Quick start — existing repository

Try the supplied applicationCopy Anchor Link

From the DevThread checkout root in PowerShell, copy the Taskboard fixture to a new temporary directory. This leaves the original fixture unchanged.

$devthreadPractice = Join-Path $env:TEMP ('devthread-existing-' + [guid]::NewGuid())
Copy-Item -LiteralPath '.\tests\fixtures\taskboard' -Destination $devthreadPractice -Recurse
$devthreadInstructionsBefore = (Get-FileHash (Join-Path $devthreadPractice 'AGENTS.md')).Hash
python .\skill\devthread\scripts\init.py $devthreadPractice --dry-run
python .\skill\devthread\scripts\init.py $devthreadPractice
python .\skill\devthread\scripts\validate.py $devthreadPractice
python .\skill\devthread\scripts\status.py $devthreadPractice --json
$devthreadInstructionsBefore -eq (Get-FileHash (Join-Path $devthreadPractice 'AGENTS.md')).Hash
Push-Location $devthreadPractice
python -m unittest discover -s tests -v
Pop-Location

The file hash comparison should return True. The baseline application has two tests for adding and listing tasks. Initialization creates missing map files without replacing application files or AGENTS.md.

Understand and mapCopy Anchor Link

Open the copied application in Codex with DevThread installed. Ask:

Use DevThread to understand this application. Read its existing instructions, inspect its source and tests, and separate facts from inferences.

Then ask:

Map the remaining work to allow completing a stored task while preserving its ID. Keep the JSON storage and standard-library dependencies. Add clear acceptance criteria and dependencies.

Review the task before implementation. The recorded example covers this exact kind of change.

Reconcile, implement, verifyCopy Anchor Link

Ask the agent to compare the map against source and tests, then recommend a dependency-valid task. Missing completion behavior must not be described as verified merely because baseline add/list tests pass.

Request implementation of the task by its actual ID, then ask for verification. Review the exact check commands and outcomes. Leave it in review until its acceptance criteria have been explicitly accepted.

Use your own projectCopy Anchor Link

Use the same sequence on your repository: inspect existing instructions, initialize only missing state, map a bounded goal, reconcile, and choose eligible work. Review .devthread/ changes before committing them. Scripts require an existing target directory and stop on invalid state rather than silently repairing it.