name: doc-audit description: 8-phase documentation drift audit across all docs, agent instructions, and config files. Use when checking for documentation drift, stale paths/counts, or inconsistencies between code and docs. disable-model-invocation: true
Documentation Audit
Comprehensive audit to ensure zero documentation drift across ALL docs, agent instructions, and config files.
Principle: Use existing scripts instead of ad-hoc grep commands. Never create temporary audit scripts — all checks are covered by the repo's tooling and test suite.
Complete Documentation Inventory
Layer 1: Primary Docs
| File | Drift-sensitive fields |
|---|---|
docs/README.md |
File tree, asset paths, tech stack |
docs/ARCHITECTURE.md |
File paths, component structure |
docs/CHANGELOG.md |
Missing entries for recent changes |
[FILL: docs/CONFIG-REFERENCE.md] |
[FILL: Schema tables, field descriptions] |
docs/decisions/ |
ADR accuracy vs. current implementation |
Layer 2: Agent Instructions
| File | Drift-sensitive fields |
|---|---|
AGENTS.md |
File structure (paths), coding rules |
CLAUDE.md |
File map (paths), key patterns |
.github/copilot-instructions.md |
Key files table (paths), always/never rules |
.agent/rules/coding-standards.md |
Rules, path conventions |
| [FILL: Additional agent instruction files] | [FILL: Drift-sensitive fields] |
Layer 3: Root-Level Files
| File | Drift-sensitive fields |
|---|---|
README.md |
File paths, quickstart instructions |
| [FILL: Add project-specific root-level files] | [FILL: Drift-sensitive fields] |
Phase 0 — File Tree Completeness (Structural Drift)
Why this is Phase 0: Missing files in file maps is the #1 drift source. Check this first.
Compare the actual file tree against every file-map section in agent instruction files and docs:
- List actual files:
ls src/,ls config/,ls docs/ - Cross-check against file maps in:
| File | Section name |
|---|---|
AGENTS.md |
## File Structure |
CLAUDE.md |
## File Map |
[FILL: docs/README.md] |
[FILL: Section name for file tree] |
- Every real file/directory must appear in all file maps. Flag any missing entries.
Phase 1 — Identify What Changed
git diff --stat
git log --oneline -10
Classify the change type:
- Config change → schema, examples, stats references may be stale
- UI/layout change → styling guide, layout constraints may be stale
- New feature → user flow, architecture, changelog, roadmap may be stale
- File added/removed/renamed → file trees, path references may be stale
- Agent rule change → must propagate to ALL agent instruction files
Phase 2 — Run Automated Drift Checks
Do not use ad-hoc grep commands or create temporary scripts for checks that existing tooling already covers.
# Run all automated tests
npm test
# [FILL: Add any project-specific drift/stats scripts here]
Verify policy alignment:
- Agent docs do not hardcode mutable totals as static source-of-truth values
- If a snapshot number is documented, it is clearly labeled with snapshot context/date
Phase 3 — Verify Path Conventions
# Find references to potentially stale paths
grep -rn "[FILL: old-path-prefix]" docs/ .agent/ .claude/ .github/ AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md --include="*.md"
Current correct conventions:
- [FILL: Path convention 1 — e.g. "No leading
/or./in asset paths"] - [FILL: Path convention 2 — e.g. "Assets at
assets/{name}.ext"]
Phase 4 — Verify Config ↔ Code Consistency
Use existing tooling — do not write ad-hoc scripts for these checks.
All automated checks from Phase 2 cover config consistency. If they all pass, this phase is done.
Phase 5 — Cross-Check Agent Files
5a. File map sync (structural)
Verify all files/directories in the repo are listed in the agent file maps (see Phase 0).
5b. Fact consistency
All agent instruction files must agree on:
| Fact | Must match across |
|---|---|
| Coding rules | AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, copilot-instructions.md, coding-standards.md |
| Security requirements | AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, copilot-instructions.md, coding-standards.md |
| [FILL: Project-specific fact] | [FILL: Which files must agree] |
Phase 6 — Workflow & Skill Consistency
-
.agent/workflows/doc-audit.md— This workflow is itself still accurate? (meta-audit) -
.claude/skills/doc-audit/SKILL.md— Same as above? -
.github/pull_request_template.md— Contains explicit docs/ADR/policy alignment gates? - [FILL: Any project-specific workflows to check]
Phase 7 — Update CHANGELOG
If any doc fixes were made:
### Fixed
- Documentation drift: updated [specific counts/paths/conventions] across [N] files
Change → Doc Impact Matrix
| If you changed… | Update these docs |
|---|---|
| File added/removed/renamed | AGENTS.md (file structure), CLAUDE.md (file map), docs/ARCHITECTURE.md |
| Architecture decision | docs/decisions/ (add new ADR file) |
| New feature / bug fix | docs/CHANGELOG.md |
| Coding rule changed | AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, copilot-instructions.md, coding-standards.md |
| [FILL: Project-specific change] | [FILL: Affected docs] |
Drift Severity
| Level | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 🔴 Critical | Wrong paths, wrong schema, contradictory policy rules | Fix immediately |
| 🟠 High | Missing files in agent file maps, outdated conventions | Fix before next AI-assisted change |
| 🟡 Medium | Missing changelog entry, outdated roadmap | Fix in next doc pass |
| 🟢 Low | Stylistic inconsistency | Fix when convenient |