subagent-driven-development

--- name: subagent-driven-development description: Use when executing implementation plans with independent tasks in the current session --- # Subagent-Driven Development Execute plan by dispatching fresh subagent per task, with two-stage review after each: spec compliance review first, then code quality review. **Core principle:** Fresh subagent per task + two-stage review (spec then quality) = high quality, fast iteration ## When to Use ```dot digraph when_to_use { "Have implementation plan?" [shape=diamond]; "Tasks mostly independent?" [shape=diamond]; "Stay in this session?" [shape=diamond]; "subagent-driven-development" [shape=box]; "executing-plans" [shape=box]; "Manual execution or brainstorm first" [shape=box]; "Have implementation plan?" -> "Tasks mostly independent?" [label="yes"]; "Have implementation plan?" -> "Manual execution or brainstorm first" [label="no"]; "Tasks mostly independent?" -> "Stay in this session?" [label="yes"]; "Tasks mostly independent?" -> "Manual execution or brainstorm first" [label="no - tightly coupled"]; "Stay in this session?" -> "subagent-driven-development" [label="yes"]; "Stay in this session?" -> "executing-plans" [label="no - parallel session"]; } ``` **vs. Executing Plans (parallel session):** - Same session (no context switch) - Fresh subagent per task (no context pollution) - Two-stage review after each task: spec compliance first, then code quality - Faster iteration (no human-in-loop between tasks) ## The Process ```dot digraph process { rankdir=TB; subgraph cluster_per_task { label="Per Task"; "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" [shape=box]; "Implementer subagent asks questions?" [shape=diamond]; "Answer questions, provide context" [shape=box]; "Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" [shape=box]; "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" [shape=box]; "Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" [shape=diamond]; "Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" [shape=box]; "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [shape=box]; "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" [shape=diamond]; "Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" [shape=box]; "Mark task complete in TodoWrite" [shape=box]; } "Read plan, extract all tasks with full text, note context, create TodoWrite" [shape=box]; "More tasks remain?" [shape=diamond]; "Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" [shape=box]; "Use superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch" [shape=box style=filled fillcolor=lightgreen]; "Read plan, extract all tasks with full text, note context, create TodoWrite" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)"; "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" -> "Implementer subagent asks questions?"; "Implementer subagent asks questions?" -> "Answer questions, provide context" [label="yes"]; "Answer questions, provide context" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)"; "Implementer subagent asks questions?" -> "Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" [label="no"]; "Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" -> "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)"; "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" -> "Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?"; "Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" -> "Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" [label="no"]; "Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" -> "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="re-review"]; "Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" -> "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="yes"]; "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" -> "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?"; "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" -> "Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" [label="no"]; "Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" -> "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="re-review"]; "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" -> "Mark task complete in TodoWrite" [label="yes"]; "Mark task complete in TodoWrite" -> "More tasks remain?"; "More tasks remain?" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" [label="yes"]; "More tasks remain?" -> "Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" [label="no"]; "Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" -> "Use superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch"; } ``` ## Prompt Templates - `./implementer-prompt.md` - Dispatch implementer subagent - `./spec-reviewer-prompt.md` - Dispatch spec compliance reviewer subagent - `./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md` - Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent ## Example Workflow ``` You: I'm using Subagent-Driven Development to execute this plan. [Read plan file once: docs/plans/feature-plan.md] [Extract all 5 tasks with full text and context] [Create TodoWrite with all tasks] Task 1: Hook installation script [Get Task 1 text and context (already extracted)] [Dispatch implementation subagent with full task text + context] Implementer: "Before I begin - should the hook be installed at user or system level?" You: "User level (~/.config/superpowers/hooks/)" Implementer: "Got it. Implementing now..." [Later] Implementer: - Implemented install-hook command - Added tests, 5/5 passing - Self-review: Found I missed --force flag, added it - Committed [Dispatch spec compliance reviewer] Spec reviewer: ✅ Spec compliant - all requirements met, nothing extra [Get git SHAs, dispatch code quality reviewer] Code reviewer: Strengths: Good test coverage, clean. Issues: None. Approved. [Mark Task 1 complete] Task 2: Recovery modes [Get Task 2 text and context (already extracted)] [Dispatch implementation subagent with full task text + context] Implementer: [No questions, proceeds] Implementer: - Added verify/repair modes - 8/8 tests passing - Self-review: All good - Committed [Dispatch spec compliance reviewer] Spec reviewer: ❌ Issues: - Missing: Progress reporting (spec says "report every 100 items") - Extra: Added --json flag (not requested) [Implementer fixes issues] Implementer: Removed --json flag, added progress reporting [Spec reviewer reviews again] Spec reviewer: ✅ Spec compliant now [Dispatch code quality reviewer] Code reviewer: Strengths: Solid. Issues (Important): Magic number (100) [Implementer fixes] Implementer: Extracted PROGRESS_INTERVAL constant [Code reviewer reviews again] Code reviewer: ✅ Approved [Mark Task 2 complete] ... [After all tasks] [Dispatch final code-reviewer] Final reviewer: All requirements met, ready to merge Done! ``` ## Advantages **vs. Manual execution:** - Subagents follow TDD naturally - Fresh context per task (no confusion) - Parallel-safe (subagents don't interfere) - Subagent can ask questions (before AND during work) **vs. Executing Plans:** - Same session (no handoff) - Continuous progress (no waiting) - Review checkpoints automatic **Efficiency gains:** - No file reading overhead (controller provides full text) - Controller curates exactly what context is needed - Subagent gets complete information upfront - Questions surfaced before work begins (not after) **Quality gates:** - Self-review catches issues before handoff - Two-stage review: spec compliance, then code quality - Review loops ensure fixes actually work - Spec compliance prevents over/under-building - Code quality ensures implementation is well-built **Cost:** - More subagent invocations (implementer + 2 reviewers per task) - Controller does more prep work (extracting all tasks upfront) - Review loops add iterations - But catches issues early (cheaper than debugging later) ## Red Flags **Never:** - Skip reviews (spec compliance OR code quality) - Proceed with unfixed issues - Dispatch multiple implementation subagents in parallel (conflicts) - Make subagent read plan file (provide full text instead) - Skip scene-setting context (subagent needs to understand where task fits) - Ignore subagent questions (answer before letting them proceed) - Accept "close enough" on spec compliance (spec reviewer found issues = not done) - Skip review loops (reviewer found issues = implementer fixes = review again) - Let implementer self-review replace actual review (both are needed) - **Start code quality review before spec compliance is ✅** (wrong order) - Move to next task while either review has open issues **If subagent asks questions:** - Answer clearly and completely - Provide additional context if needed - Don't rush them into implementation **If reviewer finds issues:** - Implementer (same subagent) fixes them - Reviewer reviews again - Repeat until approved - Don't skip the re-review **If subagent fails task:** - Dispatch fix subagent with specific instructions - Don't try to fix manually (context pollution) ## Integration **Required workflow skills:** - **superpowers:writing-plans** - Creates the plan this skill executes - **superpowers:requesting-code-review** - Code review template for reviewer subagents - **superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch** - Complete development after all tasks **Subagents should use:** - **superpowers:test-driven-development** - Subagents follow TDD for each task **Alternative workflow:** - **superpowers:executing-plans** - Use for parallel session instead of same-session execution