MITIGATION_TODOS.md

BRACK ISSUE MITIGATION TODO LIST

Priority-ordered tasks to fix data loss risks

CRITICAL PRIORITY - Immediate Action Required

STASH SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

TODO-STASH-001: Implement Robust Stash Validation

• Add validate_stash_exists() function to verify stash before attempting restore
• Implement stash content verification (file count, checksum validation)
• Add stash backup mechanism before any destructive operations
• Location: Modify restore_working_directory() at line 429
• Risk: Without this, stashed work can be permanently lost

TODO-STASH-002: Improve Stash Recovery Error Handling

• Replace silent failures in cleanup_stash_on_error() with explicit error reporting
• Add fallback mechanisms when primary stash recovery fails
• Implement stash history logging to track what was stashed when
• Location: Modify cleanup_stash_on_error() at line 472
• Risk: Current silent failures leave users unaware of data loss

TODO-STASH-003: Add Stash Safety Checks Before Branch Operations

• Verify working directory is clean before any branch switching
• Add confirmation prompt when stashing untracked files
• Implement dry-run mode for stash operations
• Location: Add checks before git checkout operations at lines 867, 889, 911
• Risk: Branch switching can silently destroy untracked files

UNTRACKED FILE PROTECTION

TODO-UNTRACKED-001: Remove Dangerous -u Flag from Stash Operations

• Separate tracked and untracked file handling completely
• Replace git stash push -u with tracked-only stashing
• Add explicit untracked file backup mechanism using tar/zip
• Location: Modify save_working_directory() at line 403
• Risk: CRITICAL - -u flag is primary cause of untracked file loss

TODO-UNTRACKED-002: Implement Untracked File Safety Scanner

• Add scan_untracked_files() function to inventory untracked files before operations
• Create manifest of untracked files with checksums
• Validate untracked files are unchanged after operations
• Location: Add new function, call before any git operations
• Risk: Without inventory, impossible to detect untracked file loss

TODO-UNTRACKED-003: Add Untracked File Categorization

• Extend file categorization to include untracked Python files
• Add special handling for untracked files that would be formatted
• Implement user confirmation for formatting untracked files
• Location: Modify categorize_files() at line 765
• Risk: Untracked Python files may not be formatted correctly

TODO-UNTRACKED-004: Implement Safe Branch Switching

• Add pre-flight check for untracked files before branch switching
• Warn user about potential untracked file conflicts
• Add option to backup untracked files before branch operations
• Location: Modify all git checkout operations
• Risk: Branch switching can silently delete conflicting untracked files

HIGH PRIORITY - Address Within Sprint

RACE CONDITION PREVENTION

TODO-RACE-001: Implement File Locking for Concurrent Execution

• Add exclusive lock file creation at tool startup
• Implement lock timeout and stale lock detection
• Add graceful handling when lock is already held
• Location: Add to main() function at line 2436
• Risk: Multiple invocations can corrupt git state

TODO-RACE-002: Add Background Process Tracking

• Create persistent background process registry
• Implement orphaned process detection and cleanup
• Add process health monitoring for background operations
• Location: Modify background process functions starting line 1161
• Risk: Orphaned processes interfere with subsequent runs

TODO-RACE-003: Implement Atomic Error State Management

• Use atomic file operations for error state file updates
• Add process ID tracking to error state file
• Implement error state file locking
• Location: Modify error state functions at lines 177-257
• Risk: Corrupted error state files block all operations

MERGE CONFLICT SAFETY

TODO-MERGE-001: Replace Silent Conflict Resolution

• Remove automatic git checkout --ours . behavior
• Add user prompt for conflict resolution strategy
• Implement conflict diff display before resolution
• Location: Modify handle_merge_conflicts() at line 1050
• Risk: Important changes silently discarded during conflicts

TODO-MERGE-002: Add Conflict Resolution Logging

• Log all files affected by conflict resolution
• Create before/after diffs of conflict resolution
• Add recovery instructions for undoing conflict resolution
• Location: Add logging to conflict resolution functions
• Risk: Users unaware of what was lost during conflict resolution

ERROR RECOVERY IMPROVEMENTS

TODO-RECOVERY-001: Implement Bulletproof Emergency Cleanup

• Make each cleanup step independent and reversible
• Add comprehensive logging of cleanup operations
• Implement cleanup verification and rollback mechanisms
• Location: Rewrite emergency_cleanup() at line 530
• Risk: Failed cleanup leaves repository in broken state

TODO-RECOVERY-002: Add Pre-Operation State Backup

• Create complete repository state snapshot before operations
• Include working directory, index, and stash state
• Add one-command state restoration mechanism
• Location: Add to beginning of main_workflow() at line 2195
• Risk: No way to recover from catastrophic failures

MEDIUM PRIORITY - Address Next Sprint

FORCE PUSH SAFETY

TODO-PUSH-001: Add User Confirmation for Force Push

• Require explicit user consent for --force-with-lease operations
• Add dry-run mode to show what would be pushed
• Implement push conflict detection before attempting force push
• Location: Modify push_branch_with_retry() at line 1448

TODO-PUSH-002: Improve Background Operation Transparency

• Add real-time status display for background operations
• Implement background operation cancellation
• Add comprehensive logging of background git operations
• Location: Modify background process framework starting line 1174

USER EXPERIENCE IMPROVEMENTS

TODO-UX-001: Add Comprehensive Warnings

• Add prominent warning about untracked file risks
• Implement --check-only mode to show potential risks before execution
• Add confirmation prompts for high-risk operations
• Location: Add to help text and before dangerous operations

TODO-UX-002: Implement Detailed Operation Logging

• Add comprehensive audit log of all git operations
• Include timing, results, and error information
• Implement log rotation and cleanup
• Location: Add logging throughout all git operations

TESTING REQUIREMENTS

TODO-TEST-001: Create Data Loss Regression Tests

• Test stash failure scenarios with untracked files
• Test concurrent execution race conditions
• Test emergency cleanup under various failure conditions
• Location: Add to existing test suite

TODO-TEST-002: Create Untracked File Test Suite

• Test branch switching with conflicting untracked files
• Test stash/restore with various untracked file types
• Test directory structure changes with untracked files
• Location: Create new test file for untracked scenarios

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IMPLEMENTATION PRIORITY ORDER

1. TODO-UNTRACKED-001: Remove -u flag (CRITICAL - prevents most data loss)
2. TODO-RACE-001: File locking (HIGH - prevents concurrent corruption)
3. TODO-STASH-001: Stash validation (CRITICAL - detects stash failures)
4. TODO-RECOVERY-001: Bulletproof cleanup (HIGH - prevents broken states)
5. TODO-UNTRACKED-002: Untracked file scanner (HIGH - detects untracked issues)

Each TODO should be implemented as a separate, testable change with full regression testing.