294 lines
14 KiB
Markdown
294 lines
14 KiB
Markdown
---
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name: subagent-driven-development
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description: Manual-only skill. Activate only after an explicit user request for superpowers-lite:subagent-driven-development.
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---
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# Subagent-Driven Development
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Execute plan by dispatching fresh subagent per phase, where a phase may contain one or more related tasks. Run a two-stage review after each phase: spec compliance review first, then code quality review.
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**Why subagents:** You delegate tasks to specialized agents with isolated context. By precisely crafting their instructions and context, you ensure they stay focused and succeed at their task. They should never inherit your session's context or history — you construct exactly what they need. This also preserves your own context for coordination work.
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**Core principle:** Fresh subagent per coherent phase + two-stage review (spec then quality) = high quality without review overhead on every tiny task
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**Continuous execution:** Do not pause to check in with your human partner between phases unless blocked. Execute all tasks from the plan in the current branch without stopping. The only reasons to stop are: current branch is `main` or `master`, BLOCKED status you cannot resolve, ambiguity that genuinely prevents progress, or all tasks complete. "Should I continue?" prompts and progress summaries waste their time — they asked you to execute the plan, so execute it.
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## When to Use
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```dot
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digraph when_to_use {
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"Have implementation plan?" [shape=diamond];
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"Tasks mostly independent?" [shape=diamond];
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"Stay in this session?" [shape=diamond];
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"subagent-driven-development" [shape=box];
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"executing-plans" [shape=box];
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"Manual execution or brainstorm first" [shape=box];
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"Have implementation plan?" -> "Tasks mostly independent?" [label="yes"];
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"Have implementation plan?" -> "Manual execution or brainstorm first" [label="no"];
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"Tasks mostly independent?" -> "Stay in this session?" [label="yes"];
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"Tasks mostly independent?" -> "Manual execution or brainstorm first" [label="no - tightly coupled"];
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"Stay in this session?" -> "subagent-driven-development" [label="yes"];
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"Stay in this session?" -> "executing-plans" [label="no - parallel session"];
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}
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```
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**vs. Executing Plans (parallel session):**
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- Same session (no context switch)
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- Fresh subagent per phase (no context pollution)
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- Two-stage review after each phase: spec compliance first, then code quality
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- Faster iteration (no human-in-loop between tasks)
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## Phase Grouping
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Before grouping phases, confirm the current git branch is not `main` or `master` with `git branch --show-current`. If it is, stop and ask the user to switch or create a feature branch. Do not create or switch to a worktree unless the user explicitly asks.
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Before dispatching implementers, group tasks into phases:
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- Group adjacent tasks when they touch the same files, complete one coherent behavior, or would create review churn if split
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- Keep a task as its own phase when it is risky, broad, independent, or likely to need a focused review
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- Never group tasks just to hide uncertainty; if grouping makes requirements harder to verify, split the phase
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- Record phase membership in TodoWrite so progress is visible at both phase and task level
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## The Process
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```dot
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digraph process {
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rankdir=TB;
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subgraph cluster_per_phase {
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label="Per Phase";
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"Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];
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"Implementer subagent asks questions?" [shape=diamond];
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"Answer questions, provide context" [shape=box];
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"Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" [shape=box];
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"Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];
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"Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" [shape=diamond];
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"Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" [shape=box];
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"Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];
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"Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" [shape=diamond];
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"Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" [shape=box];
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"Mark phase tasks complete in TodoWrite" [shape=box];
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}
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"Read plan, extract all tasks with full text, group into phases, note context, create TodoWrite" [shape=box];
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"More phases remain?" [shape=diamond];
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"Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" [shape=box];
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"Use superpowers-lite:finishing-a-development-branch" [shape=box style=filled fillcolor=lightgreen];
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"Read plan, extract all tasks with full text, group into phases, note context, create TodoWrite" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)";
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"Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" -> "Implementer subagent asks questions?";
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"Implementer subagent asks questions?" -> "Answer questions, provide context" [label="yes"];
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"Answer questions, provide context" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)";
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"Implementer subagent asks questions?" -> "Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" [label="no"];
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"Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" -> "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)";
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"Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" -> "Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?";
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"Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" -> "Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" [label="no"];
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"Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" -> "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="re-review"];
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"Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" -> "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="yes"];
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"Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" -> "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?";
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"Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" -> "Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" [label="no"];
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"Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" -> "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="re-review"];
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"Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" -> "Mark phase tasks complete in TodoWrite" [label="yes"];
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"Mark phase tasks complete in TodoWrite" -> "More phases remain?";
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"More phases remain?" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" [label="yes"];
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"More phases remain?" -> "Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" [label="no"];
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"Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" -> "Use superpowers-lite:finishing-a-development-branch";
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}
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```
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## Model Selection
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Use the least powerful model that can handle each role to conserve cost and increase speed.
