guard

Check staged changes against governance standards in advise, gate, and drift modes.

54|3|Updated Feb 4, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/arcasilesgroup/ai-engineering --skill guard-arcasilesgroup
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: guard
Source: https://github.com/arcasilesgroup/ai-engineering/tree/main/.agents/skills/guard
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/arcasilesgroup/ai-engineering --skill guard-arcasilesgroup

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill provides proactive governance advice during the development lifecycle, catching potential issues before they become major problems and ensuring alignment with architectural decisions.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Shift-left Governance: Integrates checks directly into the development workflow (e.g., before committing, during builds).
  • Multi-mode Analysis: Offers 'advise' for file analysis, 'gate' for pre-dispatch validation, and 'drift' for architectural decision alignment.
  • Use Case: Before committing code, you can run advise mode to check if your changes violate any established coding standards or architectural decisions, receiving immediate feedback.

Quick Start

Run the guard skill in advise mode to check staged changes against governance policies.

Frequently Asked Questions about guard

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
What is shift-left governance and how does it catch compliance issues early?

Shift-left governance integrates compliance checks directly into the development workflow before code changes are dispatched. By validating staged files against defined standards and architectural decisions during builds, it catches violations early and prevents decision drift.

How do I check staged changes against coding standards before committing?

You can check staged changes by running the advisory mode to analyze file stacks against defined policies. This validates pre-dispatch compliance and provides immediate feedback on whether your modifications violate established architectural decisions.

How does decision drift detection work for architectural alignment?

Decision drift detection operates by analyzing active decisions and file stacks against defined standards. It identifies when ongoing development diverges from established architectural policies, ensuring continuous alignment throughout the software engineering lifecycle.

Can I use proactive governance advisory to validate pre-dispatch compliance during builds?

Yes, proactive governance advisory integrates with build and execute workflows to validate pre-dispatch compliance. The gate mode specifically validates changes before dispatch, ensuring staged modifications meet defined standards and policies.

What is the best way to integrate governance checks into an existing development workflow?

The best way to integrate governance checks is using multi-mode analysis across build and execute workflows. Operating in advise, gate, and drift modes ensures comprehensive compliance validation, from file analysis to pre-dispatch validation and architectural alignment.

Do I need defined standards and policies to run proactive governance advisory?

Yes, defined standards and policies are required as the baseline for validation. The advisory mechanism analyzes file stacks and active decisions against these established governance policies to detect drift and ensure compliance.