signalHacker News Show HN2026-09-28
Show HN: Stepgate, AI agents that can't skip steps, in one portable file
Stepgate is an MCP server that runs stepfiles: single YAML files encoding an agent's procedure with ordered steps and mechanical gates. The server shows the agent one step at a time, makes API calls itself, and only advances when gates like JSON Schema, JSONLogic, or HTTP checks pass. This prevents agents from skipping steps or fabricating output, and works with any MCP client such as Claude Code or Cursor.
- for who
- Developers building AI agents or using MCP clients like Claude Code or Cursor.
- why now
- New MCP server Stepgate launches, enforcing verifiable agent steps via portable YAML files.
- what changes
- Agents now follow procedures exactly, with no skipped steps and no fabricated outputs, because gates enforce each step.
- to do
- Write your agent's procedure as a YAML stepfile and run it with Stepgate in any MCP client.
key points
- Stepgate is an MCP server that runs stepfiles, showing agents one step at a time.
- Gates check output against APIs, JSON Schema, or JSONLogic, rejecting fabricated values.
- A stepfile is a single portable YAML file with no dependencies or versions to pin.
#agent workflow#MCP#open source tool
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