About ns-harness
ns-harness is a skill that routes NextStage Harness tasks to the appropriate reference workflow. It covers session boot and project onboarding, with shared references for artifact paths, rules, and agent handoffs.
Key features
- 01Blocking session boot guidance
- 02Signal-based workflow dispatch
- 03Brownfield onboarding references
- 04Shared artifact and rules guidance
- 05Agent skill handoff references
Use cases
- 01Preparing or onboarding a repository
- 02Generating architecture rules or agent entry files
- 03Mapping an existing codebase or extracting business rules
Install
Copy the command and run it in a terminal.
npx skills add https:/After installing, type/ns-harnessin Claude Code to confirm it loaded.
Bundled files
References and scripts installed along with SKILL.md.
evals/evals.jsonreferences/agent-artifact-compress.mdagent-git-identity.mdagents-md.mdarchitecture-rules-generator.mdartifact-layout.mdbootstrap-brownfield.mdcode-skill-routing.mdcodebase-reverse-spec.mddocker-and-testing.mdprepare.mdproject-skill-authoring.mdrules-sync.mdsession-boot.mdsubagent-dispatch.mdworktree-setup.mdreferences/agents-md/reconnaissance-checklist.mdtemplate.mdreferences/architecture-rules/compression-guide.mdreconnaissance-checklist.mdstack-signals.mdtemplate.mdreferences/bootstrap-brownfield/agent-dense.mdbrownfield-map.template.mdreferences/codebase-reverse-spec/agent_index.template.mdanti_leakage_checklist.mdcoverage_matrix.mdextraction_log_template.mdspec_template.mdscripts/scan_leakage.shDetails
From the project READMENextStage Harness
Project harness face. Other catalog skills point here for session boot + artifact paths. Also runs brownfield onboarding via local references — no separate prepare/architecture/agents/reverse/brownfield skills.
Consumer skill convention: point to references/session-boot.md; require Session boot (blocking) before other steps. Do not duplicate boot sequence in skill bodies or frontmatter description.
Dispatch (this skill as face)
Session boot (references/session-boot.md) first — pick one row. First matching signal wins.
| Signal | Reference |
|---|---|
| Prepare this repo / harness prepare / onboard brownfield / full prepare / stale context after refactor | references/prepare.md (four workers in order) |
Architecture rules / constitution / "how this repo works for the AI" / .nextstage-harness/rules/architecture-rules.md | references/architecture-rules-generator.md |
Write/refresh AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md / agent entry | references/agents-md.md |
| Reverse-engineer / engenharia reversa / business rules from code | references/codebase-reverse-spec.md |
| Brownfield map / analyze existing project (map only) | references/bootstrap-brownfield.md |
/ns-harness with no qualifier | Show this table; ask once if intent unclear |
Bare /ns-harness prepare this repo is full prepare.md. Do not send user to retired slash names.
Read chosen reference in full; follow it. Do not improvise parallel workflow.
Shared references (other skills)
| File | When to read |
|---|---|
references/session-boot.md | Session boot (blocking), rules paths, MCP GitLab pointers |
references/rules-sync.md | Canonical rules layout, manifest schema, harness sync |
references/artifact-layout.md | SDD artifact paths under docs/versions/, living specs, handoff rules |
references/code-skill-routing.md | Entry priority + handoffs between implementation skills |
references/subagent-dispatch.md | Spawn gate: cheap vs heavy execute; MUST exact {name} when gate requires. FORBIDDEN child Task inherit / platform coder / reviewer |
references/agent-artifact-compress.md | Pre-save on agent-facing drafts only (caveman ultra; never chat) |
references/project-skill-authoring.md | Author project-local skills — requires Anthropics skill-creator + harness sync |
Read only file(s) the active workflow names. Do not assume stack unless detected in rules or context.