---
title: "Writing style verbosity (V1: default = ELI10, terse = tighter V0 prose."
description: "```bash _UPD=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-update-check 2>/dev/null || .claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-update-check 2>/dev/null || true) [ -n \"$_UPD\" ] && echo \"$_UPD\" || true mkdir -p ~/.gstack/sessions touch ~/.gstack/sessions/\"$PPID\" _SESSIONS=$(find ~/.gstack/sessions -mmin -120 -type f 2>/dev/null | wc -l | tr -d ' ') find ~/.gstack/sessions -mmin +120 -type f -exec rm {} + 2>/dev/nul"
type: skill
canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/skill-1056
source: "Claudary"
difficulty: intermediate
author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack"
date: 2026-07-10T11:43:37.931Z
license: CC-BY-4.0
attribution: "Writing style verbosity (V1: default = ELI10, terse = tighter V0 prose. — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/skill-1056)"
---

# Writing style verbosity (V1: default = ELI10, terse = tighter V0 prose.
```bash _UPD=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-update-check 2>/dev/null || .claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-update-check 2>/dev/null || true) [ -n "$_UPD" ] && echo "$_UPD" || true mkdir -p ~/.gstack/sessions touch ~/.gstack/sessions/"$PPID" _SESSIONS=$(find ~/.gstack/sessions -mmin -120 -type f 2>/dev/null | wc -l | tr -d ' ') find ~/.gstack/sessions -mmin +120 -type f -exec rm {} + 2>/dev/nul

## Overview

---
name: cso
preamble-tier: 2
version: 2.0.0
description: |
  Chief Security Officer mode. Infrastructure-first security audit: secrets archaeology,
  dependency supply chain, CI/CD pipeline security, LLM/AI security, skill supply chain
  scanning, plus OWASP Top 10, STRIDE threat modeling, and active verification.
  Two modes: daily (zero-noise, 8/10 confidence gate) and comprehensive (monthly deep
  scan, 2/10 bar). Trend tracking across audit runs.
  Use when: "security audit", "threat model", "pentest review", "OWASP", "CSO review". (gstack)
  Voice triggers (speech-to-text aliases): "see-so", "see so", "security review", "security check", "vulnerability scan", "run security".
allowed-tools:
  - Bash
  - Read
  - Grep
  - Glob
  - Write
  - Agent
  - WebSearch
  - AskUserQuestion
triggers:
  - security audit
  - check for vulnerabilities
  - owasp review
---
<!-- AUTO-GENERATED from SKILL.md.tmpl — do not edit directly -->
<!-- Regenerate: bun run gen:skill-docs -->

## Preamble (run first)

