Keep OSS Reviews Inside a Four-File Packet

Description and use

A four‑file packet pins every review comment to a frozen SHA, allowed paths, a minimal failing test, and a diff, enabling bounded model reviews and preventing drift.

Problem

Free‑model reviews drift when they read an entire repository tree, causing maintainers to chase defects that git never recorded.

Outcome

The packet ensures that every review comment is tied to a specific SHA, path, diff hunk, and failing command, preventing drift and enabling reproducible, bounded model reviews.

Workflow

• Freeze the SHA on a clean tree and write BOUND.txt
• Capture the failing command in FAIL.txt
• Write the smallest failing test and run it at the frozen SHA
• Fill BOUND.txt with allowed and forbidden paths
• Stage only allowed paths and emit PATCH.diff
• Run a local test matrix and append results to FAIL.txt
• Create PROMPT.txt to instruct a free model to read only the packet
• Run packet_check.py to validate completeness

Evidence

Free-model reviews drift when they read an entire tree. Maintainers then chase defects that git never recorded.

Source

The patch does not start as a chat thread. The contributor freezes SHA, paths, diff, and test output together.

Source

The contributor writes a single PROMPT.txt file.

Source