[AI Ops] Spec and implementation plan for unified branding agent (headers, footers, badges)

[ashleyshaw]

AI Ops Summary

Define the parent specification and delivery plan for a unified branding agent that automates category-aware Markdown headers, footers, and badges across the LightSpeed .github repository.

This parent issue sets the overall scope, taxonomy, governance, and implementation direction for the branding system. It exists to coordinate the full body of work and ensure that the template design, schema/config model, and implementation all follow one consistent brief.

This issue should remain the canonical parent for the branding-agent initiative, with focused child issues handling discrete parts of the work such as template design and schema/config changes.

Related child issues:

• [AI Ops] Design footer/header/badge templates for unified branding agent #46 — Design footer/header/badge templates for unified branding agent
• [AI Ops] Schema update for unified branding agent (category, tags, badges) #49 — Schema update for unified branding agent (category, tags, badges)

Problem / Opportunity

The current branding direction for Markdown files is spread across examples, instructions, and separate header/footer and badge logic. That fragmentation makes the work harder to scope, validate, and maintain.

We need one clear parent brief that defines:

• what the unified branding agent is responsible for;
• which document categories it supports;
• how headers, footers, and badges are selected;
• how frontmatter, folder context, and schema/config work together;
• what accessibility and readability constraints apply;
• how child issues should break the work down into smaller, reviewable pieces.

Without this parent brief, the implementation risks:

• hard-coded or duplicated branding behaviour;
• inconsistent output across Markdown document types;
• unclear category mapping and fallback rules;
• schema drift between documentation and implementation;
• avoidable review overhead across related issues.

Approach / Solution

Create a unified parent specification for a branding agent that:

• automates insertion and maintenance of Markdown headers, footers, and badges;
• uses frontmatter and path-based defaults to determine document category and branding rules;
• centralises branding logic currently implied across separate workflows;
• supports schema-driven configuration for categories, templates, and badge definitions;
• defines a clear set of document categories and footer/header conventions;
• keeps generated output accessible, readable, and maintainable;
• breaks delivery into child issues with narrowly scoped outputs.

This parent issue defines the full initiative. Implementation work should be split into child issues and follow-on PRs rather than bundled into one large change.

Scope

In scope:

• Markdown-only branding automation
• Category-aware headers, footers, and badges
• Frontmatter-driven and path-aware template selection
• Schema/config support for category, tags, badges, and templates
• Clear category taxonomy for repository-local Markdown content
• Footer and header examples per supported document class
• Accessibility and readability constraints
• Documentation and implementation guidance for maintainers

In-scope repository paths:

• docs/
• instructions/
• prompts/
• agents/
• awesome-copilot/
• schema/
• readme/
• test
• utility

Out of scope for this parent issue:

• unrelated instruction-audit work
• moving portable assets outside approved .github boundaries
• large repository restructuring without a separate migration issue
• non-Markdown branding logic

Document Categories To Define

The initiative must define a controlled category system for the branding agent. Initial categories should include at minimum:

• issue
• pull-request
• docs
• ai-ops
• agents
• instructions
• prompts
• schema
• readme
• test
• utility
• awesome-copilot
• research
• audit
• workflow
• governance

For each category, the spec should define:

• purpose
• audience
• expected file/folder context
• required or recommended frontmatter
• permitted badge types
• header behaviour
• footer behaviour
• fallback behaviour when metadata is missing

Footer, Header, And Badge Requirements

The branding system must support reusable, category-aware templates for:

• headers
• footers
• badges

These templates must be:

• accessible
• readable
• consistent
• low-noise
• easy to extend
• easy to validate

Retain and build from these footer examples already identified in the broader brief:

• Maintained with ❤️ by the 🚀 LightSpeedWP Automation Team
• Built by 🧱 LightSpeedWP with ☕, 🚀, and open-source spirit!
• Docs signed by 🤖 Copilot for LightSpeedWP – always fresh!
• Prompt magic by 🦄 LightSpeedWP Automation Unicorns.
• Schema validated by LightSpeedWP – 📐 always compliant.

