+
+    if has_issues:
         return 1
 
     console.print("[bold green]All docs have required frontmatter![/bold green]")

mise-tasks/docs-mikado

@@ -0,0 +1,273 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env -S uv run --script
+# /// script
+# requires-python = ">=3.12"
+# dependencies = ["pyyaml>=6.0", "rich>=13.0.0", "typer>=0.15.0"]
+# ///
+#MISE description="View active Mikado dependency chains for C1/C2 changes"
+#USAGE arg "[card]" help="Card stem to show chain for"
+#USAGE flag "--all" help="Show all cards in full, including complete ones"
+"""View active Mikado dependency chains for C1/C2 changes.
+
+Scans all markdown files in docs/ for YAML frontmatter with ``status: active``
+and ``requires`` fields, then builds and displays the Mikado dependency graph.
+
+Usage:
+    mise run docs-mikado                         # list all active chains
+    mise run docs-mikado deploy-authentik        # show chain for a card
+    mise run docs-mikado deploy-authentik --all  # include complete cards in full
+"""
+
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Annotated
+
+import typer
+import yaml
+from rich.console import Console
+from rich.markdown import Markdown
+from rich.table import Table
+
+DOCS_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "docs"
+
+
+def extract_frontmatter(file_path: Path) -> dict | None:
+    """Extract YAML frontmatter from a markdown file."""
+    content = file_path.read_text()
+    if not content.startswith("---"):
+        return None
+
+    end_idx = content.find("---", 3)
+    if end_idx == -1:
+        return None
+
+    frontmatter_text = content[3:end_idx].strip()
+    try:
+        return yaml.safe_load(frontmatter_text) or {}
+    except yaml.YAMLError:
+        return None
+
+
+def build_graph() -> dict[str, dict]:
+    """Build the dependency graph from all docs."""
+    cards: dict[str, dict] = {}
+
+    for md_file in sorted(DOCS_DIR.rglob("*.md")):
+        if "changelog.d" in md_file.parts:
+            continue
+
+        frontmatter = extract_frontmatter(md_file)
+        if frontmatter is None:
+            continue
+
+        stem = md_file.stem
+        cards[stem] = {
+            "path": md_file,
+            "title": frontmatter.get("title", stem),
+            "status": frontmatter.get("status"),
+            "requires": frontmatter.get("requires", []) or [],
+            "required_by": [],
+        }
+
+    # Compute inverse relationships
+    for stem, card in cards.items():
+        for req in card["requires"]:
+            if req in cards:
+                cards[req]["required_by"].append(stem)
+
+    return cards
+
+
+def detect_cycles(cards: dict[str, dict]) -> list[list[str]]:
+    """Detect circular dependencies in the graph. Returns list of cycles."""
+    cycles: list[list[str]] = []
+    visited: set[str] = set()
+    on_stack: set[str] = set()
+
+    def dfs(stem: str, path: list[str]) -> None:
+        if stem in on_stack:
+            cycle_start = path.index(stem)
+            cycles.append(path[cycle_start:] + [stem])
+            return
+        if stem in visited or stem not in cards:
+            return
+        visited.add(stem)
+        on_stack.add(stem)
+        path.append(stem)
+        for req in cards[stem]["requires"]:
+            dfs(req, path)
+        path.pop()
+        on_stack.discard(stem)
+
+    for stem in cards:
+        dfs(stem, [])
+
+    return cycles
+
+
+def is_active(card: dict) -> bool:
+    """Check if a card has status: active."""
+    return card.get("status") == "active"
+
+
+def find_root_goals(cards: dict[str, dict]) -> list[str]:
+    """Find active cards that aren't required by another active card."""
+    roots = []
+    for stem, card in cards.items():
+        if not is_active(card):
+            continue
+        # A root goal is not required by any other active card
+        has_active_parent = any(
+            is_active(cards[rb]) for rb in card["required_by"] if rb in cards
+        )
+        if not has_active_parent:
+            roots.append(stem)
+    return sorted(roots)
+
+
+def walk_chain(
+    cards: dict[str, dict],
+    stem: str,
+    console: Console,
+    show_all: bool,
+    visited: set[str] | None = None,
+    depth: int = 0,
+) -> None:
+    """Walk the dependency tree depth-first from a card."""
+    if visited is None:
+        visited = set()
+
+    if stem in visited:
+        console.print(f"{'  ' * depth}[dim](circular: {stem})[/dim]")
+        return
+    visited.add(stem)
+
