TMHSDigital · TMHSDigital · May 23, 2026 · May 23, 2026
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ You are working on Developer Tools Directory, a meta-repository that catalogs, s
 ## Repo structure
 
 - `registry.json` -- single source of truth for all 9 tool repos (name, type, counts, links, status)
-- `standards/` -- 9 Markdown docs defining conventions (folder structure, CI/CD, manifests, pages, commits, README, AGENTS.md, versioning)
+- `standards/` -- 18 Markdown docs defining conventions (folder structure, CI/CD, manifests, pages, commits, README, AGENTS.md, versioning, and more)
 - `scaffold/create-tool.py` -- Python repo generator using Jinja2 templates
 - `scaffold/templates/` -- Jinja2 templates producing a standards-compliant repo
 - `site-template/` -- shared GitHub Pages build system for tool repos (build_site.py + template.html.j2 + fonts)

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ This file tells AI coding agents how the Developer Tools Directory repo works an
 This is a **meta-repository** -- it does not contain a Cursor plugin or MCP server itself. It catalogs, standardizes, and scaffolds other TMHSDigital developer tool repos. It contains:
 
 - **`registry.json`** -- single source of truth for all tool repos. README, CLAUDE.md, and the catalog site's embedded registry are generated from it by `scripts/sync_from_registry.py`.
-- **`standards/`** -- 17 Markdown docs defining conventions for folder structure, CI/CD, plugin manifests, GitHub Pages, commits, README format, AGENTS.md format, versioning, testing, skills, rules, MCP servers, security, licensing, scope, lifecycle, and writing style.
+- **`standards/`** -- 18 Markdown docs defining conventions for folder structure, CI/CD, plugin manifests, GitHub Pages, commits, README format, AGENTS.md format, versioning, release-doc-sync, testing, skills, rules, MCP servers, security, licensing, scope, lifecycle, and writing style.
 - **`scaffold/`** -- Python repo generator (`create-tool.py`) with Jinja2 templates that produce a fully standards-compliant new tool repo.
 - **`scripts/`** -- automation utilities. `sync_from_registry.py` regenerates all derived artifacts from `registry.json`.
 - **`site-template/`** -- shared GitHub Pages build system for tool repos. `build_site.py` reads `.cursor-plugin/plugin.json`, `site.json`, `skills/`, `rules/`, and `mcp-tools.json` from a tool repo and renders `docs/index.html` via `template.html.j2`. Self-hosts Inter and JetBrains Mono fonts. Tool repos clone this directory in CI and run the build script at deploy time.

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Developer Tools Directory is a **meta-repository** that catalogs, standardizes,
 ```
 Developer-Tools-Directory/
   registry.json              # Source of truth for all tool repos
-  standards/                 # 17 convention docs (structure, CI/CD, testing, MCP, security, licensing, etc.)
+  standards/                 # 18 convention docs (structure, CI/CD, testing, MCP, security, licensing, etc.)
   scaffold/
     create-tool.py           # Python repo generator (Jinja2)
     templates/               # Jinja2 templates for new repos

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Thank you for your interest in contributing. This guide covers everything you ne
 ```
 Developer-Tools-Directory/
   registry.json              # Tool catalog (source of truth)
-  standards/                 # Convention documentation (9 docs)
+  standards/                 # Convention documentation (18 docs)
   scaffold/
     create-tool.py           # Repo generator script
     templates/               # Jinja2 templates for new repos

@@ -4,10 +4,18 @@
 
 ## Current Status
 
-**v1.6.3** - Patch release. Resolves drafter-body detection and branch-protection residuals from the version-scheme migration. `release.yml` now treats a drafter body of `## What's Changed / * No changes` as empty and falls through to the commit-log fallback. `main` is now protected by a GitHub ruleset (`main protection`) with 7 required status checks including `feat/fix commits require VERSION bump`, squash-merge only, no force pushes, no deletion, empty bypass list. Documentation across AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, CONTRIBUTING.md, `.github/workflows/README.md`, and `standards/ci-cd.md` updated to reflect the PR-based workflow.
+**v1.9.5** - Patch release. Removes `paths-ignore` from the meta-repo `release.yml` so content-only changes still gate releases on commit prefix. Companion fix removes `paths-ignore` from the scaffold `release.yml.j2` template so generated repos get the same behavior.
 