```bash
_UPD=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-update-check 2>/dev/null || .claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-update-check 2>/dev/null || true)
[ -n "$_UPD" ] && echo "$_UPD" || true
mkdir -p ~/.gstack/sessions
touch ~/.gstack/sessions/"$PPID"
_SESSIONS=$(find ~/.gstack/sessions -mmin -120 -type f 2>/dev/null | wc -l | tr -d ' ')
find ~/.gstack/sessions -mmin +120 -type f -exec rm {} + 2>/dev/null || true
_PROACTIVE=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get proactive 2>/dev/null || echo "true")
_PROACTIVE_PROMPTED=$([ -f ~/.gstack/.proactive-prompted ] && echo "yes" || echo "no")
_BRANCH=$(git branch --show-current 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")
echo "BRANCH: $_BRANCH"
_SKILL_PREFIX=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get skill_prefix 2>/dev/null || echo "false")
echo "PROACTIVE: $_PROACTIVE"
echo "PROACTIVE_PROMPTED: $_PROACTIVE_PROMPTED"
echo "SKILL_PREFIX: $_SKILL_PREFIX"
source <(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-repo-mode 2>/dev/null) || true
REPO_MODE=${REPO_MODE:-unknown}
echo "REPO_MODE: $REPO_MODE"
_LAKE_SEEN=$([ -f ~/.gstack/.completeness-intro-seen ] && echo "yes" || echo "no")
echo "LAKE_INTRO: $_LAKE_SEEN"
_TEL=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get telemetry 2>/dev/null || true)
_TEL_PROMPTED=$([ -f ~/.gstack/.telemetry-prompted ] && echo "yes" || echo "no")
_TEL_START=$(date +%s)
_SESSION_ID="$$-$(date +%s)"
echo "TELEMETRY: ${_TEL:-off}"
echo "TEL_PROMPTED: $_TEL_PROMPTED"
# Writing style verbosity (V1: default = ELI10, terse = tighter V0 prose.
# Read on every skill run so terse mode takes effect without a restart.)
_EXPLAIN_LEVEL=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get explain_level 2>/dev/null || echo "default")
if [ "$_EXPLAIN_LEVEL" != "default" ] && [ "$_EXPLAIN_LEVEL" != "terse" ]; then _EXPLAIN_LEVEL="default"; fi
echo "EXPLAIN_LEVEL: $_EXPLAIN_LEVEL"
# Question tuning (see /plan-tune). Observational only in V1.
_QUESTION_TUNING=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get question_tuning 2>/dev/null || echo "false")
echo "QUESTION_TUNING: $_QUESTION_TUNING"
mkdir -p ~/.gstack/analytics
if [ "$_TEL" != "off" ]; then
echo '{"skill":"cso","ts":"'$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)'","repo":"'$(basename "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)" 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")'"}'  >> ~/.gstack/analytics/skill-usage.jsonl 2>/dev/null || true
fi
# zsh-compatible: use find instead of glob to avoid NOMATCH error
for _PF in $(find ~/.gstack/analytics -maxdepth 1 -name '.pending-*' 2>/dev/null); do
  if [ -f "$_PF" ]; then
    if [ "$_TEL" != "off" ] && [ -x "~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-telemetry-log" ]; then
      ~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-telemetry-log --event-type skill_run --skill _pending_finalize --outcome unknown --session-id "$_SESSION_ID" 2>/dev/null || true
    fi
    rm -f "$_PF" 2>/dev/null || true
  fi
  break
done
# Learnings count
eval "$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-slug 2>/dev/null)" 2>/dev/null || true
_LEARN_FILE="${GSTACK_HOME:-$HOME/.gstack}/projects/${SLUG:-unknown}/learnings.jsonl"
if [ -f "$_LEARN_FILE" ]; then
  _LEARN_COUNT=$(wc -l < "$_LEARN_FILE" 2>/dev/null | tr -d ' ')
  echo "LEARNINGS: $_LEARN_COUNT entries loaded"
  if [ "$_LEARN_COUNT" -gt 5 ] 2>/dev/null; then
    ~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-learnings-search --limit 3 2>/dev/null || true
  fi
else
  echo "LEARNINGS: 0"
fi
# Session timeline: record skill start (local-only, never sent anywhere)
~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-timeline-log '{"skill":"cso","event":"started","branch":"'"$_BRANCH"'","session":"'"$_SESSION_ID"'"}' 2>/dev/null &
# Check if CLAUDE.md has routing rules
_HAS_ROUTING="no"
if [ -f CLAUDE.md ] && grep -q "## Skill routing" CLAUDE.md 2>/dev/null; then
  _HAS_ROUTING="yes"
fi
_ROUTING_DECLINED=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get routing_declined 2>/dev/null || echo "false")
echo "HAS_ROUTING: $_HAS_ROUTING"
echo "ROUTING_DECLINED: $_ROUTING_DECLINED"
# Vendoring deprecation: detect if CWD has a vendored gstack copy
_VENDORED="no"
if [ -d ".claude/skills/gstack" ] && [ ! -L ".claude/skills/gstack" ]; then
  if [ -f ".claude/skills/gstack/VERSION" ] || [ -d ".claude/skills/gstack/.git" ]; then
    _VENDORED="yes"
  fi
fi
echo "VENDORED_GSTACK: $_VENDORED"
echo "MODEL_OVERLAY: claude"
# Checkpoint mode (explicit = no auto-commit, continuous = WIP commits as you go)
_CHECKPOINT_MODE=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get checkpoint_mode 2>/dev/null || echo "explicit")
_CHECKPOINT_PUSH=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get checkpoint_push 2>/dev/null || echo "false")
echo "CHECKPOINT_MODE: $_CHECKPOINT_MODE"
echo "CHECKPOINT_PUSH: $_CHECKPOINT_PUSH"
# Detect spawned session (OpenClaw or other orchestrator)
[ -n "$OPENCLAW_SESSION" ] && echo "SPAWNED_SESSION: true" || true
```

## Plan Mode Safe Operations

In plan mode, these are always allowed (they inform the plan, don't modify source):
`$B` (browse), `$D` (design), `codex exec`/`codex review`, writes to `~/.gstack/`,
writes to the plan file, `open` for generated artifacts.

## Skill Invocation During Plan Mode

If the user invokes a skill in plan mode, that skill takes precedence over generic plan mode behavior. Treat it as executable instructions, not reference. Follow step
by step. AskUserQuestion calls satisfy plan mode's end-of-turn requirement. At a STOP
point, stop immediately. Do not continue the workflow past a STOP point and do not call ExitPlanMode there. Commands marked "PLAN
MODE EXCEPTION — ALWAYS RUN" execute. Other writes need to be already permitted
above or explicitly exception-marked. Call ExitPlanMode only after the skill
workflow completes — only then call ExitPlanMode (or if the user tells you to cancel the skill or leave plan mode).

If `PROACTIVE` is `"false"`, do not proactively suggest gstack skills AND do not
auto-invoke skills based on conversation context. Only run skills the user explicitly
types (e.g., /qa, /ship). If you would have auto-invoked a skill, instead briefly say:
"I think /skillname might help here — want me to run it?" and wait for confirmation.
The user opted out of proactive behavior.

If `SKILL_PREFIX` is `"true"`, the user has namespaced skill names. When suggesting
or invoking other gstack skills, use the `/gstack-` prefix (e.g., `/gstack-qa` instead
of `/qa`, `/gstack-ship` instead of `/ship`). Disk paths are unaffected — always use
`~/.claude/skills/gstack/[skill-name]/SKILL.md` for reading skill files.

If output shows `UPGRADE_AVAILABLE <old> <new>`: read `~/.claude/skills/gstack/gstack-upgrade/SKILL.md` and follow the "Inline upgrade flow" (auto-upgrade if configured, otherwise AskUserQuestion with 4 options, write snooze state if declined).

If output shows `JUST_UPGRADED <from> <to>` AND `SPAWNED_SESSION` is NOT set: tell
the user "Running gstack v{to} (just updated!)" and then check for new features to
surface. For each per-feature marker below, if the marker file is missing AND the
feature is plausibly useful for this user, use AskUserQuestion to let them try it.
Fire once per feature per user, NOT once per upgrade.

**In spawned sessions (`SPAWNED_SESSION` = "true"): SKIP feature discovery entirely.**
Just print "Running gstack v{to}" and continue. Orchestrators do not want interactive
prompts from sub-sessions.

**Feature discovery markers and prompts** (one at a time, max one per session):

1. `~/.claude/skills/gstack/.feature-prompted-continuous-checkpoint` →
   Prompt: "Continuous checkpoint auto-commits your work as you go with `WIP:` prefix
   so you never lose progress to a crash. Local-only by default — doesn't push
   anywhere unless you turn that on. Want to try it?"
   Options: A) Enable continuous mode, B) Show me first (print the section from
   the preamble Continuous Checkpoint Mode), C) Skip.
   If A: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set checkpoint_mode continuous`.
   Always: `touch ~/.claude/skills/gstack/.feature-prompted-continuous-checkpoint`

2. `~/.claude/skills/gstack/.feature-prompted-model-overlay` →
   Inform only (no prompt): "Model overlays are active. `MODEL_OVERLAY: {model}`
   shown in the preamble output tells you which behavioral patch is applied.
   Override with `--model` when regenerating skills (e.g., `bun run gen:skill-docs
   --model gpt-5.4`). Default is claude."
   Always: `touch ~/.claude/skills/gstack/.feature-prompted-model-overlay`

After handling JUST_UPGRADED (prompts done or skipped), continue with the skill
workflow.

If `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `yes`: You're on the first skill run after upgrading
to gstack v1. Ask the user once about the new default writing style. Use AskUserQuestion:

> v1 prompts = simpler. Technical terms get a one-sentence gloss on first use,
> questions are framed in outcome terms, sentences are shorter.
>
> Keep the new default, or prefer the older tighter prose?

Options:
- A) Keep the new default (recommended — good writing helps everyone)
- B) Restore V0 prose — set `explain_level: terse`

If A: leave `explain_level` unset (defaults to `default`).
If B: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set explain_level terse`.

Always run (regardless of choice):
```bash
rm -f ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompt-pending
touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
```

This only happens once. If `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`, skip this entirely.

If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: Before continuing, introduce the Completeness Principle.
Tell the user: "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — always do the complete
thing when AI makes the marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean"
Then offer to open the essay in their default browser:

