Deepwork

Deepwork

Deepwork is an orchestrator workflow for heavy coding sessions. Use it when the work is broad, risky, multi-file, or likely to span several implementation phases. Do not use it for trivial edits, quick docs changes, or simple bug fixes.

Core Contract

When deepwork is active, the orchestrator must manage the work as a scheduler, not as the default implementation worker.

Required behavior:

• keep OpenCode todos aligned with the active deepwork phase;
• create and maintain a local markdown progress file under .slim/deepwork/;
• write valuable research findings into that file as confirmed research context when they are received and reconciled;
• draft a plan before implementation;
• ask @oracle to review the plan and revise it until acceptable;
• create a phased implementation/delegation plan;
• before oracle reviews, add relevant confirmed research findings and file references to the deepwork file so oracle can review the plan or phase from accepted context instead of redoing discovery;
• ask @oracle to review that implementation plan before execution;
• after oracle review and before each implementation phase, decide the execution path: what can run in parallel, what must be sequential, which specialists to delegate to, and whether to split the same agent into multiple bounded lanes;
• after each phase, validate, update the deepwork file, prepare the plan file for oracle review and ask @oracle to review the phase result, fix actionable issues, then continue;
• when a phase includes @designer, preserve designer intent across later phases. Use @fixer only for mechanical follow-up that does not alter the UI/UX;
• finish with final validation and a concise summary.

Designer Handoff Guardrail

When a deepwork phase includes @designer, treat the delivered UI/UX as accepted design intent for later phases. Record any important design decisions in the deepwork file before continuing.

After designer work:

• preserve layout, rhythm, hierarchy, motion, spacing, color, affordances, responsiveness, and component feel;
• review and improve user-facing copy with grounded, normal wording, but do not change visual structure or interaction intent;
• route follow-up visual, responsive, motion, hierarchy, polish, or component-feel changes back to @designer;
• use @fixer only for bounded mechanical follow-up that preserves the design exactly, such as wiring, tests, type fixes, or non-visual behavior changes;
• if design intent must change, record why in the deepwork file before changing it.

Deepwork File

Create a task-specific file such as:

.slim/deepwork/<short-task-slug>.md

Keep .slim/deepwork/ out of git, but make it readable to OpenCode. Ensure the project ignore files include:

# .gitignore
.slim/deepwork/

# .ignore
!.slim/deepwork/
!.slim/deepwork/**

Do not follow a rigid template. Choose whatever markdown structure best fits the work. The file only needs to remain useful as persistent session state and should capture, as applicable:

• current goal and understanding;
• researched, factual context from @librarian to avoid oracle doing its own research;
• plan drafts and oracle review notes;
• implementation phases and status;
• validation results;
• unresolved questions, blockers, and follow-ups.

Update this file after major decisions, valuable specialist research, reviews, phase completions, validation results, and scope changes. When @librarian docs, code reads, or external references produce useful information, reconcile the result and record the accepted findings here so later planning and reviews share the same context instead of rediscovering it. Don't put actual contents of local files, reference them by path only.

Scheduler Discipline

Use the scheduler model throughout:

• follow Orchestrator delegations rules
• record task/session IDs and ownership boundaries;
• wait for hook-driven background completion before consuming background results;
• avoid blocking Orchestrator lane while background jobs run; if no independent work remains, stop briefly and let the completion event resume the workflow;
• do not advance to the next phase while relevant jobs are running or terminal results are unreconciled.