Latest is not always current
A recently edited prototype may still be based on an older requirement. A new test run may exercise code that does not include the approved UX change. Timestamps alone cannot describe those relationships.
Each artifact should identify the upstream revision it implements or verifies.
Staleness should be a visible state
When a requirement changes, the system can compare links and flag downstream artifacts for review. That does not mean every change invalidates everything. It means the affected owner must confirm what remains valid.
- Keep immutable revision identifiers.
- Record dependency links between artifacts.
- Show stale status in gates and release summaries.
- Require explicit revalidation or a documented no-impact decision.
History becomes reusable context
Versioned decisions let a new teammate or agent understand why the current product behaves as it does. They can distinguish a deliberate tradeoff from an accidental inconsistency.
That history reduces rediscovery and gives future changes a trustworthy starting point.