 Prior milestones in this line:
 
+- **v1.9.4** - docs: update release-doc-sync header comment to reflect the @v1 / @v1.X floating-tag convention.
+- **v1.9.3** - fix: align scaffold output with current ecosystem patterns (ref #45).
+- **v1.9.2** - fix: release-doc-sync default meta-repo-ref changed to `v1` (floating major tag).
+- **v1.9.1** - fix: stale-counts policy correction; example sections and dialogue lines added to aggregate-scan skip list (DTD#37).
+- **v1.9.0** - CI maintenance. Node 24-compatible GitHub Actions versions, dependabot coverage extended to github-actions ecosystem, Sponsor button and FUNDING.yml, stale-counts DTD#12 skip for AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md.
+- **v1.8.x** - release-doc-sync composite action (v1.8.0) plus fixes for checkout pollution, workspace cleanup, label-sync self-healing, floating-tag automation in `release.yml`, and version-bump-check parser.
+- **v1.7.x** - drift checker in two phases: Phase 1 (agents-template standard, scaffold updates, workflow docs); Phase 2 (core library, additional checks, CI integration, token separation, exit-code propagation).
+- **v1.6.3** - Drafter-body fix and branch-protection ruleset. `release.yml` treats a drafter body of `## What's Changed / * No changes` as empty. `main protection` ruleset established with 7 required checks.
 - **v1.6.2** - Release-drafter decoupling. Release-drafter no longer computes its own version; change-note aggregation only. Versioning is fully driven by the `VERSION` file and `release.yml`.
 - **v1.6.1** - `VERSION`-file-driven releases. Replaces conventional-commit auto-bump with an authoritative `VERSION` file; `feat:`/`fix:` commits require a VERSION bump enforced by CI.
 - **v1.6.0** - Standards and Governance. Nine new standards docs, registry-to-artifact sync automation, DCO + inbound license grant, scope and lifecycle principles, public-repo safety hardening.
@@ -26,9 +34,12 @@ Prior milestones in this line:
 | v1.6.1 | VERSION-file-driven releases | Released |
 | v1.6.2 | Release-drafter decoupling | Released |
 | v1.6.3 | Drafter-body fix and branch-protection ruleset | Released |
-| v1.7.0 | Sync Everywhere and Agent-File Drift | Planned |
-| v1.8.0 | Observability and Feedback | Planned |
-| v1.9.0 | Standards Versioning | Planned |
+| v1.7.0 | Drift Checker Foundation | Released |
+| v1.7.1 - v1.7.5 | Drift Checker Complete | Released |
+| v1.8.0 | Release Doc Sync | Released |
+| v1.8.1 - v1.8.5 | Release Doc Sync Fixes | Released |
+| v1.9.0 | CI Maintenance | Released |
+| v1.9.1 - v1.9.5 | Scaffold and Pipeline Fixes | Released |
 
 ---
 
@@ -181,38 +192,68 @@ Close the content, automation, and governance gaps identified in the v1.5 audit.
 
 ---
 
-## v1.7.0 - Sync Everywhere and Agent-File Drift
+## v1.7.0 - Drift Checker Foundation
 
-Extend the single-source-of-truth pattern beyond the directory repo.
+Phase 1 of the drift checker project. Established the agents-template standard, updated scaffold templates, and aligned workflow documentation with the branch-protection ruleset.
 
-- Generate `AGENTS.md` and `CLAUDE.md` sections in every tool repo from `registry.json` where they duplicate registry data
-- Add a `standards-version` frontmatter to every tool repo's `AGENTS.md` so the directory can audit compliance
-- Aggregate changelog workflow pulling each tool repo's `CHANGELOG.md` into a weekly digest on the catalog site
-- Cross-tool integration guidance: when to share code, when to duplicate, how to version shared modules
+- `standards/agents-template.md` added, documenting the required structure for AI agent guidance files in tool repos
+- Scaffold updated to generate compliant `AGENTS.md` from the new template
+- Workflow documentation across `AGENTS.md`, `CLAUDE.md`, and `.github/workflows/README.md` updated to reflect the active `main protection` ruleset
 
 ---
 
-## v1.8.0 - Observability and Feedback
+## v1.7.1 - v1.7.5 - Drift Checker Complete
 
-Empirical signals to drive standards revision.
+Phase 2: the drift checker itself. Automated detection of tool-repo policy drift surfaced as GitHub issues.
 
-- Opt-in telemetry spec for MCP tool invocation counts
-- npm download aggregator on the catalog site (public data)
-- `docs/INSIGHTS.md` generated weekly showing top tools/skills by signal
-- CI check flagging skills not invoked in the last 90 days as dormant
-- Feedback loop: standards changes must cite an empirical observation or user report
+- `scripts/drift_check/` core library: checks for standards-version signals in `AGENTS.md`, `CLAUDE.md`, skills, and rules files against the meta-repo `VERSION`
+- Additional policy checks: broken standards links, required references, stale aggregate counts in markdown
+- CI integration: runs on push to `main` (when checker code or standards change), weekly on schedule, and on demand via `workflow_dispatch`
+- Token split: `DRIFT_CHECK_TOKEN` for cross-repo sparse-checkout reads, `GITHUB_TOKEN` for issue writes
+- Exit-code propagation fix for the composite action caller
 
 ---
 
-## v1.9.0 - Standards Versioning
+## v1.8.0 - Release Doc Sync
 
-Version the ecosystem itself.
+Composite action for keeping `CHANGELOG.md`, `CLAUDE.md`, and `ROADMAP.md` in sync after an automated release.
 
