---
name: Ouroboros Status
slug: ouroboros-status
category: AI Engineering
description: "Ouroboros Status queries an Ouroboros session's state and measures how far execution has drifted from the original seed goal. Use it when an agent or user wants to check session progress or detect goal drift."
github: "https://github.com/Q00/ouroboros/tree/main/skills/status"
language: Python
stars: 5431
forks: 550
install: "npx degit https://github.com/Q00/ouroboros/tree/main/skills/status ~/.claude/skills/status"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/status
source_path: skills/status/SKILL.md
collection_size: 25
category_size: 2451
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/Q00/ouroboros"
added: 2026-08-16T07:00:04.069Z
last_synced: 2026-08-16T07:00:04.069Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/ouroboros-status"
---

# Ouroboros Status

Ouroboros Status queries an Ouroboros session's state and measures how far execution has drifted from the original seed goal. Use it when an agent or user wants to check session progress or detect goal drift.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/Q00/ouroboros/tree/main/skills/status ~/.claude/skills/status
```

## README

# /ouroboros:ouroboros-status

Check session status and measure goal drift.

## Usage

```
/ouroboros:ouroboros-status [session_id]
```

**Trigger keywords:** "am I drifting?", "session status", "drift check"

## How It Works

1. **Session Status**: Queries the current state of an execution session
2. **Drift Measurement**: Measures how far the execution has deviated from the original seed goal

## Instructions

When the user invokes this skill:

### Load MCP Tools (Required first)

The Ouroboros MCP tools are often registered as **deferred tools** that must be explicitly loaded before use. **You MUST perform this step before proceeding.**

1. Use the active runtime's tool-discovery capability to find and load the status MCP tools:
   ```
   tool discovery query: "+ouroboros session status"
   ```
2. The tools will typically be named with prefix `mcp__plugin_ouroboros_ouroboros__` (e.g., `ouroboros_session_status`, `ouroboros_measure_drift`). After runtime tool discovery returns, the tools become callable.
3. If the tools are callable — already exposed, or loaded by discovery — proceed with the steps below. An empty discovery result for already-exposed tools is expected, not a failure. Skip to the **Fallback** section only if they are genuinely absent (no Ouroboros MCP server).

**IMPORTANT**: Do NOT skip this step. Do NOT assume MCP tools are unavailable just because they don't appear in your immediate tool list. They are almost always available as deferred tools that need to be loaded first.

### Status Steps

1. Determine the session to check:
   - If `session_id` provided: Use it directly
   - If no session_id: Check conversation for recent session IDs
   - If none found: Ask user for the session ID

2. Call `ouroboros_session_status` MCP tool:
   ```
   Tool: ouroboros_session_status
   Arguments:
     session_id: <session ID>
   ```

3. If the user asks about drift (or says "am I drifting?"), also call `ouroboros_measure_drift`:
   ```
   Tool: ouroboros_measure_drift
   Arguments:
     session_id: <session ID>
     current_output: <current execution output or file contents>
     seed_content: <original seed YAML>
     constraint_violations: []  (any known violations)
     current_concepts: []       (concepts in current output)
   ```

4. Present results:
   - Show session status (running, completed, failed)
   - Show progress information
   - If drift measured, show the drift report
   - If drift exceeds threshold (0.3), warn and suggest actions
   - End with a state breadcrumb based on context:
     - No drift measured: `◆ Session active — say "am I drifting?" to measure drift, or continue with ooo run`
     - Drift ≤ 0.3: `◆ On track — continue with ooo run or ooo evaluate when ready`
     - Drift > 0.3: `◆ Significant drift detected → next: ooo interview to re-clarify, or ooo evolve to course-correct`

## Drift Thresholds

| Combined Drift | Status | Action |
|----------------|--------|--------|
| 0.0 - 0.15 | Excellent | On track |
| 0.15 - 0.30 | Acceptable | Monitor closely |
| 0.30+ | Exceeded | Consider consensus review or course correction |

## Fallback (No MCP Server)

If the MCP server is not available:

```
Session tracking requires the Ouroboros MCP server.
Run /ouroboros:setup to configure.

Without MCP, you can manually check drift by comparing
your current implementation against the seed specification.
```

## Example

```
User: am I drifting?

Session: sess-abc-123
Status: running
Seed ID: seed-456
Messages Processed: 8

Drift Measurement Report
========================
Combined Drift: 0.12
Status: ACCEPTABLE

Component Breakdown:
  Goal Drift: 0.08 (50% weight)
  Constraint Drift: 0.10 (30% weight)
  Ontology Drift: 0.20 (20% weight)

You're on track. Goal alignment is strong.

◆ On track — continue with `ooo run` or `ooo evaluate` when ready
```

## RFC #1392 State Breadcrumb Footer

Your final response MUST end with exactly one breadcrumb footer line:

```
◆ <current state> → next: <recommended action>
```

Derive `<current state>` from live session state via `ouroboros_session_status` when that MCP projection is available; otherwise derive it from this skill's actual outcome. Never use a linear `Step N of M` footer because Ouroboros is an evolutionary loop. When the next action is genuinely a choice, list 2-3 honest options in the `next:` clause. The breadcrumb line must be the last line of the response.