Code Pilot

Code Pilot

Universal development workflow. Routes frontend tasks through design-first process; all other tasks go directly to superpowers standard workflow.

Route Decision

digraph code_pilot {
    "superpowers:brainstorming\n(clarify requirements)" [shape=box];
    "Has frontend / UI?" [shape=diamond];

    "Offer Visual Companion\n(standalone message only)" [shape=box];
    "User accepts?" [shape=diamond];
    "Read visual-companion.md\nthen sketch in browser" [shape=box];
    "User approves sketch?" [shape=diamond];
    "Revise sketch" [shape=box];
    "Run ui-ux-pro-max\n--design-system" [shape=box];
    "Confirm design direction" [shape=box];

    "superpowers:writing-plans" [shape=box];
    "Choose execution mode" [shape=diamond];
    "superpowers:subagent-driven-development" [shape=box];
    "superpowers:executing-plans" [shape=box];
    "superpowers:verification-before-completion" [shape=doublecircle];

    "superpowers:brainstorming\n(clarify requirements)" -> "Has frontend / UI?";

    "Has frontend / UI?" -> "Offer Visual Companion\n(standalone message only)" [label="yes"];
    "Has frontend / UI?" -> "superpowers:writing-plans" [label="no"];

    "Offer Visual Companion\n(standalone message only)" -> "User accepts?";
    "User accepts?" -> "Read visual-companion.md\nthen sketch in browser" [label="yes"];
    "User accepts?" -> "Run ui-ux-pro-max\n--design-system" [label="no"];
    "Read visual-companion.md\nthen sketch in browser" -> "User approves sketch?";
    "User approves sketch?" -> "Revise sketch" [label="no"];
    "Revise sketch" -> "User approves sketch?";
    "User approves sketch?" -> "Run ui-ux-pro-max\n--design-system" [label="yes"];
    "Run ui-ux-pro-max\n--design-system" -> "Confirm design direction";
    "Confirm design direction" -> "superpowers:writing-plans";

    "superpowers:writing-plans" -> "Choose execution mode" [label="plan written"];
    "Choose execution mode" [shape=diamond];
    "Choose execution mode" -> "superpowers:subagent-driven-development" [label="recommended"];
    "Choose execution mode" -> "superpowers:executing-plans" [label="inline"];
    "superpowers:subagent-driven-development" -> "superpowers:verification-before-completion";
    "superpowers:executing-plans" -> "superpowers:verification-before-completion";
}

Always start with brainstorming — use multi-round questions to precisely understand requirements, constraints, and success criteria before taking any action.

Frontend = any task involving UI, components, pages, visual layout, design systems, or user-visible interfaces.

Non-frontend = backend logic, APIs, CLIs, scripts, databases, infrastructure, configuration, tests — skip directly to superpowers:writing-plans after brainstorming.

Hard Gates

GATE 2 — Frontend tasks only: Do NOT write any implementation code until:

1. Visual Companion sketch has been presented and approved (or declined by user)
2. ui-ux-pro-max design system has been generated and confirmed
3. Implementation plan exists via superpowers:writing-plans

Phase 1: Visual Companion Offer

When UI/visual work is involved, offer in a standalone message — no other content:

"The interface we're about to design might be easier to communicate visually. I can sketch wireframes and mockups in the browser to confirm the layout before writing any code. Want to try? (requires opening a local URL)"

Wait for response before continuing.

If accepted: Read skills/brainstorming/visual-companion.md FIRST, then open the browser.

Sketch deliverables:

• Low-to-mid fidelity wireframe showing layout and component hierarchy
• 2 layout alternatives when structure is non-obvious
• Key interaction states annotated (hover, empty, error, loading)

Decision rule: Use browser for visual questions (layout, hierarchy, composition). Use text for conceptual questions (what content, what does this button do).

Phase 2: ui-ux-pro-max Design System

After sketch approval (or if user skipped Visual Companion), run the design system generator:

# Step 1: Generate complete design system (ALWAYS start here)
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<product_type> <industry> <keywords>" --design-system -p "Project Name"

# Step 2: Persist design system for cross-session retrieval
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<query>" --design-system --persist -p "Project Name"

# Step 3: Detailed domain searches as needed
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<keyword>" --domain <domain>
# domains: product | style | color | typography | ux | chart | landing | google-fonts | react | web | prompt

Present the generated design system to the user and get explicit confirmation on:

• Visual style and color palette
• Typography (display font + body font)
• Key UX patterns to apply

Phase 3: Implementation via Superpowers

Once design is confirmed:

1. superpowers:writing-plans — write implementation plan (TDD is baked into each task step)
2. Choose execution mode — superpowers:subagent-driven-development (recommended) or superpowers:executing-plans
3. superpowers:verification-before-completion — verify before claiming done

Phase 4: Implementation Standards

Apply ui-ux-pro-max Pre-Delivery Checklist before every delivery:

Visual Quality: No emoji icons; consistent icon family; semantic color tokens (no hardcoded hex in components)

Accessibility: 4.5:1 contrast ratio; keyboard navigation; ARIA labels; alt text

Touch & Interaction: Min 44×44pt tap targets; 150–300ms micro-interactions; visible pressed states

Layout: Mobile-first; 4/8dp spacing rhythm; safe area compliance; no horizontal scroll

Performance: WebP/AVIF images; lazy loading; transform/opacity-only animations; virtualize lists 50+

Forms: Visible labels (not placeholder-only); inline validation on blur; error below field with recovery path

Common Mistakes

Red Flags — Stop Immediately

• "This is too simple for a design system" → Run --design-system anyway
• "I'll write tests after the component works" → Delete code, start with TDD
• "The sketch looks fine" without user approval → Get explicit approval
• "Let me just start coding" → No. Plan first via superpowers:writing-plans

Required Sub-Skills (invoke in order)

• REQUIRED (all tasks): superpowers:brainstorming — clarify requirements via multi-round dialogue before anything else; also provides Visual Companion mechanism for frontend tasks
• REQUIRED (frontend only): ui-ux-pro-max — design system generation via CLI
• REQUIRED (all tasks): superpowers:writing-plans — write implementation plan; TDD is baked into each task step; ends with execution mode choice
• REQUIRED (all tasks): superpowers:subagent-driven-development or superpowers:executing-plans — execute the plan (subagent recommended)
• REQUIRED (all tasks): superpowers:verification-before-completion — verify before claiming done

Source: ysicing/code-pilot — distributed by TomeVault.