name: sh:autopilot
description: Start the Shepherd autonomous execution loop. Reads tasks from TODO-Today queue, executes them with quality gates, and processes until queue is empty or paused.
disable-model-invocation: true

Autopilot — Autonomous Execution

Start the Shepherd autopilot loop. Reads and executes tasks from TODO-Today.md autonomously.

Prerequisites

• .autopilot file exists with content run
• TODO-Today.md has unchecked [ ] items in ## Queue
• Project's test suite / greenlight command is known

Execution Model

while .autopilot contains "run":
    task = first unchecked [ ] in TODO-Today.md
    if no task: write "Queue complete", STOP

    # Route (orchestrator phase)
    assign @agent, check stalls, preload context

    # DOR gate
    if task fails DOR: pause, STOP

    # Execute
    if US task: write failing test first (TDD)
    implement until tests pass

    # Verify
    confirm all acceptance criteria with evidence

    # Self-review
    review changed files for issues, fix any found

    # Cleanup sub-loop
    run greenlight
    if M+ task: run deep audit
    fix all Low findings
    if Medium+ findings: pause autopilot, STOP

    # Commit
    atomic conventional commit

    # Branch management
    if on feature branch: create PR

    # Move to done
    mark [x], move to DONE-Today with timestamp

    # Save context
    run /sh:handoff to produce handoff document

    # Check retro
    if retro counter >= 10: run /sh:retro before next task

    # Loop
    re-read .autopilot semaphore

Semaphore Control

The autopilot can write pause itself when:
- Medium+ quality findings detected
- DOR check fails
- Stall level reaches 3

Pausing

To pause autopilot mid-session:
- Write pause to .autopilot file
- Or delete the .autopilot file

Quality Guarantees

• Every task passes greenlight before commit
• Every commit is atomic and conventional
• Medium+ findings always pause — never bypassed
• Context is saved via /sh:handoff at every session boundary
• Retros happen on schedule via /sh:retro (every 10 US)