Context Driven Development

Context-Driven Development

Overview

This public intake copy packages plugins/antigravity-awesome-skills-claude/skills/context-driven-development from https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills into the native Omni Skills editorial shape without hiding its origin.

Use it when the operator needs the upstream workflow, support files, and repository context to stay intact while the public validator and private enhancer continue their normal downstream flow.

This intake keeps the copied upstream files intact and uses the external_source block in metadata.json plus ORIGIN.md as the provenance anchor for review.

Context-Driven Development Guide for implementing and maintaining context as a managed artifact alongside code, enabling consistent AI interactions and team alignment through structured project documentation.

Imported source sections that did not map cleanly to the public headings are still preserved below or in the support files. Notable imported sections: Core Philosophy, Artifact Relationships, Greenfield vs Brownfield Handling, Benefits, Directory Structure, Context Lifecycle.

When to Use This Skill

Use this section as the trigger filter. It should make the activation boundary explicit before the operator loads files, runs commands, or opens a pull request.

• The task is unrelated to context-driven development
• You need a different domain or tool outside this scope
• Setting up new projects with Conductor
• Understanding the relationship between context artifacts
• Maintaining consistency across AI-assisted development sessions
• Onboarding team members to an existing Conductor project

Operating Table

Workflow

This workflow is intentionally editorial and operational at the same time. It keeps the imported source useful to the operator while still satisfying the public intake standards that feed the downstream enhancer flow.

1. Clarify goals, constraints, and required inputs.
2. Apply relevant best practices and validate outcomes.
3. Provide actionable steps and verification.
4. If detailed examples are required, open resources/implementation-playbook.md.
5. Context Phase: Establish or verify project context artifacts exist and are current
6. Specification Phase: Define requirements and acceptance criteria for work units
7. Planning Phase: Break specifications into phased, actionable tasks

Imported Workflow Notes

Imported: Instructions

• Clarify goals, constraints, and required inputs.
• Apply relevant best practices and validate outcomes.
• Provide actionable steps and verification.
• If detailed examples are required, open resources/implementation-playbook.md.

Imported: The Workflow

Follow the Context → Spec & Plan → Implement workflow:

1. Context Phase: Establish or verify project context artifacts exist and are current
2. Specification Phase: Define requirements and acceptance criteria for work units
3. Planning Phase: Break specifications into phased, actionable tasks
4. Implementation Phase: Execute tasks following established workflow patterns

Imported: Core Philosophy

Context-Driven Development treats project context as a first-class artifact managed alongside code. Instead of relying on ad-hoc prompts or scattered documentation, establish a persistent, structured foundation that informs all AI interactions.

Key principles:

1. Context precedes code: Define what you're building and how before implementation
2. Living documentation: Context artifacts evolve with the project
3. Single source of truth: One canonical location for each type of information
4. AI alignment: Consistent context produces consistent AI behavior

Examples

Example 1: Ask for the upstream workflow directly

Use @context-driven-development to handle <task>. Start from the copied upstream workflow, load only the files that change the outcome, and keep provenance visible in the answer.

Explanation: This is the safest starting point when the operator needs the imported workflow, but not the entire repository.

Example 2: Ask for a provenance-grounded review

Review @context-driven-development against metadata.json and ORIGIN.md, then explain which copied upstream files you would load first and why.

Explanation: Use this before review or troubleshooting when you need a precise, auditable explanation of origin and file selection.

Example 3: Narrow the copied support files before execution

Use @context-driven-development for <task>. Load only the copied references, examples, or scripts that change the outcome, and name the files explicitly before proceeding.

Explanation: This keeps the skill aligned with progressive disclosure instead of loading the whole copied package by default.

Example 4: Build a reviewer packet

Review @context-driven-development using the copied upstream files plus provenance, then summarize any gaps before merge.

Explanation: This is useful when the PR is waiting for human review and you want a repeatable audit packet.

Best Practices

Treat the generated public skill as a reviewable packaging layer around the upstream repository. The goal is to keep provenance explicit and load only the copied source material that materially improves execution.

