Feature Development
MANDATORY: Follow all 7 phases. No code before Phase 5.
Phase 1: Discovery
- •Read the feature request carefully
- •Identify what is being asked vs what is implied
- •List acceptance criteria (if not provided, derive them)
- •Estimate scope: how many files? Which modules?
Phase 2: Exploration
Dispatch the code-architect agent (or do manually) to:
- •Map relevant existing code
- •Trace execution paths that the feature will touch
- •Identify patterns already used for similar features
- •List files that will need modification
Phase 3: Questions
Before proceeding, resolve all ambiguities:
- •Ask the user about unclear requirements
- •Propose approaches for technical decisions
- •Confirm scope and acceptance criteria
Do NOT proceed until all questions are answered.
Phase 4: Design
Produce an implementation blueprint:
- •New files to create (with file paths and purposes)
- •Existing files to modify (with what changes)
- •Interface design (types, function signatures)
- •Data flow diagram (how data moves through the system)
- •Test strategy (what to test and how)
Present the design to the user for approval. Do NOT proceed without approval.
Phase 5: Implementation
Execute the approved design:
- •Create/modify files in the order specified by the blueprint
- •Follow TDD: write failing test → implement → verify
- •One logical change per commit candidate
- •Use the output format: filepath, purpose, dependencies, consumers
Phase 6: Review
Self-review the implementation:
- •Dispatch
code-revieweragent for quality review - •Dispatch
security-revieweragent for security check - •Run full test suite
- •Verify all acceptance criteria are met
Phase 7: Completion
- •Summarize what was built
- •List all files created/modified
- •Note any follow-up work or known limitations
- •Suggest tests to add if coverage is incomplete
Rules
- •NEVER skip Phase 2 (Exploration) — understanding the codebase prevents bad architecture
- •NEVER skip Phase 3 (Questions) — assumptions cause rework
- •NEVER write code before Phase 5 — design first
- •NEVER skip Phase 6 (Review) — self-review catches 80% of issues
- •If scope grows beyond the original request, stop and re-scope with the user