Plan Self-Review Checklist
A lightweight quality gate that the orchestrator runs at the end of /spec-plan BEFORE presenting the final plan to the user. No agents are launched — this preserves context budget.
When to Load
Load this skill at the end of /spec-plan Phase 4, after spec and design files have been saved.
Prerequisites
File size check before running this checklist:
This self-review is appropriate ONLY if BOTH conditions are met:
- •Specification file ≤200 lines
- •Design file ≤200 lines
If either file exceeds 200 lines:
→ Skip this checklist and proceed directly to /spec-review with --auto flag
→ The parallel review agents are better suited for larger documents
This respects the Quick Lookup limits defined in subagent-contract skill.
Checklist
The orchestrator reads both output files and checks each item. Mark each as PASS or FLAG.
Specification Checklist
| # | Check | How to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| S1 | Acceptance criteria are measurable | Each criterion has a concrete condition, not "should work well" |
| S2 | Edge cases are listed | At least 3 edge cases or error scenarios defined |
| S3 | Out-of-scope is defined | Section exists and lists at least 1 exclusion |
| S4 | No ambiguous language | Search for "should", "might", "could", "possibly" — flag if in requirements (OK in rationale) |
| S5 | Security requirements exist | Auth, authz, validation, or "N/A with reason" |
| S6 | Non-functional requirements exist | Performance, scalability, or "N/A with reason" |
Design Checklist
| # | Check | How to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | Implementation map has files | At least 1 file listed with Create/Modify action |
| D2 | Build sequence exists | At least 2 ordered steps |
| D3 | Trade-offs documented | At least 1 trade-off or rejected alternative |
| D4 | File references are plausible | Referenced files exist (Glob check) or are marked as "Create" |
Consistency Checklist
| # | Check | How to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Spec requirements covered by design | Each spec section maps to a design component |
| C2 | Design doesn't contradict spec | No design choice violates a spec requirement |
| C3 | Build sequence covers all components | Each component in Implementation Map appears in Build Sequence |
Output Format
## Self-Review Results Passed: [N]/13 Flagged: [N] ### Flagged Items - [S4] Ambiguous language: "should" found in requirement 3.2 - [C1] Spec section "Error Handling" has no corresponding design component ### Assessment [ALL CLEAR / MINOR FLAGS / NEEDS ATTENTION]
Actions Based on Results
| Result | Action |
|---|---|
| ALL CLEAR (0 flags) | Present plan to user as-is |
| MINOR FLAGS (1-2 flags) | Present plan with flags noted: "Self-review found [N] items to note: ..." |
| NEEDS ATTENTION (3+ flags) | Fix the flagged items before presenting. For spec issues, edit the spec. For design issues, edit the design. Then re-run checklist once. |
Rules (L1)
- •NEVER launch subagents for this checklist — use direct file reads only
- •ALWAYS run this before presenting the final plan to the user
- •NEVER auto-fix items silently — always report what was flagged
Defaults (L2)
- •Fix NEEDS ATTENTION items before presenting (but inform user of changes)
- •Include flagged items in the plan presentation so user is aware