• New feature in product.md → Update tech-stack.md if new dependencies needed
• Completed track → Update product.md to reflect new capabilities
• Workflow change → Update all affected track plans
• Check if existing dependencies solve the need
• Document the rationale for new dependencies
• Add version constraints
• Note any configuration requirements

Imported Operating Notes

Imported: Context Maintenance Principles

Keep Artifacts Synchronized

Ensure changes in one artifact reflect in related documents:

• New feature in product.md → Update tech-stack.md if new dependencies needed
• Completed track → Update product.md to reflect new capabilities
• Workflow change → Update all affected track plans

Update tech-stack.md When Adding Dependencies

Before adding any new dependency:

1. Check if existing dependencies solve the need
2. Document the rationale for new dependencies
3. Add version constraints
4. Note any configuration requirements

Update product.md When Features Complete

After completing a feature track:

1. Move feature from "planned" to "implemented" in product.md
2. Update any affected success metrics
3. Document any scope changes from original plan

Verify Context Before Implementation

Before starting any track:

1. Read all context artifacts
2. Flag any outdated information
3. Propose updates before proceeding
4. Confirm context accuracy with stakeholders

Imported: Best Practices

1. Read context first: Always read relevant artifacts before starting work
2. Small updates: Make incremental context changes, not massive rewrites
3. Link decisions: Reference context when making implementation choices
4. Version context: Commit context changes alongside code changes
5. Review context: Include context artifact reviews in code reviews
6. Validate regularly: Run context validation checklist before major work
7. Communicate changes: Notify team when context artifacts change significantly
8. Preserve history: Use git to track context evolution over time
9. Question staleness: If context feels wrong, investigate and update
10. Keep it actionable: Every context item should inform a decision or behavior

Troubleshooting

Problem: The operator skipped the imported context and answered too generically

Symptoms: The result ignores the upstream workflow in plugins/antigravity-awesome-skills-claude/skills/context-driven-development, fails to mention provenance, or does not use any copied source files at all. Solution: Re-open metadata.json, ORIGIN.md, and the most relevant copied upstream files. Check the external_source block first, then restate the provenance before continuing.

Problem: The imported workflow feels incomplete during review

Symptoms: Reviewers can see the generated SKILL.md, but they cannot quickly tell which references, examples, or scripts matter for the current task. Solution: Point at the exact copied references, examples, scripts, or assets that justify the path you took. If the gap is still real, record it in the PR instead of hiding it.

Problem: The task drifted into a different specialization

Symptoms: The imported skill starts in the right place, but the work turns into debugging, architecture, design, security, or release orchestration that a native skill handles better. Solution: Use the related skills section to hand off deliberately. Keep the imported provenance visible so the next skill inherits the right context instead of starting blind.

Related Skills

• @00-andruia-consultant - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.
• @00-andruia-consultant-v2 - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.
• @10-andruia-skill-smith - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.
• @10-andruia-skill-smith-v2 - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.

Additional Resources

Use this support matrix and the linked files below as the operator packet for this imported skill. They should reflect real copied source material, not generic scaffolding.

Imported Reference Notes

Imported: Artifact Relationships

product.md - Defines WHAT and WHY

Purpose: Captures product vision, goals, target users, and business context.

Contents:

• Product name and one-line description
• Problem statement and solution approach
• Target user personas
• Core features and capabilities
• Success metrics and KPIs
• Product roadmap (high-level)

Update when:

• Product vision or goals change
• New major features are planned
• Target audience shifts
• Business priorities evolve

product-guidelines.md - Defines HOW to Communicate

Purpose: Establishes brand voice, messaging standards, and communication patterns.

Contents:

• Brand voice and tone guidelines
• Terminology and glossary
• Error message conventions
• User-facing copy standards
• Documentation style

Update when:

• Brand guidelines change
• New terminology is introduced
• Communication patterns need refinement

tech-stack.md - Defines WITH WHAT

Purpose: Documents technology choices, dependencies, and architectural decisions.

Contents:

• Primary languages and frameworks
• Key dependencies with versions
• Infrastructure and deployment targets
• Development tools and environment
• Testing frameworks
• Code quality tools

Update when:

• Adding new dependencies
• Upgrading major versions
• Changing infrastructure
• Adopting new tools or patterns

workflow.md - Defines HOW to Work

Purpose: Establishes development practices, quality gates, and team workflows.

Contents:

• Development methodology (TDD, etc.)
• Git workflow and commit conventions
• Code review requirements
• Testing requirements and coverage targets
• Quality assurance gates
• Deployment procedures

Update when:

• Team practices evolve
• Quality standards change
• New workflow patterns are adopted

tracks.md - Tracks WHAT'S HAPPENING

Purpose: Registry of all work units with status and metadata.

