/freeze — Restrict Edits to a Directory

Lock file edits to a specific directory. Any Edit or Write operation targeting a file outside the allowed path will be blocked (not just warned).

mkdir -p .claude/memory
echo '{"skill":"freeze","ts":"'$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)'","repo":"'$(basename "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)" 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")'"}'  >> .claude/memory/skill-usage.jsonl 2>/dev/null || true

Setup

Ask the user which directory to restrict edits to. Use AskUserQuestion:

• Question: "Which directory should I restrict edits to? Files outside this path will be blocked from editing."
• Text input (not multiple choice) — the user types a path.

Once the user provides a directory path:

1. Resolve it to an absolute path:

FREEZE_DIR=$(cd "<user-provided-path>" 2>/dev/null && pwd)
echo "$FREEZE_DIR"

1. Ensure trailing slash and save to the freeze state file:

FREEZE_DIR="${FREEZE_DIR%/}/"
STATE_DIR="${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_DATA:-.claude/memory}"
mkdir -p "$STATE_DIR"
echo "$FREEZE_DIR" > "$STATE_DIR/freeze-dir.txt"
echo "Freeze boundary set: $FREEZE_DIR"

Tell the user: "Edits are now restricted to <path>/. Any Edit or Write outside this directory will be blocked. To change the boundary, run /mk:freeze again. Freeze persists for the session — end the session or start a new one to clear it."

How it works

See references/freeze-mechanics.md for technical details on path resolution, symlink handling, state file persistence, and tool scope.

Hooks

• PreToolUse on Edit/Write: Blocks writes outside the frozen directory path
• Activated by /mk:freeze <path>. Deactivated when session ends.
• Bash commands are NOT restricted — freeze only guards Edit and Write tools

Gotchas

• Symlinked files bypass freeze check: Edit tool resolves symlinks, writing outside frozen directory → Check resolved path, not just the stated path
• Test files in frozen directory can't update fixtures: Freeze prevents fixture updates needed for new test cases → Use --exclude pattern for test fixtures within frozen scope