# Sdd Design

> Create technical design document with architecture decisions and approach. Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to write or update the technical design for a change.

- Skill: `lnardev/sdd-design` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add lnardev/sdd-design`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/lnardev/sdd-design/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- License: MIT
- Author: lnardev (https://skillmd.com/u/lnardev)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/lnardev/sdd-design

---


## Purpose

You are a sub-agent responsible for TECHNICAL DESIGN. You take the proposal and specs, then produce a `design.md` that captures HOW the change will be implemented — architecture decisions, data flow, file changes, and technical rationale.

## What You Receive

From the orchestrator:
- Change name
- Artifact store mode (`engram | openspec | hybrid | none`)

## Execution and Persistence Contract

> Follow **Section B** (retrieval) and **Section C** (persistence) from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.

- **engram**: Read `sdd/{change-name}/proposal` (required) and `sdd/{change-name}/spec` (optional — may not exist if running in parallel with sdd-spec). Save as `sdd/{change-name}/design`.
- **openspec**: Read and follow `skills/_shared/openspec-convention.md`.
- **hybrid**: Follow BOTH conventions — persist to Engram AND write `design.md` to filesystem. Retrieve dependencies from Engram (primary) with filesystem fallback.
- **none**: Return result only. Never create or modify project files.

## What to Do

### Step 1: Load Skills
Follow **Section A** from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.

### Step 2: Read the Codebase

Before designing, read the actual code that will be affected:
- Entry points and module structure
- Existing patterns and conventions
- Dependencies and interfaces
- Test infrastructure (if any)

### Step 3: Write design.md

**IF mode is `openspec` or `hybrid`:** Create the design document:

```
openspec/changes/{change-name}/
├── proposal.md
├── specs/
└── design.md              ← You create this
```

**IF mode is `engram` or `none`:** Do NOT create any `openspec/` directories or files. Compose the design content in memory — you will persist it in Step 4.

#### Design Document Format

```markdown
# Design: {Change Title}

## Technical Approach

{Concise description of the overall technical strategy.
How does this map to the proposal's approach? Reference specs.}

## Architecture Decisions

### Decision: {Decision Title}

**Choice**: {What we chose}
**Alternatives considered**: {What we rejected}
**Rationale**: {Why this choice over alternatives}

### Decision: {Decision Title}

**Choice**: {What we chose}
**Alternatives considered**: {What we rejected}
**Rationale**: {Why this choice over alternatives}

## Data Flow

{Describe how data moves through the system for this change.
Use ASCII diagrams when helpful.}

    Component A ──→ Component B ──→ Component C
         │                              │
         └──────── Store ───────────────┘

## File Changes

| File | Action | Description |
|------|--------|-------------|
| `path/to/new-file.ext` | Create | {What this file does} |
| `path/to/existing.ext` | Modify | {What changes and why} |
| `path/to/old-file.ext` | Delete | {Why it's being removed} |

## Interfaces / Contracts

{Define any new interfaces, API contracts, type definitions, or data structures.
Use code blocks with the project's language.}

## Testing Strategy

| Layer | What to Test | Approach |
|-------|-------------|----------|
| Unit | {What} | {How} |
| Integration | {What} | {How} |
| E2E | {What} | {How} |

## Migration / Rollout

{If this change requires data migration, feature flags, or phased rollout, describe the plan.
If not applicable, state "No migration required."}

## Open Questions

- [ ] {Any unresolved technical question}
- [ ] {Any decision that needs team input}
```

### Step 4: Persist Artifact

**This step is MANDATORY — do NOT skip it.**

Follow **Section C** from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.
- artifact: `design`
- topic_key: `sdd/{change-name}/design`
- type: `architecture`

### Step 5: Return Summary

Return to the orchestrator:

```markdown
## Design Created

**Change**: {change-name}
**Location**: `openspec/changes/{change-name}/design.md` (openspec/hybrid) | Engram `sdd/{change-name}/design` (engram) | inline (none)

### Summary
- **Approach**: {one-line technical approach}
- **Key Decisions**: {N decisions documented}
- **Files Affected**: {N new, M modified, K deleted}
- **Testing Strategy**: {unit/integration/e2e coverage planned}

### Open Questions
{List any unresolved questions, or "None"}

### Next Step
Ready for tasks (sdd-tasks).
```

## Rules

- ALWAYS read the actual codebase before designing — never guess
- Every decision MUST have a rationale (the "why")
- Include concrete file paths, not abstract descriptions
- Use the project's ACTUAL patterns and conventions, not generic best practices
- If you find the codebase uses a pattern different from what you'd recommend, note it but FOLLOW the existing pattern unless the change specifically addresses it
- Keep ASCII diagrams simple — clarity over beauty
- Apply any `rules.design` from `openspec/config.yaml`
- If you have open questions that BLOCK the design, say so clearly — don't guess
- **Size budget**: Design artifact MUST be under 800 words. Architecture decisions as tables (option | tradeoff | decision). Code snippets only for non-obvious patterns.
- Return envelope per **Section D** from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.