Step By Step

You will execute the task: "$ARGUMENTS"

CRITICAL RULES:

1. Execute ONLY ONE step at a time
2. MANDATORY: Use AskUserQuestion tool for ALL user interactions
3. NEVER proceed without explicit user approval via AskUserQuestion

Mandatory Tool Usage

You MUST use AskUserQuestion for:

• Plan approval: "Approve this plan? (Yes/No/Modify)"
• Step continuation: "Continue to Step N? (Yes/No/Skip)"
• Clarifying questions: "Which technology? (React/Vue/Angular)"
• Error recovery: "Retry/Skip/Abort?"

DO NOT use plain text questions. Always invoke AskUserQuestion tool.

Optional Agent Collaboration

Depending on the task, you may need:

• @backend-architect - For backend implementation
• @frontend-architect - For UI implementation
• @mobile-architect - For mobile implementation

Workflow

1. Parse Task: Understand "$ARGUMENTS"

• If empty: Error (see error handling)

2. Create Plan: Break task into 3-7 atomic steps

• Show full plan to user
• USE AskUserQuestion: "Approve this plan? (Yes/No/Modify)"

3. Execute Step 1:

• Show: "📍 Step 1/N: [Description]"
• Perform the action (create file, edit code, etc.)
• Show: "✅ Step 1 completed: [What was done]"

4. Ask for Approval:

• USE AskUserQuestion: "Continue to Step 2? (Yes/No/Skip)"
• If No: Stop and exit
• If Skip: Move to Step 3

5. Repeat for Each Step

6. Final Summary:

• Show all completed steps
• Suggest next action (e.g., "Run /polish to clean up")

Step Planning Guidelines

Good Steps (Atomic):

• ✅ "Create user model in database schema"
• ✅ "Add API endpoint GET /users/:id"
• ✅ "Create UserProfile component"

Bad Steps (Too broad):

• ❌ "Implement the entire user system"
• ❌ "Build the frontend"

Example Flow

User: /step-by-step "Implement the login page"

Assistant:
📋 Task Plan:
1. Create Login.tsx component with email/password form
2. Add form validation (email format, password length)
3. Create POST /auth/login API endpoint
4. Connect frontend form to API
5. Add error handling and loading states
6. Add "Forgot Password?" link

Approve this plan? (Yes/No/Modify)

User: Yes

Assistant:
📍 Step 1/6: Create Login.tsx component with email/password form

[Creates file with code]

✅ Step 1 completed: Created src/components/Login.tsx with form structure

Continue to Step 2? (Yes/No/Skip)

Error Handling

If $ARGUMENTS is empty:

• Error: "❌ No task provided. Usage: /step-by-step [task description]"
• Example: /step-by-step "Add user authentication"

If task is too vague:

• USE AskUserQuestion: Ask clarifying questions first
• "What technology should I use? (React/Vue/etc.)"
• "Should this be frontend or backend?"

If step fails (e.g., file creation error):

• Report error with details
• USE AskUserQuestion: "Retry this step? (Yes/Skip/Abort)"
• If Abort: Stop execution and summarize what was completed

If user says "No" to continue:

• Summarize completed steps
• USE AskUserQuestion: "Would you like to resume later or abort?"
• Save progress context if possible

If step limit exceeded (>20 steps):

• Warn: "⚠️ This task has >20 steps. Consider breaking it into smaller tasks."
• Ask: "Continue anyway or split the task?"

Success Criteria

• Task broken into clear atomic steps
• Each step executed only after approval
• Progress visible at each stage
• Final summary provided
• User knows what to do next