```bash
open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
touch ~/.gstack/.completeness-intro-seen
```

Only run `open` if the user says yes. Always run `touch` to mark as seen. This only happens once.

If `TEL_PROMPTED` is `no` AND `LAKE_INTRO` is `yes`: After the lake intro is handled,
ask the user about telemetry. Use AskUserQuestion:

> Help gstack get better! Community mode shares usage data (which skills you use, how long
> they take, crash info) with a stable device ID so we can track trends and fix bugs faster.
> No code, file paths, or repo names are ever sent.
> Change anytime with `gstack-config set telemetry off`.

Options:
- A) Help gstack get better! (recommended)
- B) No thanks

If A: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set telemetry community`

If B: ask a follow-up AskUserQuestion:

> How about anonymous mode? We just learn that *someone* used gstack — no unique ID,
> no way to connect sessions. Just a counter that helps us know if anyone's out there.

Options:
- A) Sure, anonymous is fine
- B) No thanks, fully off

If B→A: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set telemetry anonymous`
If B→B: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set telemetry off`

Always run:
```bash
touch ~/.gstack/.telemetry-prompted
```

This only happens once. If `TEL_PROMPTED` is `yes`, skip this entirely.

If `PROACTIVE_PROMPTED` is `no` AND `TEL_PROMPTED` is `yes`: After telemetry is handled,
ask the user about proactive behavior. Use AskUserQuestion:

> gstack can proactively figure out when you might need a skill while you work —
> like suggesting /qa when you say "does this work?" or /investigate when you hit
> a bug. We recommend keeping this on — it speeds up every part of your workflow.

Options:
- A) Keep it on (recommended)
- B) Turn it off — I'll type /commands myself

If A: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set proactive true`
If B: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set proactive false`

Always run:
```bash
touch ~/.gstack/.proactive-prompted
```

This only happens once. If `PROACTIVE_PROMPTED` is `yes`, skip this entirely.

If `HAS_ROUTING` is `no` AND `ROUTING_DECLINED` is `false` AND `PROACTIVE_PROMPTED` is `yes`:
Check if a CLAUDE.md file exists in the project root. If it does not exist, create it.

Use AskUserQuestion:

> gstack works best when your project's CLAUDE.md includes skill routing rules.
> This tells Claude to use specialized workflows (like /ship, /investigate, /qa)
> instead of answering directly. It's a one-time addition, about 15 lines.

Options:
- A) Add routing rules to CLAUDE.md (recommended)
- B) No thanks, I'll invoke skills manually

If A: Append this section to the end of CLAUDE.md:

```markdown

## Skill routing

When the user's request matches an available skill, invoke it via the Skill tool. The
skill has multi-step workflows, checklists, and quality gates that produce better
results than an ad-hoc answer. When in doubt, invoke the skill. A false positive is
cheaper than a false negative.

Key routing rules:
- Product ideas, "is this worth building", brainstorming → invoke /office-hours
- Strategy, scope, "think bigger", "what should we build" → invoke /plan-ceo-review
- Architecture, "does this design make sense" → invoke /plan-eng-review
- Design system, brand, "how should this look" → invoke /design-consultation
- Design review of a plan → invoke /plan-design-review
- Developer experience of a plan → invoke /plan-devex-review
- "Review everything", full review pipeline → invoke /autoplan
- Bugs, errors, "why is this broken", "wtf", "this doesn't work" → invoke /investigate
- Test the site, find bugs, "does this work" → invoke /qa (or /qa-only for report only)
- Code review, check the diff, "look at my changes" → invoke /review
- Visual polish, design audit, "this looks off" → invoke /design-review
- Developer experience audit, try onboarding → invoke /devex-review
- Ship, deploy, create a PR, "send it" → invoke /ship
- Merge + deploy + verify → invoke /land-and-deploy
- Configure deployment → invoke /setup-deploy
- Post-deploy monitoring → invoke /canary
- Update docs after shipping → invoke /document-release
- Weekly retro, "how'd we do" → invoke /retro
- Second opinion, codex review → invoke /codex
- Safety mode, careful mode, lock it down → invoke /careful or /

---

Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/skill-1056) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com