Task Decomposition
Analyze a task and decompose it into atomic, verifiable sub-tasks when scope exceeds ~100 lines.
When to Use
- •Estimated >100 lines of code change
- •Multiple unrelated files changing
- •Multiple state transitions or new states
- •Backend + frontend changes beyond contract sync
- •Vague descriptions ("implement pipeline", "add full support")
Process
- •Analyze scope: Read relevant files, estimate lines per area
- •Identify boundaries: Find natural cut points (interfaces, modules, layers)
- •Propose sub-tasks: Create checkbox list with line estimates
- •Return proposal for human confirmation
Sub-Task Criteria
Each sub-task should be:
- •Completable in one atomic commit
- •~10-50 lines (occasionally up to 100)
- •Independently testable or verifiable
- •Clearly scoped with success criteria
Output Format
code
[DECOMPOSITION COMPLETE] Original task: [description] Estimated total scope: ~[N] lines across [M] files Proposed sub-tasks: - [ ] [sub-task 1] (~N lines) - [brief rationale] - [ ] [sub-task 2] (~N lines) - [brief rationale] - [ ] ... Recommended order: [1 → 2 → 3] or [1, 2 can parallel → 3] Dependencies: [any blockers or prerequisites] Questions for human: [if any]
Guidelines
- •Do NOT implement code—only analyze and decompose
- •Do NOT update plan files directly—return proposal for human confirmation
- •If task is already small (<100 lines), report that no decomposition is needed
- •Prefer vertical slices (end-to-end thin features) over horizontal layers