validate-file-refs.js runs warning-only — broken refs never fail CI

[alexeyv]

Problem

tools/validate-file-refs.js correctly identifies broken file references (e.g., the missing validate-workflow.xml reported in #1625), but runs in warning-only mode by default (exit 0). Broken references are logged but never cause a failure.

From the tool header:

Default mode is warning-only (exit 0) so adoption is non-disruptive.
Use --strict when you want CI or pre-commit to enforce valid references.

Current output for the known broken reference:

src/bmm/workflows/4-implementation/create-story/checklist.md
  [BROKEN] core/tasks/validate-workflow.xml (line 36)
     Target not found: src/core/tasks/validate-workflow.xml
  [BROKEN] core/tasks/validate-workflow.xml (line 66)
     Target not found: src/core/tasks/validate-workflow.xml

This means broken references can be introduced and persist indefinitely without anyone noticing. The validator exists, does its job, finds real problems — then exits 0 and lets them through.

Suggestion

Enable --strict mode in CI so broken file references actually block merges. The tool already supports it — it just needs to be turned on.

Found during review of PR #1608. Related: #1625

[coderabbitai]

🔗 Related PRs

#1481 - fix(workflow): leaked source paths in PRD validation report [merged]
#1494 - feat: cross-file reference validator for BMAD source files [merged]
#1498 - fix: correct relative path to validation workflow in step-e-04-complete [merged]
#1573 - feat: extend Layer 1 file-ref validator to scan CSV workflow-file references [merged]

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