-- Each standards doc gets a `standards-version` header
-- A per-standard changelog
-- Tool repos pin the standards version they claim to meet
-- Directory emits a compliance matrix per tool by standards version
-- Principles doc maintains its own version and changelog
+- `.github/actions/release-doc-sync/action.yml` composite action checks out the tool repo, runs the sync script, commits and pushes any drift
+- Designed for use in tool-repo `release.yml` workflows: `uses: TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/.github/actions/release-doc-sync@v1`
+- `standards/release-doc-sync.md` documents the contract between the action and calling repos
+
+---
+
+## v1.8.1 - v1.8.5 - Release Doc Sync Fixes
+
+Correctness fixes for the composite action and related CI machinery.
+
+- Checkout pollution: action no longer contaminates the caller's working tree
+- Defensive workspace cleanup added on failure paths
+- Label-sync self-healing: ports the self-healing pattern to the meta-repo `label-sync.yml`
+- Floating-tag automation: `release.yml` now creates and updates `v1` and `v1.X` floating tags on every release
+- Version-bump-check parser: fixed silent pass-all bug affecting PRs with multi-line commit subjects
+
+---
+
+## v1.9.0 - CI Maintenance
+
+Routine maintenance to keep the CI stack current and discoverable.
+
+- GitHub Actions bumped to Node 24-compatible versions across all workflows
+- Dependabot coverage extended to the `github-actions` ecosystem
+- Sponsor button added via `.github/FUNDING.yml`
+- Stale-counts check: `AGENTS.md` and `CLAUDE.md` skipped wholesale by filename regardless of config (DTD#12); aggregate-truth for those files belongs in a per-repo validate-counts job
+
+---
+
+## v1.9.1 - v1.9.5 - Scaffold and Pipeline Fixes
+
+- Stale-counts policy correction: example sections and roleplay dialogue lines excluded from aggregate scanning (DTD#37)
+- release-doc-sync `action.yml` default `meta-repo-ref` corrected to `v1` (floating major tag)
+- Scaffold `release.yml.j2` template: `paths-ignore` removed so content-only changes still gate releases on commit prefix
+- Scaffold output aligned with current ecosystem patterns (ref #45)
+- Meta-repo `release.yml`: `paths-ignore` removed for the same reason as the scaffold fix
 
 ---
 

@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ <h1>Developer Tools Directory</h1>
   <section id="standards" class="section">
     <div class="section-header">
       <h2>Standards</h2>
-      <span class="count">8</span>
+      <span class="count">18</span>
       <div class="section-actions">
         <button class="btn-sm toggle-section" data-target="standards-body">Expand</button>
       </div>
@@ -271,9 +271,19 @@ <h2>Standards</h2>
           <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/ci-cd.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>CI/CD</h3><p>GitHub Actions workflows every repo must have</p></a>
           <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/github-pages.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>GitHub Pages</h3><p>Documentation site setup and deployment</p></a>
           <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/commit-conventions.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Commit Conventions</h3><p>Conventional commits and version bumping rules</p></a>
-          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/versioning.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Versioning</h3><p>Semver management and automated release flow</p></a>
           <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/readme-template.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>README Template</h3><p>Standard README structure and required sections</p></a>
           <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/agents-template.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>AGENTS.md Template</h3><p>AI agent guidance file structure</p></a>
+          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/versioning.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Versioning</h3><p>Semver management and automated release flow</p></a>
+          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/release-doc-sync.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Release Doc Sync</h3><p>Composite action contract for keeping CHANGELOG, CLAUDE, and ROADMAP in sync after a release</p></a>
+          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/testing.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Testing</h3><p>Test frameworks, minimum coverage bar, and CI wiring</p></a>
+          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/skills.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Skills</h3><p>SKILL.md structure and frontmatter conventions</p></a>
+          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/rules.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Rules</h3><p>.mdc structure, globs, and the secrets rule pattern</p></a>
+          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/mcp-server.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>MCP Server</h3><p>Tool naming, runtime, transport, and destructive operation handling</p></a>
+          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/security.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Security</h3><p>Vulnerability disclosure, secrets handling, and workflow supply chain</p></a>
+          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/licensing.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Licensing</h3><p>DCO + inbound license grant model</p></a>
+          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/scope.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Scope</h3><p>What belongs in the directory and what does not</p></a>
+          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/lifecycle.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Lifecycle</h3><p>Tool status transitions from experimental to archived</p></a>
+          <a href="https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/blob/main/standards/writing-style.md" class="standard-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><h3>Writing Style</h3><p>Prose conventions across all repos</p></a>
         </div>
       </div>
     </details>
@@ -308,7 +318,7 @@ <h3>Scaffold Generator</h3>
       </div>
       <div class="footer-divider"></div>
       <div class="footer-meta">
-        <span>v1.5.0</span>
+        <span>v1.9.5</span>
         <span>&middot;</span>
         <span>CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0</span>
         <span>&middot;</span>