Fable Config

Change harness/configuration behavior with explicit precedence, least privilege, secret-safe handling, and a verified rollback path.

Mission

Configuration is executable behavior. A syntactically valid JSON/TOML/YAML file can still disable a guard, broaden permissions, write to the wrong scope, or be ignored because another source has higher precedence.

The Skill must prove both configuration validity and effective behavior.

Activate When

• changing host/harness settings, permissions, hooks, keybindings, model/tool config, or environment references;
• adding/removing lifecycle enforcement;
• troubleshooting why a setting is not taking effect;
• configuring safe command/tool allowlists;
• migrating configuration formats/scopes.

Do Not Activate When

• storing raw credentials/secrets;
• application business logic is the real change;
• a host capability is unknown and needs research/discovery first;
• the requested change is to weaken a safety boundary merely to bypass an error without understanding it.

Configuration Classification

Protocol

Stage 1 — Locate source and effective scope

Identify:

• target host/version;
• project vs user/global scope;
• all configuration sources and precedence;
• generated vs hand-maintained files;
• existing user customizations to preserve.

Do not edit the first file with the right name until you know it is effective.

Stage 2 — Define desired behavior and least privilege

State exactly what capability should become allowed/blocked/triggered and what must remain unchanged.

For permissions, prefer narrow command/tool/path patterns. Wildcards need explicit justification and threat consideration.

Stage 3 — Protect secrets

Configuration may reference environment variable names or secure stores, but should not embed raw tokens/passwords/private keys unless the target's secure format explicitly requires protected encrypted storage.

If an existing secret is found in plaintext, do not echo it; route exposure handling appropriately.

Stage 4 — Make a minimal merge

Preserve unknown/user-defined settings. Avoid replacing an entire config object/file when one scoped key can be merged.

For generated config, modify source/generator then regenerate.

Stage 5 — Validate structure and semantics

Run available parser/schema/host diagnostics. Check:

• syntax;
• key types/enums;
• duplicate/conflicting entries;
• unsupported/deprecated keys;
• permission pattern scope;
• hook command/path existence.

Stage 6 — Prove effective behavior

A valid file is not enough. Test the configured behavior safely:

• target command is allowed while broader command remains denied;
• hook fires at intended lifecycle point;
• project override wins as expected;
• setting is visible to the target host;
• rollback restores previous behavior.

Stage 7 — Record rollback and handoff

Capture changed source, effective scope, validation, behavioral proof, and how to revert if the host fails after restart/update.

Decision Rules

• Preserve existing user settings not owned by the task.
• Prefer exact allowlists over *, shell wildcards, root/global permissions.
• A config key accepted by parser but ignored by host is not a successful change; verify effect.
• Host integration levels differ; do not claim hooks/enforcement where the host only supports advisory rules.
• Environment variable name may be stored; secret value should remain in secure environment/credential store.
• If config precedence is uncertain, investigate before editing more files.
• Do not disable security/approval checks simply because they are blocking an unsafe action.
• If a malformed edit can lock out the host, keep a reversible backup/atomic write strategy.

Invariants

• Least privilege is preserved or any broadening is explicit and justified.
• Raw secrets are not introduced into repository/config logs.
• Existing unrelated user configuration is preserved.
• Edited source is the effective source-of-truth.
• Syntax/schema and actual host behavior both verify.
• Rollback is possible for material changes.

Failure Taxonomy

Precedence mismatch

Edited file is shadowed by another scope/source. Trace effective configuration.

Schema-valid but ignored

Host accepts file but does not support/use key. Verify host version/capability.

Permission overreach

Pattern allows more than requested. Narrow and test negative case.

Hook misregistration

Script exists but lifecycle never invokes it. Validate registration path/event and permissions.

Secret leakage

Credential embedded/logged. Remove safely and rotate if exposure occurred.

User-config clobber

Whole-file rewrite loses existing settings. Restore/merge surgically.

Generated drift

Manual edit is overwritten. Change generator/source instead.

Anti-Patterns

• "allow": ["*"] to stop approval prompts;
• editing global config when project scope suffices;
• copying API tokens into settings examples;
• validating JSON syntax and calling the hook configured;
• claiming full lifecycle enforcement on a host with advisory-only integration;
• resetting the whole config file for one key;
• disabling security controls to make a command pass;
• manually patching generated config.

Configuration Packet

Target host/version/scope:
Effective config sources + precedence:
Desired behavior:
Settings changed:
Permissions before/after:
Secret handling:
Syntax/schema validation:
Behavioral proof + negative case:
Preserved user settings:
Rollback:

Completion Criteria

Configuration completes when:

• correct effective source/scope was changed minimally;
• configuration parses and satisfies schema/capability constraints;
• permissions remain least-privilege;
• secrets/unrelated settings remain safe;
• target behavior is empirically observed, including important negative case;
• rollback and host limitations are explicit.

Progressive Resources

• Deep guide: references/config-precedence-permissions-and-hooks.md
• Existing rules: references/harness-configuration-rules.md
• Example: examples/configure-allowlist.md