Sprint Workflow
Overview
Sprint Workflow describes the convergent diffusion execution model used by the Sprint plugin. A sprint progresses through six distinct phases -- from loading specifications through architectural planning, parallel implementation, testing, review, and finalization.
Prerequisites
- Sprint plugin installed (
/plugin install sprint)
- Project onboarded via
/sprint:setup (creates .claude/project-goals.md and .claude/project-map.md)
- Sprint created via
/sprint:new with a completed specs.md
- Understanding of the agent system (see the
agent-patterns skill)
Instructions
- Phase 0 -- Load Specifications. The orchestrator locates the sprint directory at
.claude/sprint/[N]/, reads specs.md for requirements, reads status.md if resuming a prior iteration, and detects the project type for framework-specific agent selection. See ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/sprint-phases.md for the full phase reference.
- Phase 1 -- Architectural Planning. The project-architect agent reads
project-map.md for architecture context and project-goals.md for business objectives. It produces specification files (api-contract.md, backend-specs.md, frontend-specs.md) and returns SPAWN REQUEST blocks for implementation agents.
- Phase 2 -- Implementation. The orchestrator spawns implementation agents in parallel based on the architect's SPAWN REQUEST blocks. Agents include
python-dev, nextjs-dev, cicd-agent, and allpurpose-agent. Each agent reads its assigned spec files and the shared api-contract.md, then returns a structured report.
- Phase 3 -- Testing. Testing agents execute sequentially:
qa-test-agent runs first (API and unit tests), then ui-test-agent runs browser-based E2E tests. Framework-specific diagnostics agents (e.g., nextjs-diagnostics-agent) run in parallel with UI tests. All agents produce test reports.
- Phase 4 -- Review and Iteration. The architect reviews all agent reports, analyzes conformity against specifications, updates specs (removing completed items, adding fixes for failures), and updates
status.md. The architect then decides: spawn more implementation agents, run more tests, or finalize.
- Phase 5 -- Finalization. The orchestrator writes the final
status.md summary, ensures all spec files are in a consistent state, cleans up temporary files like manual-test-report.md, and signals FINALIZE to end the sprint.
- Convergence model. Each iteration reduces noise: completed work is removed from specs, working code is preserved, and only failures are re-addressed. Most sprints converge within 3-5 iterations. After 5 iterations without convergence, the orchestrator pauses and prompts for manual intervention.
Output
- Phase-by-phase execution log showing agent spawns, reports, and decisions
- Updated
status.md after each iteration reflecting completed and remaining work
- Specification files that shrink with each iteration as requirements are satisfied
- Final
status.md summary upon sprint completion
- FINALIZE signal to the orchestrator when all specs are satisfied
Error Handling
| Error |
Cause |
Solution |
| Sprint stuck in iteration loop (hits 5 iterations) |
Specs too broad or contain unresolvable conflicts |
Review status.md for blocking issues; narrow scope or resolve conflicting requirements |
| Phase 2 agents not spawned |
Architect SPAWN REQUEST missing or malformed |
Verify architect agent produced valid SPAWN REQUEST blocks with correct agent names |
| Tests fail repeatedly on same issue |
Implementation does not match contract |
Compare agent output against api-contract.md; check for schema mismatches |
| Sprint cannot find specs |
Wrong sprint directory number |
Verify .claude/sprint/[N]/specs.md exists; run /sprint:new if needed |
| Architect skips testing phase |
Testing section missing from specs.md |
Add QA: required and UI Testing: required to the specs (see spec-writing skill) |
Examples
Starting a new sprint:
/sprint:new # Creates .claude/sprint/1/specs.md
# Edit specs.md with requirements
/sprint # Executes the full phase lifecycle
Resuming after iteration pause:
# Review .claude/sprint/1/status.md for blockers
# Adjust specs.md to narrow scope or fix conflicts
/sprint # Resumes from Phase 0, reads updated specs and status
Typical convergence flow:
Iteration 1: Architect plans → 3 agents implement → tests find 2 failures
Iteration 2: Architect narrows specs to 2 fixes → agents patch → tests pass
Iteration 3: All specs satisfied → FINALIZE
Resources
${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/sprint-phases.md -- Detailed reference for all six phases with agent assignments and handoff rules- Agent patterns skill for SPAWN REQUEST format and report structure
- Spec writing skill for authoring effective
specs.md files
- API contract skill for designing the shared interface between agents
1---2name: sprint-workflow3description: Execute this skill should be used when the user asks about "how sprints work", "sprint phases", "iteration workflow", "convergent development", "sprint lifecycle", "when to use sprints", or wants to understand the sprint execution model and its convergent diffusion approach. Use when appropriate context detected. Trigger with relevant phrases based on skill purpose.4license: MIT5---6# Sprint Workflow
7
8## Overview
9
10Sprint Workflow describes the convergent diffusion execution model used by the Sprint plugin. A sprint progresses through six distinct phases -- from loading specifications through architectural planning, parallel implementation, testing, review, and finalization.
