APEX Methodology

Current Task: $ARGUMENTS

APEX Methodology Skill

Analyze → Plan → Execute → eLicit → eXamine

Complete development workflow for features, fixes, and refactoring.

Step 0: Initialize Tracking (MANDATORY FIRST ACTION)

BEFORE anything else, run this command to initialize APEX tracking:

mkdir -p .claude/apex/docs && cat > .claude/apex/task.json << 'INITEOF'
{
  "current_task": "1",
  "created_at": "'"$(date -u +"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")"'",
  "tasks": {
    "1": {
      "status": "in_progress",
      "started_at": "'"$(date -u +"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")"'",
      "doc_consulted": {}
    }
  }
}
INITEOF
echo "✅ APEX tracking initialized in $(pwd)/.claude/apex/"

This creates:

• .claude/apex/task.json - Tracks documentation consultation status
• .claude/apex/docs/ - Stores consulted documentation summaries

The PreToolUse hooks will BLOCK Write/Edit until documentation is consulted.

Workflow Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     APEX WORKFLOW                               │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  00-init-branch     → Create feature branch                     │
│  01-analyze-code    → Understand codebase (A)                   │
│  02-features-plan   → Plan implementation (P)                   │
│  03-execution       → Write code (E)                            │
│  03.5-elicit        → Expert self-review (L) ← NEW              │
│  04-validation      → Verify quality (X)                        │
│  05-review          → Self-review                               │
│  06-fix-issue       → Handle issues                             │
│  07-add-test        → Write tests                               │
│  08-check-test      → Run tests                                 │
│  09-create-pr       → Create Pull Request                       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Phase References

Quick Start

Standard Feature Flow

1. 00-init-branch     → git checkout -b feature/xxx
2. 01-analyze-code    → explore-codebase + research-expert
3. 02-features-plan   → TodoWrite task breakdown
4. 03-execution       → Implement (files <100 lines)
5. 03.5-elicit        → Expert self-review (75 techniques) ← NEW
6. 04-validation      → sniper agent
7. 07-add-test        → Write tests
8. 08-check-test      → Run tests
9. 05-review          → Self-review
10. 09-create-pr      → gh pr create

Bug Fix Flow

1. 00-init-branch     → git checkout -b fix/xxx
2. 01-analyze-code    → Understand bug context
3. 07-add-test        → Write failing test FIRST
4. 03-execution       → Fix the bug
5. 08-check-test      → Verify test passes
6. 04-validation      → sniper agent
7. 09-create-pr       → gh pr create

Hotfix Flow

1. 00-init-branch     → git checkout -b hotfix/xxx
2. 03-execution       → Minimal fix only
3. 04-validation      → sniper agent
4. 08-check-test      → Run tests
5. 09-create-pr       → Urgent merge

Core Rules

File Size (ABSOLUTE)

🚨 STOP at 90 lines → Split immediately
❌ NEVER exceed 100 lines
📊 Target: 50-80 lines per file

Interface Location

✅ src/interfaces/     (global)
✅ src/types/          (type definitions)
✅ Contracts/          (PHP/Laravel)
❌ NEVER in component files

Agent Usage

01-analyze:  explore-codebase + research-expert (PARALLEL)
04-validate: sniper (MANDATORY after ANY change)

APEX Phases Explained

A - Analyze

ALWAYS run 2 agents in parallel:

1. explore-codebase
   → Map project structure
   → Find existing patterns
   → Identify change locations

2. research-expert
   → Verify official documentation
   → Confirm API methods
   → Check best practices

P - Plan

ALWAYS use TodoWrite:

1. Break down into tasks
2. Each task <100 lines
3. Plan file splits FIRST
4. Map dependencies

E - Execute

FOLLOW plan strictly:

1. Create interfaces FIRST
2. Monitor file sizes
3. Write JSDoc/comments
4. Atomic commits

X - eXamine

ALWAYS run sniper:

6-phase validation:
1. explore-codebase
2. research-expert
3. grep usages
4. run linters
5. apply fixes
6. ZERO errors

