Executing Plans

Executing Plans

Overview

Load plan, review critically, execute tasks in batches, report for review between batches.

Core principle: Batch execution with checkpoints for architect review.

Announce at start: "I'm using the executing-plans skill to implement this plan."

The Process

Step 0: Verify Isolation Context

Before loading plan:

1. Check current git context:

   git branch --show-current
   git worktree list
   

2. If on main/master without worktree: Use AskUserQuestion:

   Question: "You're on the main branch. Plans should execute in isolated worktrees to protect main."
   Header: "Isolation"
   Options:
   - "Set up worktree": Create isolated workspace first (recommended)
   - "Continue on main": I understand the risk, proceed anyway
   

3. If "Set up worktree": Use workflow:git-worktrees skill first

4. If "Continue on main": Proceed with warning logged

5. If already in worktree or feature branch: Proceed normally

Step 1: Load and Review Plan

1. Read plan file
2. Review critically - identify any questions or concerns about the plan
3. If concerns: Raise them with your human partner before starting
4. If no concerns: Create TodoWrite with:
   • All tasks from the plan
   • MANDATORY FINAL TODO: "Complete development (finish-branch)" - this ensures finish-branch is invoked after all tasks complete

Step 2: Execute Batch

Default: First 3 tasks

For each task, check its Complexity tag and execute accordingly:

TRIVIAL Tasks (delete, rename, typo, config)

1. Mark as in_progress
2. Execute the change directly (no TDD - nothing to test)
3. Verify with git diff that change is correct
4. Mark as completed
5. Skip code review - parent agent verifies git diff directly

Rationale: TDD/review overhead exceeds task value for trivial changes.

SIMPLE Tasks (small refactor, single-file)

1. Mark as in_progress
2. If modifying production code: Use core:tdd skill (write test first)
3. If config/docs only: Skip TDD
4. Run verifications as specified
5. Mark as completed
6. Lightweight review: Check git diff, no subagent needed

MODERATE Tasks (features, bug fixes)

1. Mark as in_progress
2. Use core:tdd skill - Write failing test FIRST, then implement
3. Follow each step exactly
4. Run verifications as specified
5. Use core:verification skill - Verify tests pass
6. Mark as completed
7. Dispatch code-reviewer (Sonnet model)

COMPLEX Tasks (multi-file, architectural)

1. Mark as in_progress
2. Use core:tdd skill - Write failing test FIRST, then implement
3. Follow each step exactly
4. Run verifications as specified
5. Use core:verification skill - Verify tests pass
6. Mark as completed
7. Dispatch code-reviewer (Opus model for thorough review)

IMPORTANT: Match execution overhead to task complexity. TRIVIAL tasks should complete in 2-3 tool uses, not 11.

Step 3: Code Review After Batch

Review strategy based on batch complexity:

Batches with TRIVIAL/SIMPLE tasks only

• Parent agent reviews git diff directly
• Verify changes match plan requirements
• No subagent dispatch needed

git diff --stat [BASE_SHA]..[HEAD_SHA]
git diff [BASE_SHA]..[HEAD_SHA]

Check: Does the diff match what was requested? Any unintended changes?

Batches with MODERATE/COMPLEX tasks

Dispatch code-reviewer subagent:

Use template at plugins/methodology/review/templates/code-reviewer-dispatch.md.

Task tool (review:code-reviewer):
  description: "Review Batch [N] implementation"
  prompt: |
    Review the implementation against requirements.

    ## Context
    - **What Was Implemented:** [Summary of tasks completed in this batch]
    - **Requirements/Plan:** Tasks [N-M] from [plan-file]
    - **Description:** Batch [N] - [brief summary of work]

    ## Git Range
    - **Base:** [commit before batch started]
    - **Head:** [current commit after batch]

    First run: git diff --stat [BASE_SHA]..[HEAD_SHA]
    Then review against plugins/methodology/review/references/code-review-standards.md

Code reviewer returns: Strengths, Issues (Critical/Important/Minor), Assessment

Mixed batches

Review at the level of the most complex task in the batch.

If Critical or Important issues found:

1. Address issues before proceeding
2. Re-run verification after fixes
3. Do NOT proceed to user feedback until resolved

If only Minor issues:

• Note for later
• Proceed to Step 4

Step 4: Report and Request Feedback

After code review passes:

• Show what was implemented
• Show verification output
• Show code review summary (issues found and resolved)
• Use the AskUserQuestion tool (do NOT output as plain text):

Question: "Batch [N] complete. How should I proceed?" Header: "Next step" Options:

• Continue: Proceed to next batch
• Review changes: Show diffs or re-explain what was done
• Make adjustments: Apply corrections before continuing multiSelect: false

Wait for user response before proceeding.

Step 5: Continue

Based on feedback:

• Apply changes if needed
• Execute next batch
• Repeat until complete

Step 6: Complete Development

After all plan tasks complete and verified:

1. Mark the "Complete development (finish-branch)" todo as in_progress
2. Announce: "I'm using the finish-branch skill to complete this work."
3. REQUIRED: Use Skill("workflow:finish-branch")
4. Follow that skill to verify tests, present options, execute choice
5. Mark the "Complete development (finish-branch)" todo as completed

This step is NOT optional. The mandatory final todo ensures this step is visible throughout execution.

When to Stop and Ask for Help

STOP executing immediately when:

• Hit a blocker mid-batch (missing dependency, test fails, instruction unclear)
• Plan has critical gaps preventing starting
• You don't understand an instruction
• Verification fails repeatedly

Ask for clarification rather than guessing.

When to Revisit Earlier Steps

Return to Review (Step 1) when:

• Partner updates the plan based on your feedback
• Fundamental approach needs rethinking

Don't force through blockers - stop and ask.

Remember

• Review plan critically first
• Follow plan steps exactly
• Don't skip verifications
• Reference skills when plan says to
• Between batches: use AskUserQuestion to get explicit feedback
• Stop when blocked, don't guess

Integration

Required skills for task execution:

• tdd - REQUIRED: Use core:tdd for each task (write test first)
• verification - REQUIRED: Use core:verification before marking tasks complete

Required workflow skills:

• git-worktrees - Use workflow:git-worktrees for isolation when on main/master (see Step 0)
• code-review - Use review:code-review after each batch (see Step 3)
• finish-branch - REQUIRED: Use workflow:finish-branch after all tasks (see Step 6)

Alternative workflow:

• subagent-dev - Use for same-session execution with fresh subagents per task