11
12## Prerequisites
13
14- Sprint plugin installed (`/plugin install sprint`)
15- Project onboarded via `/sprint:setup` (creates `.claude/project-goals.md` and `.claude/project-map.md`)
16- Sprint created via `/sprint:new` with a completed `specs.md`
17- Understanding of the agent system (see the `agent-patterns` skill)
18
19## Instructions
20
211. **Phase 0 -- Load Specifications.** The orchestrator locates the sprint directory at `.claude/sprint/[N]/`, reads `specs.md` for requirements, reads `status.md` if resuming a prior iteration, and detects the project type for framework-specific agent selection. See `${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/sprint-phases.md` for the full phase reference.
222. **Phase 1 -- Architectural Planning.** The project-architect agent reads `project-map.md` for architecture context and `project-goals.md` for business objectives. It produces specification files (`api-contract.md`, `backend-specs.md`, `frontend-specs.md`) and returns SPAWN REQUEST blocks for implementation agents.
233. **Phase 2 -- Implementation.** The orchestrator spawns implementation agents in parallel based on the architect's SPAWN REQUEST blocks. Agents include `python-dev`, `nextjs-dev`, `cicd-agent`, and `allpurpose-agent`. Each agent reads its assigned spec files and the shared `api-contract.md`, then returns a structured report.
244. **Phase 3 -- Testing.** Testing agents execute sequentially: `qa-test-agent` runs first (API and unit tests), then `ui-test-agent` runs browser-based E2E tests. Framework-specific diagnostics agents (e.g., `nextjs-diagnostics-agent`) run in parallel with UI tests. All agents produce test reports.
255. **Phase 4 -- Review and Iteration.** The architect reviews all agent reports, analyzes conformity against specifications, updates specs (removing completed items, adding fixes for failures), and updates `status.md`. The architect then decides: spawn more implementation agents, run more tests, or finalize.
266. **Phase 5 -- Finalization.** The orchestrator writes the final `status.md` summary, ensures all spec files are in a consistent state, cleans up temporary files like `manual-test-report.md`, and signals FINALIZE to end the sprint.
277. **Convergence model.** Each iteration reduces noise: completed work is removed from specs, working code is preserved, and only failures are re-addressed. Most sprints converge within 3-5 iterations. After 5 iterations without convergence, the orchestrator pauses and prompts for manual intervention.
28
29## Output
30
31- Phase-by-phase execution log showing agent spawns, reports, and decisions
32- Updated `status.md` after each iteration reflecting completed and remaining work
33- Specification files that shrink with each iteration as requirements are satisfied
34- Final `status.md` summary upon sprint completion
35- FINALIZE signal to the orchestrator when all specs are satisfied
36
37## Error Handling
38
39| Error | Cause | Solution |
40|-------|-------|----------|
41| Sprint stuck in iteration loop (hits 5 iterations) | Specs too broad or contain unresolvable conflicts | Review `status.md` for blocking issues; narrow scope or resolve conflicting requirements |
42| Phase 2 agents not spawned | Architect SPAWN REQUEST missing or malformed | Verify architect agent produced valid SPAWN REQUEST blocks with correct agent names |
43| Tests fail repeatedly on same issue | Implementation does not match contract | Compare agent output against `api-contract.md`; check for schema mismatches |
44| Sprint cannot find specs | Wrong sprint directory number | Verify `.claude/sprint/[N]/specs.md` exists; run `/sprint:new` if needed |
45| Architect skips testing phase | Testing section missing from `specs.md` | Add `QA: required` and `UI Testing: required` to the specs (see `spec-writing` skill) |
46
47## Examples
48
49**Starting a new sprint:**
50```bash
51/sprint:new # Creates .claude/sprint/1/specs.md
52# Edit specs.md with requirements
53/sprint # Executes the full phase lifecycle
54```
55
56**Resuming after iteration pause:**
57```bash
58# Review .claude/sprint/1/status.md for blockers
59# Adjust specs.md to narrow scope or fix conflicts
60/sprint # Resumes from Phase 0, reads updated specs and status
61```
62
63**Typical convergence flow:**
64```
65Iteration 1: Architect plans → 3 agents implement → tests find 2 failures
66Iteration 2: Architect narrows specs to 2 fixes → agents patch → tests pass
67Iteration 3: All specs satisfied → FINALIZE
68```
69
70## Resources
71
72- `${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/sprint-phases.md` -- Detailed reference for all six phases with agent assignments and handoff rules
73- Agent patterns skill for SPAWN REQUEST format and report structure
74- Spec writing skill for authoring effective `specs.md` files
75- API contract skill for designing the shared interface between agents
micsapp