# Verify Code Ownership Before Completion

AI-assisted coding can let learners ship code they cannot explain. This skill checks understanding with structured questions before completion.

## Install

```bash
npx skillstore add danielpodolsky/ownership-gate
```

## Metadata

- Status: approved
- Slug: danielpodolsky-ownership-gate
- Skillstore revision: r1
- Version status: missing
- Tree hash: e793405ddedab7ab37cbb578c7b14816bfa1f95ca6fd4804a5c0da4148cd232e
- Author: DanielPodolsky
- GitHub username: DanielPodolsky
- License: MIT
- Repository: https://github.com/DanielPodolsky/mentor-spec/tree/main/.claude/skills/gates/ownership
- Ref: 34f316ba14ef36c7a620fc09f2676d2429997a77
- Supported tools: Claude, Codex, Claude Code
- Audit status: complete
- Agent install advisory: allowed
- Manual install advisory: allowed
- Artifact signature: available
- Audit attestation: unavailable
- Human verification: not\_verified
- Risk factors: external\_commands
- Quality score: 78
- Quality tier: bronze
- Public page: https://skillstore.pages.dev/skills/danielpodolsky-ownership-gate
- Manifest: https://skillstore.pages.dev/api/skills/danielpodolsky-ownership-gate/manifest

## Capabilities

- Provides four ownership questions for walkthroughs, design choices, change scenarios, and edge cases.
- Defines PASS and BLOCKED outcomes for learner understanding checks.
- Supplies response templates for blocked and passing reviews.
- Guides Socratic recovery when a learner struggles to explain code.
- Prompts mentors to record interview-ready concepts after the gate passes.

## Use Cases

- Review AI-Assisted Work: Check whether a junior developer understands code produced with AI help before marking the task complete.
- Prepare Interview Stories: Turn code review discussions into clear explanations of decisions, trade-offs, and learned patterns.
- Guide Learning Recovery: Use focused questions when a learner copied a pattern but needs to rebuild understanding.

## Prompt Templates

### Run Basic Ownership Check

```
Run the ownership gate for my latest change. Ask me to explain the code step by step, then decide PASS or BLOCKED.
```

### Check Design Reasoning

```
Use the ownership gate on this feature. Ask why I chose this approach, what alternatives I considered, and what trade-offs I accepted.
```

### Test Change Readiness

```
Apply the ownership gate with one realistic requirement change and one edge case. Block completion if my answers show weak understanding.
```

### Coach After a Block

```
I failed the ownership gate. Guide me with Socratic questions until I can explain the confusing function and its data flow.
```

## Limitations

- Does not inspect code automatically or prove correctness.
- Relies on the reviewer to choose relevant scenarios and edge cases.
- Does not replace tests, security review, or production approval.
- Designed for mentoring workflows, not automated compliance gates.

## Best Practices

- Ask the questions after the learner has working code and before marking the task complete.
- Use specific files, functions, and requirements when creating change scenarios.
- Record the concepts the learner explained well for future review and interview practice.

## Anti Patterns

- Do not pass the gate because the code works without checking understanding.
- Do not ask generic questions that ignore the actual implementation.
- Do not block permanently when guided review can rebuild understanding.

## Security Audit

- Audited at: 2026-07-06T09:32:40.627\+00:00
- Summary: The static external command findings are false positives caused by Markdown fenced response templates. The blocker findings are mentoring prompts about explaining code, not system reconnaissance. No prompt injection, data exfiltration, or malicious intent was found in SKILL.md.

## Stats

- Views: 220
- Downloads: 15
- Favorites: 0
- Popularity score: 0