What This Skill Does

Locks all Edit and Write tool operations to a single directory for the current session. Any attempt to edit or write a file outside the allowed path is denied (not just warned). The freeze enforces intent boundaries — it prevents accidentally fixing unrelated code while working on a specific module. Bash commands (sed, awk, cp, mv) are NOT restricted.

When to Use

• Debugging a specific module and want to prevent accidentally touching other code
• User asks "freeze", "restrict edits", "only edit this folder", "lock down edits"
• Working in a monorepo where one change could cascade into unrelated packages

NOT for: blocking destructive shell commands (use mk:careful).

Core Capabilities

Aspect	Behavior
Edit tool	Blocked outside freeze boundary
Write tool	Blocked outside freeze boundary
Bash tool	NOT restricted (can still sed, awk, cp, mv anywhere)
Read tool	NOT restricted (can read any file)
Glob/Grep	NOT restricted (can search anywhere)
Scope	Session only — clears on conversation end or new session
Override	None — denied operations cannot be overridden

Arguments

/mk:freeze PATH` — the directory to restrict edits to. If no path is given, the skill prompts via AskUserQuestion for a text input path.

Workflow

1. User runs /mk:freeze or /mk:freeze PATH`
2. If no path given: AskUserQuestion prompts for directory (text input, not multiple choice)
3. Path resolution:

   FREEZE_DIR=$(cd "<user-provided-path>" 2>/dev/null && pwd)
   FREEZE_DIR="${FREEZE_DIR%/}/"   # trailing slash is CRITICAL

4. State stored: ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_DATA:-.claude/memory}/freeze-dir.txt
5. Hook activates: bin/check-freeze.sh registered as PreToolUse on Edit and Write
6. Every Edit/Write: hook reads file_path from tool input, compares against stored freeze boundary
7. Inside boundary: permissionDecision: "allow"
8. Outside boundary: permissionDecision: "deny" with message showing the freeze boundary

Trailing Slash Requirement

The trailing / prevents false matches. Without it, freezing /src would also match /src-old or /src-backup on a prefix check. The trailing slash ensures /src/ only matches files under /src/.

Symlink Warning

The hook checks the stated file_path, not the resolved symlink target. If the Edit tool resolves symlinks internally, a file could be written outside the frozen directory despite having a path inside it. Avoid placing symlinks inside the frozen directory that point outside.

Deactivation

Freeze deactivates when:

• The conversation ends or a new session starts
• A new freeze is set with a different path (overwrites state file)
• User manually deletes freeze-dir.txt

Common Use Cases

1. Debugging a single service in a monorepo — freeze to packages/auth/, prevent accidentally modifying packages/api/
2. Refactoring one module — lock edits to src/components/Dashboard/
3. Pair programming — restrict the AI to only the files the human partner is working on
4. Test-driven development — freeze to src/ and tests/ to prevent fixture drift

Example Prompt

/mk:freeze packages/auth I need to debug the auth module in our monorepo but keep accidentally editing files in packages/api. Lock me down to only the auth directory.

Pro Tips

• Combine with mk:careful for full protection: freeze prevents accidental edits, careful prevents destructive bash commands
• The freeze is an intent guardrail, not a security boundary — deliberate bash commands can still modify any file
• Test fixture files within a frozen directory can't be updated — use --exclude patterns for test fixtures
• The state file persists across messages within the same session; no need to re-specify

Notes

• Hook script: .claude/skills/freeze/bin/check-freeze.sh
• Mechanics reference: .claude/skills/freeze/references/freeze-mechanics.md
• Source: gstack