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**Mechanical implementation tasks** (isolated functions, clear specs, 1-2 files): use a fast, cheap model. Most implementation tasks are mechanical when the plan is well-specified.
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**Integration and judgment tasks** (multi-file coordination, pattern matching, debugging): use a standard model.
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**Architecture, design, and review tasks**: use the most capable available model.
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**Task complexity signals:**
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- Touches 1-2 files with a complete spec → cheap model
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- Touches multiple files with integration concerns → standard model
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- Requires design judgment or broad codebase understanding → most capable model
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## Handling Implementer Status
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Implementer subagents report one of four statuses. Handle each appropriately:
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**DONE:** Proceed to spec compliance review.
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**DONE_WITH_CONCERNS:** The implementer completed the work but flagged doubts. Read the concerns before proceeding. If the concerns are about correctness or scope, address them before review. If they're observations (e.g., "this file is getting large"), note them and proceed to review.
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**NEEDS_CONTEXT:** The implementer needs information that wasn't provided. Provide the missing context and re-dispatch.
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**BLOCKED:** The implementer cannot complete the task. Assess the blocker:
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1. If it's a context problem, provide more context and re-dispatch with the same model
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2. If the task requires more reasoning, re-dispatch with a more capable model
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3. If the task is too large, break it into smaller pieces
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4. If the plan itself is wrong, escalate to the human
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**Never** ignore an escalation or force the same model to retry without changes. If the implementer said it's stuck, something needs to change.
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## Prompt Templates
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- `./implementer-prompt.md` - Dispatch implementer subagent
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- `./spec-reviewer-prompt.md` - Dispatch spec compliance reviewer subagent
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- `./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md` - Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent
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## Example Workflow
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```
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You: I'm using Subagent-Driven Development to execute this plan.
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[Read plan file once: .superpowers-lite/plans/feature-plan.md]
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[Extract all 5 tasks with full text and context]
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[Group into 3 phases: Phase 1 = Task 1, Phase 2 = Tasks 2-3, Phase 3 = Tasks 4-5]
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[Create TodoWrite with all phases and tasks]
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Phase 1: Hook installation script
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[Get Task 1 text and context (already extracted)]
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[Dispatch implementation subagent with full phase text + context]
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Implementer: "Before I begin - should the hook be installed at user or system level?"
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You: "User level (~/.config/superpowers/hooks/)"
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Implementer: "Got it. Implementing now..."
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[Later] Implementer:
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- Implemented install-hook command
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- Added tests, 5/5 passing
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- Self-review: Found I missed --force flag, added it
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- Committed
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[Dispatch spec compliance reviewer]
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Spec reviewer: ✅ Spec compliant - all requirements met, nothing extra
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[Get git SHAs, dispatch code quality reviewer]
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Code reviewer: Strengths: Good test coverage, clean. Issues: None. Approved.
