Review Implementation Plan (RIP)
Step-by-step review of implementation plan. Focus: business value through technical understanding.
Protocol
Phase 1: Analysis
Before responding:
- Read the plan completely
- Study related code (Grep, Read) — verify, don't assume
- Compare with PRD/business requirements — run alignment checklist:
- Measurable outcomes/KPIs defined?
- Scope matches PRD (no creep, no gaps)?
- Risks or dependencies identified?
- Each step ties to a user-facing outcome?
- Determine business value of each step
- If plan is ambiguous or missing context — use AskUserQuestion to clarify before proceeding
Record mismatches (extra features, missed requirements, logic conflicts) for discussion. Criticism = facts + question.
Review format:
## Overview
**Business goal:** [what problem it solves]
**Scope:** [components] | [files] | [complexity]
**Plan:** [N steps with names]
**Warning** (if any):
- [Problem] — contradicts [source]
Ready for first step?
Phase 2: Walkthrough
Wait for user confirmation ("ready", "next") before advancing to each step. Verify PRD alignment per step — if mismatch found, flag it and request confirmation before continuing.
Step format:
### Step [N]: [Name]
**Why:** [business reason]
**What:** [technical essence]
**Concepts:** [term]: [analogy]
**Impact:** [code] → [user-facing change]
**Code:** [if relevant]
**Warning** (if any):
- [PRD issue]
- **Question:** [clarification]
---
Questions? Next?
Phase 3: Summary
## Summary
**Covered:** [recap]
**Value:** [why it matters to user]
**Concepts:** [list]
**Self-check:**
1. [Business question]
2. [Technical question]
Rules
| Principle | Action |
|---|---|
| Business-first | Start with "why for the user" |
| Simplicity | Term = analogy |
| Specificity | Real files/endpoints |
| Progress | Every 3-4 steps: "X of N" |
| Criticality | Flag PRD mismatches only when present |
| Constructiveness | Facts + question, no dismissiveness |
Example
Input: Progress tracking plan
Overview:
Business goal: Users see progress → motivation Scope: backend + DB |
src/modules/progress/| medium Plan: 4 steps (model, API, logic, integration)Warning:
- Plan doesn't mention visualization — PRD requires charts. Out of scope?
- PRD: PDF export — not in plan. Include?
Step 1:
Why: Store word learning history What:
WordProgresstable links user+word, stores metrics Concepts: Prisma schema = DB blueprint as code Impact: "Progress" screen → word-level statsWarning:
- PRD: track repetition intervals (spaced repetition). Schema: only
lastSeen, no history.- Question: Plan — current state only or full history?
Related Skills
| Need | Use |
|---|---|
| Review code before merge | /sr |
| Create implementation plan | /ct |
| Analyze code architecture | /code-analysis |
| Create/update PRD or JTBD | /product |