Default flow: Research (if needed) → Plan → Verify → Done
Research-only mode (--research-phase <N>): Spawn gsd-phase-researcher for phase N, write RESEARCH.md, then exit before the planner runs. Useful for cross-phase research, doc review before committing to a planning approach, and correction-without-replanning loops where iterating on research alone is dramatically cheaper than re-spawning the planner. Replaces the deleted research-phase command (#3042).
Research-only modifiers:
- No flag — when
RESEARCH.md already exists, auto-uses it: emits a one-line notice and exits cleanly, no prompt.
--research — force-refresh: re-spawn the researcher unconditionally, no prompt. Bypasses the existing-RESEARCH.md auto-use path.
--view — view-only: print existing RESEARCH.md to stdout. Does not spawn the researcher. Cheapest mode for the correction-without-replanning loop. If no RESEARCH.md exists yet, errors with a hint to drop --view.
Orchestrator role: Parse arguments, validate phase, research domain (unless skipped), spawn gsd-planner, verify with gsd-plan-checker, iterate until pass or max iterations, present results.
Flags:
--research — Force re-research even if RESEARCH.md exists
--skip-research — Skip research, go straight to planning
--gaps — Gap closure mode (reads VERIFICATION.md, skips research)
--skip-verify — Skip verification loop
--prd <file> — Use a PRD/acceptance criteria file instead of discuss-phase. Parses requirements into CONTEXT.md automatically. Skips discuss-phase entirely.
--ingest <path-or-glob> — Use one or more ADR files instead of discuss-phase. Parses locked decisions + scope fences into CONTEXT.md automatically. Skips discuss-phase entirely.
--ingest-format <auto|nygard|madr|narrative> — Optional ADR parser format override (auto default).
--reviews — Replan incorporating cross-AI review feedback from REVIEWS.md (produced by /gsd-review)
--text — Use plain-text numbered lists instead of TUI menus (required for /rc remote sessions)
--mvp — MVP enrichment on top of the default tracer-first ordering: frames the phase goal as a user story and, on Phase 1 of a new project, also emits SKELETON.md (Walking Skeleton). Vertical slicing itself is now the default (see --no-tracer); --mvp no longer turns it on. Can be persisted on a phase via **Mode:** mvp in ROADMAP.md.
--no-tracer — Opt out of the default tracer-first decomposition and plan horizontal layers (the legacy default). By default every plan LEADS with one production-quality end-to-end tracer slice that is verified before any expansion task.
--no-reversibility-gates — Suppress the human checkpoint that a one-way-door decision normally earns, for runs you intend to leave unattended. By default a decision rated one-way (undo needs a migration, breaks a published contract, or is impossible) gets a checkpoint:decision before the task implementing it. Ratings are still recorded on tasks and costly items still flagged — the flag changes what stops the run, not what the plan remembers.
Normalize phase input in step 2 before any directory lookups.
1---2name: gsd-plan-phase3description: Create detailed phase plan (PLAN.md) with verification loop4---5
6<objective>
7Create executable phase prompts (PLAN.md files) for a roadmap phase with integrated research and verification.
8
9**Default flow:** Research (if needed) → Plan → Verify → Done
10
11**Research-only mode (`--research-phase <N>`):** Spawn `gsd-phase-researcher` for phase `N`, write `RESEARCH.md`, then exit before the planner runs. Useful for cross-phase research, doc review before committing to a planning approach, and correction-without-replanning loops where iterating on research alone is dramatically cheaper than re-spawning the planner. Replaces the deleted research-phase command (#3042).
12
13**Research-only modifiers:**
14- **No flag** — when `RESEARCH.md` already exists, auto-uses it: emits a one-line notice and exits cleanly, no prompt.
15- **`--research`** — force-refresh: re-spawn the researcher unconditionally, no prompt. Bypasses the existing-RESEARCH.md auto-use path.
16- **`--view`** — view-only: print existing `RESEARCH.md` to stdout. Does not spawn the researcher. Cheapest mode for the correction-without-replanning loop. If no `RESEARCH.md` exists yet, errors with a hint to drop `--view`.
17
18**Orchestrator role:** Parse arguments, validate phase, research domain (unless skipped), spawn gsd-planner, verify with gsd-plan-checker, iterate until pass or max iterations, present results.
19</objective>
20
21<execution_context>
22@~/.claude/gsd-core/workflows/plan-phase.md
23@~/.claude/gsd-core/references/ui-brand.md
24</execution_context>
25
26<runtime_note>
27**Copilot (VS Code):** Use `vscode_askquestions` wherever this workflow calls `AskUserQuestion`. They are equivalent — `vscode_askquestions` is the VS Code Copilot implementation of the same interactive question API. Do not skip questioning steps because `AskUserQuestion` appears unavailable; use `vscode_askquestions` instead.
28</runtime_note>
29
30<context>
31Phase number: $ARGUMENTS (optional — when omitted, the orchestrating workflow reads ROADMAP.md and selects the next unplanned phase; `gsd-tools.cjs` itself has no auto-detect feature and requires an explicit phase number)
32
33**Flags:**
34- `--research` — Force re-research even if RESEARCH.md exists
35- `--skip-research` — Skip research, go straight to planning
36- `--gaps` — Gap closure mode (reads VERIFICATION.md, skips research)
37- `--skip-verify` — Skip verification loop
38- `--prd <file>` — Use a PRD/acceptance criteria file instead of discuss-phase. Parses requirements into CONTEXT.md automatically. Skips discuss-phase entirely.
39- `--ingest <path-or-glob>` — Use one or more ADR files instead of discuss-phase. Parses locked decisions + scope fences into CONTEXT.md automatically. Skips discuss-phase entirely.
40- `--ingest-format <auto|nygard|madr|narrative>` — Optional ADR parser format override (`auto` default).
41- `--reviews` — Replan incorporating cross-AI review feedback from REVIEWS.md (produced by `/gsd-review`)
42- `--text` — Use plain-text numbered lists instead of TUI menus (required for `/rc` remote sessions)
43- `--mvp` — MVP enrichment on top of the default tracer-first ordering: frames the phase goal as a user story and, on Phase 1 of a new project, also emits `SKELETON.md` (Walking Skeleton). Vertical slicing itself is now the default (see `--no-tracer`); `--mvp` no longer *turns it on*. Can be persisted on a phase via `**Mode:** mvp` in ROADMAP.md.
44- `--no-tracer` — Opt out of the default **tracer-first** decomposition and plan horizontal layers (the legacy default). By default every plan LEADS with one production-quality end-to-end `tracer` slice that is verified before any expansion task.
45- `--no-reversibility-gates` — Suppress the human checkpoint that a **one-way-door** decision normally earns, for runs you intend to leave unattended. By default a decision rated `one-way` (undo needs a migration, breaks a published contract, or is impossible) gets a `checkpoint:decision` before the task implementing it. Ratings are still recorded on tasks and `costly` items still flagged — the flag changes what stops the run, not what the plan remembers.
46
47Normalize phase input in step 2 before any directory lookups.
48</context>
49
50<process>
51Execute end-to-end.
52Preserve all workflow gates (validation, research, planning, verification loop, routing).
53</process>