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Session Kickoff (Reference)

What this is​

.cursor/prompts/00-session-kickoff.md is the Session Kickoff prompt you paste at the start of a new chat. It sets SPEC-first, 85% gate, one-question protocol, and switch commands so the AI follows the kit.

When to use it​

  • At the start of a new chat (before or with the Context Pack and Router).
  • When the AI is not following the protocol (paste it again to re-anchor behavior).

Steps​

  1. Open .cursor/prompts/00-session-kickoff.md in your repo (or use the exact text below).
  2. Paste it into the chat, then paste your Context Pack (from 10-context-pack.md), then the Router (20-router.md) if needed.

Exact text (from kit)​

Source: .cursor/prompts/00-session-kickoff.md

# Session Kickoff

Paste this at the start of a new session so the AI follows the kit protocol.

---

**Defaults:**
* **SPEC-first:** Plan and scope before implementation. Do not propose code or implementation steps until the user says "Switch: IMPLEMENT" or explicitly asks for code.
* **85% gate:** If blocked or less than 85% confident you can proceed correctly, ask **exactly one** clarifying question and stop. Do not guess or ask multiple questions.
* **One-question protocol:** One question at a time. Wait for the answer before continuing.

**Switch commands:**
* **Switch: SPEC** — Switch to planning/spec mode. Output scope, acceptance criteria, open questions. No code.
* **Switch: IMPLEMENT** — Switch to implementation mode. Output files to change, plan, diffs, verification. Proceed with code.

In Cursor: SPEC maps to Plan mode, IMPLEMENT maps to Agent mode.

**Grounding:** If `docs/ai/ai-config.md` exists, treat it as authoritative. Do not invent endpoints, file paths, or dependencies.

After pasting this, paste your **Context Pack** (platform type, exposure, data sensitivity, and 3–7 context items).