Required Footer Example Coverage

The parent brief must require 5 example footer variants per category for at least the following document classes:

• Issue
• Pull Request
• Documentation
• AI Ops
• Other supported document classes

“Other supported document classes” must include at least:

• Agents
• Instructions
• Prompts
• Schema
• README / overview documents
• Research / audit documents

These examples should be implementation-ready and suitable for use in schema/config and agent logic.

Schema / Config Requirement

The initiative must define how branding configuration is authored and validated.

The spec must explicitly evaluate and choose between:

1. JSON only
2. YAML only
3. YAML authoring with JSON Schema validation

Recommended direction:

• YAML authoring with JSON Schema validation

The chosen approach must explain:

• how categories are defined
• how tags influence badge and template selection
• how header/footer variants are stored
• how badge rules are mapped
• how path-based defaults work
• how frontmatter overrides defaults
• how invalid configuration fails safely
• how maintainers update templates without increasing maintenance burden

Child Issue Breakdown

This parent issue coordinates the following child work:

#46 — Design footer/header/badge templates for unified branding agent

Issue #46 should define the template design layer, including:

• category-to-template mapping
• header rules
• footer rules
• badge conventions
• frontmatter-driven template behaviour
• fallback behaviour
• implementation-ready examples

#49 — Schema update for unified branding agent (category, tags, badges)

Issue #49 should define the schema/config layer, including:

• category field support
• tags support
• badge definitions
• header/footer template references
• validation rules
• config structure and maintainability guidance

Together, these child issues should support the implementation work that follows from this parent brief.

Deliverables

This parent issue is complete when it provides:

• a clear initiative-level specification for the unified branding agent
• a consistent category taxonomy
• documented requirements for headers, footers, and badges
• required example coverage for footer variants
• a schema/config direction and validation strategy
• a clear relationship to child issues [AI Ops] Design footer/header/badge templates for unified branding agent #46 and [AI Ops] Schema update for unified branding agent (category, tags, badges) #49
• a delivery plan that supports small, reviewable implementation steps

References

Child issues:

• [AI Ops] Design footer/header/badge templates for unified branding agent #46 — Design footer/header/badge templates for unified branding agent
• [AI Ops] Schema update for unified branding agent (category, tags, badges) #49 — Schema update for unified branding agent (category, tags, badges)

Related files:

• footer-header-style.instructions.md
• header-footer.agent.md
• badges.agent.md
• a11y.instructions.md
• agent-config.schema.json
• README.md

Acceptance Criteria

• Parent scope for the unified branding agent is clearly defined
• Child issue responsibilities for [AI Ops] Design footer/header/badge templates for unified branding agent #46 and [AI Ops] Schema update for unified branding agent (category, tags, badges) #49 are clearly described
• Document categories are explicitly listed and described
• Header requirements are defined at the parent brief level
• Footer requirements are defined at the parent brief level
• Badge requirements are defined at the parent brief level
• Requirement for 5 footer examples per key category is explicitly documented
• Schema/config direction is documented and justified
• Frontmatter and path-based fallback behaviour is defined at a high level
• Accessibility and readability constraints are documented
• In-scope paths are documented
• Parent/child issue relationship is clear enough for follow-on implementation work
• Documentation updated where needed
• PR uses correct branch prefix (ai/)
• Approved by at least one maintainer

Additional Context

This parent issue should stay focused on governing the initiative, not duplicating all implementation detail from the child issues.

The goal is that:

• issue [AI Ops] Spec and implementation plan for unified branding agent (headers, footers, badges) #33 defines the programme-level brief;
• issue [AI Ops] Design footer/header/badge templates for unified branding agent #46 defines the template design rules and examples;
• issue [AI Ops] Schema update for unified branding agent (category, tags, badges) #49 defines the schema/config model and validation direction.

That separation should keep planning, implementation, and review clear and maintainable.

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Definition of Ready (DoR)

• AI ops goal described
• Area/action mapped
• Acceptance criteria listed
• Estimate added

Definition of Done (DoD)

• All acceptance criteria met
• Child issue breakdown aligned with [AI Ops] Design footer/header/badge templates for unified branding agent #46 and [AI Ops] Schema update for unified branding agent (category, tags, badges) #49
• Documentation updated
• PR uses correct branch prefix (ai/)