---
name: release-gate
description: Use this skill when an editor or imprint owner has a manuscript that might be ready to ship and needs its open issues sorted into blocker, fix if practical, next edition, or ignore, and needs a release recommendation with reasons. Triggers on requests like "is this ready to release," "sort these issues," "what blocks release," "run the release gate," or "can we ship this."
---

# Release Gate
This skill carries out the Release Gate and the Sales-Ready Definition of
Done from *The Editor’s Job After AI Is Tasteful Judgment*, in "A Book Should Ship
When It Is Sellable" and "Four Categories Decide What Blocks a Release."
It does the sorting and the inspection. The person who owns the book
makes the release decision. This skill ends with a recommendation and
its reasons.

## Before running

1. Get the manuscript source, the book bible, and the imprint spec.
2. Get the list of known open issues, if one exists.
3. Do not invent a reader signal. If a category call depends on reader
   evidence you do not have, say so.

## Steps

1. Read the Sales-Ready Definition of Done in the book. Test each item
   against the manuscript and its build output. Record for each item:
   met, not met, or cannot tell, with the file and line that show it.
2. Add every known open issue and every issue found in step 1 to one
   list.
3. Put each issue in one category:
   - Blocker: a material factual error, a fabricated source, a broken
     argument, a serious contradiction, missing promised content, broken
     rendering, an unusable table or figure, an unresolved rights
     problem, a misleading claim, or a severe production defect.
   - Fix before release if practical: a meaningful, bounded improvement
     that is cheap.
   - Next edition: useful, and not worth delaying release.
   - Ignore: preference with no reader or commercial consequence.
4. Name the evidence for each blocker. If there is none, move it down
   and say why.
5. Check that the rendered pages were looked at by a person. A clean
   build does not count.

## Conclude

End with one of these, and give the reasoning.

- Release. No blocker is open.
- Do not release. List each blocker, the smallest fix, and who owns it.
- Cannot tell. Name the evidence that would settle it.

Never state that a book is ready when a blocker is open. Never invent a
source, a reader, or a market fact.