Problem. Gaps an autonomous agent hits chaining dotf via exit codes: (a) dotf env path NO_SUCH_KEY prints an empty line and exits 0 — unknown key indistinguishable from unset value; (b) re-archiving a spec errors spec not found instead of acknowledging "already archived" (non-idempotent second call); (c) dotf secrets set with bw missing misattributes the failure as item "…" not found (backup gets it right: exec: "bw": not found); (d) secrets migrate shared-source guard recommends migrate --split which does not exist (Error: unknown flag: --split) — implement or reword (C9); (e) no command offers --json; agents parse prose. Good contracts to preserve: verify/render --strict/run --only exit semantics, update's skip-vs-fail split, generate --check.
Repro: E3 T5, E2 S12/S15, W6b (exact commands in the report).
Fix direction. Exit-code contract documented per noun; --json on doctor/verify/ls/update first; unknown-key exit 1; idempotent archive message; accurate bw-absent errors.
Source: docs/audits/process-audit-2026-07-07.md §4 P9 (CONFIRMED).
Problem. Gaps an autonomous agent hits chaining dotf via exit codes: (a)
dotf env path NO_SUCH_KEYprints an empty line and exits 0 — unknown key indistinguishable from unset value; (b) re-archiving a spec errorsspec not foundinstead of acknowledging "already archived" (non-idempotent second call); (c)dotf secrets setwith bw missing misattributes the failure asitem "…" not found(backup gets it right:exec: "bw": not found); (d)secrets migrateshared-source guard recommendsmigrate --splitwhich does not exist (Error: unknown flag: --split) — implement or reword (C9); (e) no command offers--json; agents parse prose. Good contracts to preserve: verify/render --strict/run --only exit semantics, update's skip-vs-fail split, generate --check.Repro: E3 T5, E2 S12/S15, W6b (exact commands in the report).
Fix direction. Exit-code contract documented per noun;
--jsonon doctor/verify/ls/update first; unknown-key exit 1; idempotent archive message; accurate bw-absent errors.Source: docs/audits/process-audit-2026-07-07.md §4 P9 (CONFIRMED).