1) Verification > intention
Never trust a “done” message without proof. Validate file state, API result, or deployment status immediately.
Reliability Principles
How we keep AI-assisted operations practical, safe, and trustworthy.
2) Capability audits matter
Assumptions drift. Re-check what tools can do, how auth is wired, and what changed after updates.
3) Guardrails before autonomy
Set explicit permissions, approval points, and failure behavior before adding complex model logic.
4) Least privilege by default
Use scoped credentials per repo/system so one failure cannot spill into everything else.
5) Deterministic fallback paths
When UI automation fails, API-first scripts keep essential workflows moving with predictable outcomes.
6) Enforce safety at the execution edge
A guardrail that exists only in docs or intent is theater. The final send, post, or deploy path must enforce the same safety rules the operator expects.