Debug log — nav_links_load_stability

2026-10-16 (UTC) — Step 1

Necessary/useful instructions

• docs/railspike/docs/workflow/step1_solution_assessment.md "Structure": Original Query first, ≥2 options, recommendation. Directly shaped the document.

Redundant/unnecessary instructions

• No supported findings

Inapplicable instructions

• RAILSPIKE.md and AGENTS.md point to docs/workflow/..., but in this repo the files live at docs/railspike/docs/workflow/. The path had to be discovered; clarify the vendored-path resolution.

Uncertain assessments

• Root cause of the late nav items was not confirmed during Step 1; deferred to Step 2.

2026-10-16 (UTC) — Step 2

Necessary/useful instructions

• step2_feature_description.md "Shared component inventory" prompted reuse of the existing navigation endpoint and feature_flags.js logic.

Redundant/unnecessary instructions

• No supported findings

Inapplicable instructions

• step2_feature_description.md "Next" still references docs/workflow/step3_... (path unresolved in this vendored layout).

Uncertain assessments

• Root cause of late nav items still unconfirmed; carried as the first risk-validation task.

2026-10-16 (UTC) — Step 3

Necessary/useful instructions

• step3_development_plan_do.md stage field template kept the plan scannable and forced explicit risks per stage.

Redundant/unnecessary instructions

• step3_development_plan_before.md / _after.md restate the uncommitted-docs rule already in RAILSPIKE.md; consider consolidating.

Inapplicable instructions

• No supported findings

Uncertain assessments

• Stage 1 is read-only diagnosis; it fits "atomic stage" sizing but yields no code commit content beyond the summary note.

2026-10-16 (UTC) — Step 4

Necessary/useful instructions

• Stage Boundary Protocol (step4_implementation_do.md) kept verification and summary updates in lockstep with commits.

• Planning Docs Commit Gate surfaced the need to organize plans before code.

Redundant/unnecessary instructions

• No supported findings

Inapplicable instructions

• step4_implementation_after.md item 5 (deployment/migration checks) did not apply to this CSS/JS/template change.

Uncertain assessments

• Mid-Step-4 scope change (diagnosis contradicted Step 2) required revising approved Steps 2–3; the rules covered it but a short "revision during Step 4" procedure would help.