Branching Strategy

Branch Naming

feature/ISSUE-123-short-description
fix/ISSUE-456-bug-name
hotfix/ISSUE-789-urgent-fix
refactor/ISSUE-321-cleanup
docs/ISSUE-654-readme
test/ISSUE-987-coverage

Best Practices (2025)

✅ Short-lived branches (1-3 days)
✅ Small, focused changes
✅ Sync frequently with main
✅ Squash and merge

Commit Convention

Format

<type>(<scope>): <description>

Types: feat, fix, refactor, docs, test, chore
Scope: component/feature name
Description: imperative mood, <50 chars

Examples

feat(auth): add JWT authentication
fix(cart): resolve quantity validation
refactor(api): extract fetch utilities
test(auth): add login component tests

Validation Requirements

Before PR

□ sniper passes (ZERO errors)
□ All tests pass
□ Build succeeds
□ Self-review complete
□ No console.logs
□ No TODO unaddressed

Code Quality

□ Files <100 lines
□ Interfaces in correct location
□ JSDoc on all exports
□ No any types
□ Error handling complete

PR Guidelines

Title Format

feat(auth): add social login with Google
fix(cart): resolve quantity update bug
refactor(api): extract fetch utilities

Description Must Include

□ Summary (1-3 bullets)
□ Changes (added/modified/removed)
□ Related issues (Closes #xxx)
□ Test plan (checkboxes)
□ Screenshots (if UI changes)

Flow Diagram

                    START
                      │
                      ▼
              ┌───────────────┐
              │ 00-init-branch│
              └───────┬───────┘
                      │
                      ▼
              ┌───────────────┐
              │ 01-analyze    │ ← explore + research
              └───────┬───────┘
                      │
                      ▼
              ┌───────────────┐
              │ 02-plan       │ ← TodoWrite
              └───────┬───────┘
                      │
                      ▼
              ┌───────────────┐
              │ 03-execute    │ ← Write code
              └───────┬───────┘
                      │
                      ▼
              ┌───────────────┐
              │ 04-validate   │ ← sniper
              └───────┬───────┘
                      │
              ┌───────┴───────┐
              │               │
              ▼               ▼
        ┌──────────┐   ┌──────────┐
        │ 06-fix   │   │ 07-test  │
        └────┬─────┘   └────┬─────┘
             │              │
             └──────┬───────┘
                    │
                    ▼
              ┌───────────────┐
              │ 08-check-test │
              └───────┬───────┘
                      │
                      ▼
              ┌───────────────┐
              │ 05-review     │
              └───────┬───────┘
                      │
                      ▼
              ┌───────────────┐
              │ 09-create-pr  │
              └───────┬───────┘
                      │
                      ▼
                    DONE

NEVER

❌ Skip explore-codebase or research-expert
❌ Assume API syntax without verification
❌ Create files >100 lines
❌ Put interfaces in component files
❌ Skip sniper after changes
❌ Merge without tests
❌ Large PRs (>400 lines)

Reference Files

All detailed guides in references/ directory:

references/
├── 00-init-branch.md     # Branch creation
├── 01-analyze-code.md    # Code analysis
├── 02-features-plan.md   # Planning
├── 03-execution.md       # Implementation
├── 04-validation.md      # Validation
├── 05-review.md          # Self-review
├── 06-fix-issue.md       # Issue fixes
├── 07-add-test.md        # Test writing
├── 08-check-test.md      # Test running
└── 09-create-pr.md       # PR creation

Language-Specific References

Framework-specific APEX methodology guides:

Auto-Detection

Project Type        → References Used
─────────────────────────────────────
composer.json       → references/laravel/
next.config.*       → references/nextjs/
vite.config.*       → references/react/
Package.swift       → references/swift/
Default             → references/ (generic)

Structure (Each Framework)

references/[framework]/
├── 00-init-branch.md     # Framework-specific branching
├── 01-analyze-code.md    # Framework exploration tools
├── 02-features-plan.md   # Planning patterns
├── 03-execution.md       # SOLID implementation
├── 04-validation.md      # Linters and formatters
├── 05-review.md          # Framework checklist
├── 06-fix-issue.md       # Common fixes
├── 07-add-test.md        # Testing patterns
├── 08-check-test.md      # Test commands
└── 09-create-pr.md       # PR template