Scope or freeze which files Claude can edit during debugging, a refactor, or review. Use when edits should stay in specific dirs, or for a read-only investigate lock. Backed by a sentinel + PreToolUse hook.
---
name: phx:freeze
description: Scope or freeze which files Claude can edit during debugging, a refactor, or review. Use when edits should stay in specific dirs, or for a read-only investigate lock. Backed by a sentinel + PreToolUse hook.
effort: low
---
# Freeze — scoped edit lock
Toggle a project-local edit lock so Claude can only modify the files you intend
during a focused task (debugging, a tight refactor, a review pass). Enforced by
the `freeze-gate.sh` PreToolUse hook, which denies `Edit`/`Write`/`NotebookEdit`
outside the allow-list. No sentinel = no lock; the hook stays dormant.
The lock lives in `.claude/.freeze` — one allowed path prefix per line,
project-relative. Empty file = freeze everything.
## Usage
`/phx:freeze [args]` — resolve `$ARGUMENTS` and run the matching Bash branch.
| Invocation | Effect |
|------------|--------|
| `/phx:freeze` | Freeze ALL edits — read-only investigation mode |
| `/phx:freeze lib/app_web priv/repo` | Allow edits only under these dirs |
| `/phx:freeze status` | Show current lock state |… install to load the full skill