Starting a New Feature
Do NOT enter plan mode. Work within the existing planning document in docs/ and discuss as conversation.
Step 1: Review Context (REQUIRED)
Read these before discussing approach:
- •Reread the original requirements document for full context
- •Phase plan document in
docs/(if exists) — this is the planning artifact, not a new file - •Any questions deferred from phase planning
- •Run /architecture if exploring unfamiliar areas of the codebase
Step 2: Discussion First (REQUIRED)
Do NOT write code yet. First:
- •Ask any deferred clarifying questions
- •Present implementation approach with trade-offs as conversation (not structured multiple-choice — reserve that for simple bounded decisions)
- •Critically evaluate assumptions in existing plans, not just implement what's written
- •Get user confirmation on approach
- •Update the existing planning document in
docs/with design decisions and implementation steps- •Tests listed first (TDD)
- •Human testing checkpoints after each meaningful milestone, not just at the end
- •Reconcile back to original requirements at each checkpoint
Step 3: TDD Implementation
Once approach is confirmed:
- •Write tests first
- •Implement minimum code to pass tests
- •Run tests to verify
- •Pause at each [TEST] checkpoint for user to rebuild and manually test before continuing
- •Pause when broader design questions emerge for discussion before proceeding
- •After each [TEST] checkpoint passes, follow the [DOCS] and [RETRO] checkpoints in the plan doc
Note: Steps 4-6 below describe what [TEST], [DOCS], and [RETRO] checkpoints involve. The plan doc controls when they happen — these steps won't stay in context through long implementation, so the plan doc is the source of truth for sequencing.
Step 4: Human Testing Checkpoint ([TEST])
Do NOT mark feature complete until user has tested.
- •If scenario for verification is complex, consider running /test-world
- •Wait for explicit confirmation from user before continuing
Step 5: Update Documentation ([DOCS])
Only after human testing confirms success:
- •Update README (including Latest Updates), CLAUDE.md, docs/game-mechanics, and docs/architecture as needed
- •Mark feature complete in phase plan
Step 6: Retro ([RETRO])
After documentation is updated, run /retro.
Collaboration Norms:
- •TDD for bug fixes too — write regression tests
- •Small iterations — keep changes focused
- •Planning lives in
docs/, not in ephemeral plan files