RLM Pipeline Navigation

The RLM (Research, Lead, Manage) Method is a 9-phase pipeline for transforming ideas into production-ready code.

Phases

Phase 1: Discovery (@rlm-discover)

• •Transform a raw idea into a PRD and constitution
• •Read RLM/prompts/01-DISCOVER.md for the workflow
• •Output: RLM/specs/PRD.md, RLM/specs/constitution.md

Phase 2: Design System (@rlm-design)

• •Generate design tokens, component library (UI projects only)
• •Skip if project is non-UI (CLI, API, library)
• •Output: RLM/specs/design/

Phase 3: Specifications (@rlm-specs)

• •Break PRD into feature specs and architecture decisions
• •Read RLM/prompts/02-CREATE-SPECS.md
• •Output: RLM/specs/features/FTR-XXX/specification.md

Phase 4: Feature Design (@rlm-feature-design)

• •Per-feature UI/UX design specifications (UI projects only)
• •Output: RLM/specs/features/FTR-XXX/design-spec.md

Phase 5: Tasks (@rlm-tasks)

• •Break features into fine-grained implementation tasks (1-4 hours each)
• •Read RLM/prompts/03-CREATE-TASKS.md
• •Output: RLM/tasks/active/TASK-XXX.md

Phase 6: Implementation (@rlm-implement)

• •TDD implementation: Red → Green → Refactor
• •Read RLM/prompts/04-IMPLEMENT-TASK.md
• •5-step process: Load Context → Write Tests → Implement → Verify → Review

Phase 7: Quality (@rlm-quality)

• •Code review, testing, design QA
• •Output: RLM/progress/reviews/

Phase 8: Verification (@rlm-verify)

• •E2E feature verification with acceptance testing
• •Output: RLM/progress/verification/

Phase 9: Report (@rlm-report)

• •Generate progress reports and project summary
• •Output: RLM/progress/reports/

State Management

• •Pipeline state: RLM/progress/pipeline-state.json
• •Task status: RLM/progress/status.json
• •Checkpoints: RLM/progress/checkpoint.json

Automation Levels

• •AUTO: Full autonomy, minimal pauses
• •SUPERVISED: Pause between phases for review
• •MANUAL: Step-by-step approval