Rule Of 5 Universal

Universal Rule of 5 Review

Review any intellectual artifact (code, plans, research, issues, specs, documentation) using Steve Yegge's 5-stage iterative editorial refinement process until convergence.

Core Philosophy

"Breadth-first exploration, then editorial passes." Don't aim for perfection in early stages. Each stage builds on insights from previous stages.

Procedure

1. Stage 1: DRAFT - Evaluate overall shape and sound approach. Focus on architecture, organization, and scope.
2. Stage 2: CORRECTNESS - Identify errors, bugs, or logical flaws. Check for convergence.
3. Stage 3: CLARITY - Ensure comprehensibility for the intended audience. Check for convergence.
4. Stage 4: EDGE CASES - Handle boundary conditions and unusual scenarios. Check for convergence.
5. Stage 5: EXCELLENCE - Final polish for production quality and pride.
6. Final Report - Synthesize findings and provide a final verdict.

Rules

• Progressive Build: Each stage must build on previous findings.
• Specificity: Reference exact locations (file:line, section, paragraph).
• Actionability: Suggest specific solutions, don't just identify problems.
• Validation: Confirm issues exist; do not flag "potential" issues without evidence.
• Early Stop: Stop if convergence criteria are met before Stage 5.

References

• Templates: Use references/templates.md for the exact output format of each stage and the final report.
• Criteria: Refer to references/criteria.md for convergence and escalation rules.
• Examples: (Optional) See references/examples.md for domain-specific review examples.