epic(sync): template and sync engine improvements

[JustAGhosT]

Area: sync-engine | Priority: P2 — Medium | Phase: active

Summary

Umbrella issue for improvements to the sync engine, template rendering, and scaffold behavior.

Sub-Issues

Template Output Fixes

• Template fix: make /check pass at repo root by generating root quality-gate scripts #174 — Make /check pass at repo root by generating root quality-gate scripts
• fix(templates): normalize placeholder issue-link examples in generated governance docs #181 — Normalize placeholder issue-link examples in generated governance docs
• fix(ci): fix missing script path in documentation validation job #183 — Fix missing script path in documentation validation job
• fix(ci): point documentation quality workflow to existing validators #184 — Point documentation quality workflow to existing validators

Scaffold & Path Handling

• fix(sync): use normalized path for scaffold-once check in write mode #246 — Use normalized path for scaffold-once check in write mode

Template Testing

• Template conformance tests: assert generated branch protection + /check contracts #175 — Template conformance tests: assert generated branch protection + /check contracts

Engine Enhancements

• feat(sync): add spec-defaults.yaml for centralised template variable defaults #273 — Add spec-defaults.yaml for centralized template variable defaults
• feat(sync): add automated PR generation for upstream template suggestions #287 — Add automated PR generation for upstream template suggestions

Workflow Templating & CI Management

• ci(workflows): workflow templating strategy, concurrency, and runner management #327 — Workflow templating strategy, concurrency, and runner management
• fix(budget-guard): verify and address budget-guard workflow logic #328 — Verify and address budget-guard workflow logic (incl. PVC-Cost-Ops integration & notifications)
• chore(templates): analyze implemented repos for CI/CD template generation opportunities #329 — Analyze implemented repos for CI/CD template generation opportunities

Acceptance Criteria

• All sub-issues resolved
• Sync engine handles edge cases (paths, defaults, placeholders) correctly
• Generated workflows reference existing scripts/validators
• Template conformance tests prevent regressions

[github-actions]

Issue Field Validation Failed

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[github-actions]

Issue Field Validation Failed

The following fields have invalid values:

• Area is required and must be set to a valid option.
• Priority is required and must be set to a valid option.

Please edit this issue and select valid options from the dropdowns.

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[github-actions]

Issue Field Validation Failed

The following fields have invalid values:

• Area is required and must be set to a valid option.
• Priority is required and must be set to a valid option.

Please edit this issue and select valid options from the dropdowns.

---

This check is automated by AgentKit Forge issue field validation.

[JustAGhosT]

Baton grouping update 2026-07-08: #560 and #563 were attached under the existing #305 sync/template epic. #563 remains related to #246, but is tracked separately because it covers manifest/stale-clean flapping rather than path normalization.