# Mk Workflow Orchestrator > Auto-invoked 7-phase workflow for complex-feature intent; fasttrack mode for pre-approved specs. NOT for explicit single tasks (mk:cook), green-field builds (mk:autobuild), or simple fixes (mk:fix). - Skill: `ngocsangyem/mk-workflow-orchestrator-3` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add ngocsangyem/mk-workflow-orchestrator-3` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/ngocsangyem/mk-workflow-orchestrator-3/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Productivity - Author: ngocsangyem (https://skillmd.com/u/ngocsangyem) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/ngocsangyem/mk-workflow-orchestrator-3 --- # Workflow Orchestrator **Priority:** CRITICAL — Use for complex feature implementations. > Only activates on session start for complex-feature intent. If `the cook skill` was explicitly invoked in this session, do not activate — `mk:cook` owns the pipeline. See AGENTS.md (Delegation & subagents)"Orchestrator Entry Point Rule". ## Canonical Lifecycle `references/workflow-phases.md` is the sole source for phase sequence, gates, leads, and required outputs. This adapter must not restate phase details — load that reference for execution. On a non-trivial task, route to `mk:plan-creator`; proceed only after Gate 1. Fasttrack accepts only a pre-approved spec. Gate 2 remains human approval before an explicit ship request. ## When to Use **USE for:** New features, complex implementations, tasks >2 hours, multi-file changes, tasks requiring TDD. **DON'T use for:** Bug fixes → `mk:fix`, quick refactors → direct edit, config changes → direct edit, simple questions → just answer. ## Pre-Execution Checklist 1. **agent-detector** → Select lead agent (MANDATORY) 2. **Load context** → Read canonical `.meowkit/memory/fixes.json` + `.meowkit/memory/architecture-decisions.json` (Phase 0 Orient; fall back to matching `.md` views only when JSON is absent) 3. **Show agent banner** at start of response 4. **Verify task complexity** — if simple, suggest lighter approach 5. **Challenge requirements** → Ask clarifying questions before Phase 1 ## Process See the phase-contract conventions for input/output expectations per phase. (Loaded by `mk:agent-detector` Step 0b at session start.) 1. **Run pre-execution checklist** — select lead agent, load memory, show agent banner, verify complexity, challenge requirements. 2. **Detect workflow mode** — check for `fasttrack:` prefix or Agent Teams trigger; if present load `references/fasttrack-and-teams.md`. Otherwise proceed with standard 7-phase flow. 3. **Execute the canonical lifecycle** — load `references/workflow-phases.md` and follow it directly; do not duplicate or override its phase ordering, TDD rules, required outputs, or gates. 4. **At each phase boundary** — check token budget (warn at 75%, handoff at 90%). Show what comes next before continuing. Save state via `workflow:handoff` if context is near limit. Also delegate to `project-manager` after each phase transition per the post-phase-delegation conventions Rule 1 (background, non-blocking — include "Run in the background" in the prompt). Skipped when `MEOWKIT_PM_AUTO=off`. Only the canonical gates authorize transition. Shipping and reflection require explicit user direction; they do not auto-run after review. ## Supervision (`--advice`) is not an entry point here This orchestrator exposes **no `--advice` flag** and never enables it. When a phase skill was *already* invoked with the flag by the user, carry its `supervisionRunId` forward as an **opaque value** across macro phase boundaries so a resumed run keeps one budget instead of minting a fresh one. Carry nothing else: no flag, no dossier, no directive history, and no routing ability. Spawned subagents receive a task-specific directive only, so an orchestrated child can never supervise itself. ## References | Reference | When to load | Content | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **[workflow-phases.md](./references/workflow-phases.md)** | Steps 2-6 — executing phases | Phase details, transition rules, approval gates, token budgets, TDD rules | | **[fasttrack-and-teams.md](./references/fasttrack-and-teams.md)** | Only if fasttrack trigger or Agent Teams enabled | Fast-track mode, spec validation, Agent Teams composition, state management | ## Key Rules - **TDD is OPT-IN** (post-migration): default mode skips Phase 2 RED gate; enable with `--tdd` or `MEOWKIT_TDD=1`. In TDD mode the cycle is RED → GREEN → REFACTOR. - **KISS:** Simple over complex, standard patterns over custom - **Token budget:** Target ≤30K for full workflow. Warn at 75%, handoff at 90%. - **State:** `workflow:handoff` saves, `workflow:resume ` continues - **ALWAYS show what's next** after each phase ## Related Rules - AGENTS.md (Gates) — Gate 1 (Plan) and Gate 2 (Review) hard-stop conditions enforced by this orchestrator - AGENTS.md (Data & injection boundary) — DATA vs INSTRUCTIONS boundary; applies to all file/tool output processed during orchestration ## Gotchas - **Parallel agents editing same file**: Two sub-task modify the same source file simultaneously → Define exclusive file ownership before spawning parallel agents - **Token budget exceeded mid-workflow**: Complex 7-phase workflow runs out of context → Check remaining context at each phase boundary; escalate if < 20% remaining