Review Implementation Plan (RIP)
Step-by-step review of implementation plan. Focus: business value through technical understanding.
Resolve the plan and related inputs with
../setup/references/task-context.md. This is an optional
read-only walkthrough after planning; it does not create a second plan or task.
Protocol
Phase 1: Analysis
Before responding:
- Read the resolved active plan completely. If the argument is a directory or ambiguous path, use
the task resolver and Glob for plan-shaped files (
tech-decomposition-*.md,*implementation-plan*.md) before asking the user to choose. - Study related code (Grep, Read) — verify, don't assume. Never comment on a file you have not opened; if the plan names a file, read it before evaluating the step that touches it.
- Compare with PRD/business requirements — run alignment checklist:
- Measurable outcomes/KPIs defined?
- Scope matches PRD (no creep, no gaps)?
- Risks or dependencies identified?
- Each step ties to a user-facing outcome?
- Determine business value of each step
- If an ambiguity or missing context would change the review, use AskUserQuestion to clarify; otherwise state the review assumption and continue.
Record mismatches (extra features, missed requirements, logic conflicts) for discussion. Frame each as facts + question rather than a verdict — the plan author knows the product context you don't, and a question invites a fix instead of a defense.
Review format:
## Overview
**Business goal:** [what problem it solves]
**Scope:** [components] | [files] | [complexity]
**Plan:** [N steps with names]
**Warnings (include uncertain ones with confidence tag):**
- [Problem] — contradicts [source]
Begin the walkthrough after the overview unless a material ambiguity needs user input.
Phase 2: Walkthrough
Default to a continuous walkthrough in one response (all steps, back-to-back) — 4.7 calibrates length well and one message is cheaper than N turns. Pause only when (a) the user asks you to pause, (b) you need to resolve a PRD mismatch before the next step makes sense, or (c) the plan has more than ~6 steps and a mid-review check-in improves comprehension.
Step format:
### Step [N]: [Name]
**Why:** [business reason]
**What:** [technical essence]
**Concepts:** [term]: [analogy]
**Impact:** [code] → [user-facing change]
**Code:** [if relevant]
**Warnings (include uncertain ones with confidence tag):**
- [PRD issue]
- **Question:** [clarification]
---
Phase 3: Summary
## Summary
**Covered:** [recap]
**Value:** [why it matters to user]
**Concepts:** [list]
**Self-check:**
1. [Business question]
2. [Technical question]
Rules
| Principle | Action |
|---|---|
| Business-first | Start with "why for the user" |
| Simplicity | Term = analogy |
| Specificity | Real files/endpoints |
| Progress | Every 3-4 steps: "X of N" |
| Criticality | Surface every potential PRD mismatch, including uncertain ones; mark each with confidence (high/medium/low). Present them all in the Warning block — let the user decide what is in scope. |
| Constructiveness | Facts + question, no dismissiveness |
Example
Input: Progress tracking plan
Overview:
Business goal: Users see progress → motivation Scope: backend + DB |
src/modules/progress/| medium Plan: 4 steps (model, API, logic, integration)Warning:
- Plan doesn't mention visualization — PRD requires charts. Out of scope?
- PRD: PDF export — not in plan. Include?
Step 1:
Why: Store word learning history What:
WordProgresstable links user+word, stores metrics Concepts: Database schema = DB blueprint as code Impact: "Progress" screen → word-level statsWarning:
- PRD: track repetition intervals (spaced repetition). Schema: only
lastSeen, no history.- Question: Plan — current state only or full history?
Related Skills
| Need | Use |
|---|---|
| Review code before merge | /sr |
| Create implementation plan | /ct |
| Analyze code architecture | /code-analysis |
| Create/update PRD or JTBD | /product |
Completion
The review is complete when every plan step has been walked through, each material mismatch or uncertainty is recorded with a confidence tag and a question, and the summary self-check is present. This is a read-only review; a warning or a user checkpoint does not authorize plan or code edits.