+    card = cards.get(stem)
+    if card is None:
+        console.print(f"{'  ' * depth}[red](missing: {stem})[/red]")
+        return
+
+    active = is_active(card)
+
+    if active or show_all:
+        # Print full card content
+        console.print()
+        separator = "=" * 72
+        console.print(f"[bold cyan]{separator}[/bold cyan]")
+        status_tag = "[active]" if active else "[complete]"
+        console.print(
+            f"[bold]{status_tag} {stem}[/bold] — {card['title']}"
+        )
+        console.print(f"[dim]{card['path'].relative_to(DOCS_DIR)}[/dim]")
+        if card["requires"]:
+            console.print(f"[dim]requires: {', '.join(card['requires'])}[/dim]")
+        if card["required_by"]:
+            console.print(
+                f"[dim]required-by: {', '.join(card['required_by'])}[/dim]"
+            )
+        console.print(f"[bold cyan]{separator}[/bold cyan]")
+        console.print()
+        content = card["path"].read_text()
+        console.print(content)
+    else:
+        # One-line summary for complete cards
+        console.print(
+            f"{'  ' * depth}[green][complete][/green] {stem} — {card['title']}"
+        )
+
+    # Recurse into dependencies
+    for req in card["requires"]:
+        walk_chain(cards, req, console, show_all, visited, depth + 1)
+
+
+def main(
+    card: Annotated[
+        str | None, typer.Argument(help="Card stem to show chain for")
+    ] = None,
+    all: Annotated[
+        bool,
+        typer.Option("--all", help="Show all cards in full, including complete ones"),
+    ] = False,
+) -> None:
+    console = Console()
+    cards = build_graph()
+
+    # Check for circular dependencies
+    cycles = detect_cycles(cards)
+    if cycles:
+        console.print("[bold red]Circular dependencies detected![/bold red]")
+        for cycle in cycles:
+            console.print(f"  [red]{' → '.join(cycle)}[/red]")
+        console.print()
+
+    if card is None:
+        # List all active Mikado chains
+        roots = find_root_goals(cards)
+
+        if not roots:
+            console.print("[dim]No active Mikado chains found.[/dim]")
+            console.print(
+                "[dim]Cards need status: active in frontmatter to appear here.[/dim]"
+            )
+            raise typer.Exit()
+
+        table = Table(
+            title="Active Mikado Chains", show_header=True, header_style="bold"
+        )
+        table.add_column("Goal Card")
+        table.add_column("Title")
+        table.add_column("Active Deps", justify="right")
+        table.add_column("Total Deps", justify="right")
+
+        for stem in roots:
+            card_data = cards[stem]
+
+            # Count dependencies
+            def count_deps(s: str, seen: set[str] | None = None) -> tuple[int, int]:
+                if seen is None:
+                    seen = set()
+                if s in seen:
+                    return 0, 0
+                seen.add(s)
+                active_count = 0
+                total_count = 0
+                c = cards.get(s)
+                if c is None:
+                    return 0, 0
+                for req in c["requires"]:
+                    total_count += 1
+                    req_card = cards.get(req)
+                    if req_card and is_active(req_card):
+                        active_count += 1
+                    sub_active, sub_total = count_deps(req, seen)
+                    active_count += sub_active
+                    total_count += sub_total
+                return active_count, total_count
+
+            active_deps, total_deps = count_deps(stem)
+            table.add_row(
+                f"[bold]{stem}[/bold]",
+                card_data["title"],
+                str(active_deps),
+                str(total_deps),
+            )
+
+        console.print()
+        console.print(table)
+        console.print()
+        console.print(
+            "[dim]Run: mise run docs-mikado <card> to see full chain[/dim]"
+        )
+    else:
+        if card not in cards:
+            console.print(f"[red]Card not found: {card}[/red]")
+            console.print("[dim]Available cards with status: active:[/dim]")
+            for stem, data in sorted(cards.items()):
+                if is_active(data):
+                    console.print(f"  {stem} — {data['title']}")
+            raise typer.Exit(code=1)
+
+        walk_chain(cards, card, console, show_all=all)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    typer.run(main)