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[Mark Phase 1 tasks complete]
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Phase 2: Recovery modes and CLI wiring
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[Get Task 2 and Task 3 text and context (already extracted)]
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[Dispatch implementation subagent with full phase text + context]
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Implementer: [No questions, proceeds]
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Implementer:
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- Added verify/repair modes
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- 8/8 tests passing
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- Self-review: All good
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- Committed
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[Dispatch spec compliance reviewer]
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Spec reviewer: ❌ Issues:
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- Missing: Progress reporting (spec says "report every 100 items")
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- Extra: Added --json flag (not requested)
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[Implementer fixes issues]
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Implementer: Removed --json flag, added progress reporting
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[Spec reviewer reviews again]
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Spec reviewer: ✅ Spec compliant now
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[Dispatch code quality reviewer]
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Code reviewer: Strengths: Solid. Issues (Important): Magic number (100)
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[Implementer fixes]
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Implementer: Extracted PROGRESS_INTERVAL constant
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[Code reviewer reviews again]
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Code reviewer: ✅ Approved
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[Mark Phase 2 tasks complete]
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...
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[After all tasks]
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[Dispatch final code-reviewer]
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Final reviewer: All requirements met, ready to merge
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Done!
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```
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## Advantages
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**vs. Manual execution:**
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- Subagents follow TDD naturally
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- Fresh context per phase (less confusion)
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- Parallel-safe when phases do not share files (subagents do not interfere)
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- Subagent can ask questions (before AND during work)
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**vs. Executing Plans:**
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- Same session (no handoff)
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- Continuous progress (no waiting)
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- Review checkpoints automatic
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**Efficiency gains:**
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- No file reading overhead (controller provides full text)
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- Controller curates exactly what context is needed
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- Subagent gets complete information upfront
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- Questions surfaced before work begins (not after)
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**Quality gates:**
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- Self-review catches issues before handoff
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- Two-stage review: spec compliance, then code quality
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- Review loops ensure fixes actually work
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- Spec compliance prevents over/under-building
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- Code quality ensures implementation is well-built
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**Cost:**
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- More subagent invocations than inline work (implementer + 2 reviewers per phase)
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- Controller does more prep work (extracting all tasks upfront)
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- Review loops add iterations
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- But catches issues early (cheaper than debugging later)
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## Red Flags
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**Never:**
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- Start implementation on `main` or `master`
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- Skip phase reviews (spec compliance OR code quality)
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- Proceed with unfixed issues
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- Dispatch multiple implementation subagents in parallel when phases share files or state
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- Make subagent read plan file (provide full text instead)
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- Skip scene-setting context (subagent needs to understand where task fits)
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- Ignore subagent questions (answer before letting them proceed)
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- Accept "close enough" on spec compliance (spec reviewer found issues = not done)
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- Skip review loops (reviewer found issues = implementer fixes = review again)
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- Let implementer self-review replace actual review (both are needed)
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- **Start code quality review before spec compliance is ✅** (wrong order)
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- Move to next phase while either review has open issues
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**If subagent asks questions:**
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- Answer clearly and completely
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- Provide additional context if needed
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- Don't rush them into implementation
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**If reviewer finds issues:**
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- Implementer (same subagent) fixes them
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- Reviewer reviews again
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- Repeat until approved
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- Don't skip the re-review
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**If subagent fails a phase:**
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- Dispatch fix subagent with specific instructions
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- Don't try to fix manually (context pollution)
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## Integration
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**Required workflow skills:**
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- **superpowers-lite:writing-plans** - Creates the plan this skill executes
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- **superpowers-lite:requesting-code-review** - Code review template for reviewer subagents
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- **superpowers-lite:finishing-a-development-branch** - Complete development after all tasks
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**Optional workflow skills:**
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- **superpowers-lite:using-git-worktrees** - Use only when the user explicitly asks for an isolated workspace
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**Subagents should use:**
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- **superpowers-lite:test-driven-development** - Subagents follow TDD for each task
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**Alternative workflow:**
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- **superpowers-lite:executing-plans** - Use for parallel session instead of same-session execution
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