Contents:

• Active tracks with current status
• Completed tracks with completion dates
• Track metadata (type, priority, assignee)
• Links to individual track directories

Update when:

• New tracks are created
• Track status changes
• Tracks are completed or archived

Imported: Greenfield vs Brownfield Handling

Greenfield Projects (New)

For new projects:

1. Run /conductor:setup to create all artifacts interactively
2. Answer questions about product vision, tech preferences, and workflow
3. Generate initial style guides for chosen languages
4. Create empty tracks registry

Characteristics:

• Full control over context structure
• Define standards before code exists
• Establish patterns early

Brownfield Projects (Existing)

For existing codebases:

1. Run /conductor:setup with existing codebase detection
2. System analyzes existing code, configs, and documentation
3. Pre-populate artifacts based on discovered patterns
4. Review and refine generated context

Characteristics:

• Extract implicit context from existing code
• Reconcile existing patterns with desired patterns
• Document technical debt and modernization plans
• Preserve working patterns while establishing standards

Imported: Benefits

Team Alignment

• New team members onboard faster with explicit context
• Consistent terminology and conventions across the team
• Shared understanding of product goals and technical decisions

AI Consistency

• AI assistants produce aligned outputs across sessions
• Reduced need to re-explain context in each interaction
• Predictable behavior based on documented standards

Institutional Memory

• Decisions and rationale are preserved
• Context survives team changes
• Historical context informs future decisions

Quality Assurance

• Standards are explicit and verifiable
• Deviations from context are detectable
• Quality gates are documented and enforceable

Imported: Directory Structure

conductor/
├── index.md              # Navigation hub linking all artifacts
├── product.md            # Product vision and goals
├── product-guidelines.md # Communication standards
├── tech-stack.md         # Technology preferences
├── workflow.md           # Development practices
├── tracks.md             # Work unit registry
├── setup_state.json      # Resumable setup state
├── code_styleguides/     # Language-specific conventions
│   ├── python.md
│   ├── typescript.md
│   └── ...
└── tracks/
    └── <track-id>/
        ├── spec.md
        ├── plan.md
        ├── metadata.json
        └── index.md

Imported: Context Lifecycle

1. Creation: Initial setup via /conductor:setup
2. Validation: Verify before each track
3. Evolution: Update as project grows
4. Synchronization: Keep artifacts aligned
5. Archival: Document historical decisions

Imported: Context Validation Checklist

Before starting implementation on any track, validate context:

Product Context

• product.md reflects current product vision
• Target users are accurately described
• Feature list is up to date
• Success metrics are defined

Technical Context

• tech-stack.md lists all current dependencies
• Version numbers are accurate
• Infrastructure targets are correct
• Development tools are documented

Workflow Context

• workflow.md describes current practices
• Quality gates are defined
• Coverage targets are specified
• Commit conventions are documented

Track Context

• tracks.md shows all active work
• No stale or abandoned tracks
• Dependencies between tracks are noted

Imported: Common Anti-Patterns

Avoid these context management mistakes:

Stale Context

Problem: Context documents become outdated and misleading. Solution: Update context as part of each track's completion process.

Context Sprawl

Problem: Information scattered across multiple locations. Solution: Use the defined artifact structure; resist creating new document types.

Implicit Context

Problem: Relying on knowledge not captured in artifacts. Solution: If you reference something repeatedly, add it to the appropriate artifact.

Context Hoarding

Problem: One person maintains context without team input. Solution: Review context artifacts in pull requests; make updates collaborative.

Over-Specification

Problem: Context becomes so detailed it's impossible to maintain. Solution: Keep artifacts focused on decisions that affect AI behavior and team alignment.

Imported: Integration with Development Tools

IDE Integration

Configure your IDE to display context files prominently:

• Pin conductor/product.md for quick reference
• Add tech-stack.md to project notes
• Create snippets for common patterns from style guides

Git Hooks

Consider pre-commit hooks that:

• Warn when dependencies change without tech-stack.md update
• Remind to update product.md when feature branches merge
• Validate context artifact syntax

CI/CD Integration

Include context validation in pipelines:

• Check tech-stack.md matches actual dependencies
• Verify links in context documents resolve
• Ensure tracks.md status matches git branch state

Imported: Session Continuity

Conductor supports multi-session development through context persistence:

Starting a New Session

1. Read index.md to orient yourself
2. Check tracks.md for active work
3. Review relevant track's plan.md for current task
4. Verify context artifacts are current

Ending a Session

1. Update plan.md with current progress
2. Note any blockers or decisions made
3. Commit in-progress work with clear status
4. Update tracks.md if status changed

Handling Interruptions

If interrupted mid-task:

1. Mark task as [~] with note about stopping point
2. Commit work-in-progress to feature branch
3. Document any uncommitted decisions in plan.md

Imported: Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.