Lerianstudio Ring Pre Dev Subtask Creation

Subtask Creation - Bite-Sized, Zero-Context Steps

Overview

Write comprehensive implementation subtasks assuming the engineer has zero context for our codebase. Each subtask breaks down into 2-5 minute steps following RED-GREEN-REFACTOR. Complete code, exact commands, explicit verification. DRY. YAGNI. TDD. Frequent commits.

Save subtasks to: docs/pre-dev/{feature-name}/subtasks/T-[task-id]/ST-[task-id]-[number]-[description].md

Foundational Principle

Every subtask must be completable by anyone with zero context about the system.

Requiring context creates bottlenecks, onboarding friction, and integration failures.

Subtasks answer: Exactly what to create/modify, with complete code and verification. Subtasks never answer: Why the system works this way (context is removed).

Bite-Sized Step Granularity

Each step is one action (2-5 minutes):

• "Write the failing test" - step
• "Run it to make sure it fails" - step
• "Implement the minimal code to make the test pass" - step
• "Run the tests and make sure they pass" - step
• "Commit" - step

Subtask Document Structure

Header (required):

Step Structure (TDD Cycle):

Explicit Rules

✅ DO Include in Subtasks

Exact file paths (absolute or from root), complete file contents (if creating), complete code snippets (if modifying), all imports and dependencies, step-by-step TDD cycle (numbered), verification commands (copy-pasteable), expected output (exact), rollback procedures (exact commands), prerequisites (what must exist first)

❌ NEVER Include in Subtasks

Placeholders: "...", "TODO", "implement here"; vague instructions: "update the service", "add validation"; assumptions: "assuming setup is done"; context requirements: "you need to understand X first"; incomplete code: "add the rest yourself"; missing imports: "import necessary packages"; undefined success: "make sure it works"; no verification: "test it manually"

⛔ HARD GATE: lib-commons in Go Code Examples

MUST: For Go projects, code examples use lib-commons instead of custom utilities.

See shared-patterns/code-example-standards.md for:

• Complete list of what lib-commons provides
• Forbidden patterns (custom loggers, config loaders, HTTP helpers)
• Correct import patterns with lib prefix aliases
• Anti-rationalization table

Quick Reference - DO NOT Create Custom:

MUST NOT: Create custom logger, config loader, or HTTP helper in subtasks—use lib-commons.

Rationalization Table

Red Flags - STOP

If you catch yourself writing any of these in a subtask, STOP and rewrite:

• Code placeholders: ..., // TODO, // implement X here
• Vague file references: "the user service", "the auth module"
• Assumption phrases: "assuming you have", "make sure you"
• Incomplete imports: "import required packages"
• Missing paths: Not specifying where files go
• Undefined verification: "test that it works"
• Steps longer than 5 minutes
• Context dependencies: "you need to understand X"
• No TDD cycle in implementation steps
• Use libZap.NewLogger() instead of custom func NewLogger() (Go)
• Use libCommons.SetConfigFromEnvVars() instead of scattered os.Getenv() (Go)
• Use libHTTP utilities instead of custom func JSONResponse() (Go)
• Check lib-commons first before creating files in utils/, helpers/, pkg/common/ (Go)

When you catch yourself: Expand the subtask until it's completely self-contained.

Gate 8 Validation Checklist

Gate Result: ✅ PASS → Ready for implementation | ⚠️ CONDITIONAL (add details) | ❌ FAIL (decompose further)

Confidence Scoring

Action: 80+ autonomous | 50-79 present options | <50 ask about structure

Execution Handoff

After creating subtasks, offer execution choice:

"Subtasks complete. Two execution options:

1. Subagent-Driven - Fresh subagent per subtask, review between, fast iteration → Use ring:subagent-driven-development
2. Parallel Session - New session with ring:executing-plans, batch with checkpoints → Use ring:executing-plans

Which approach?"

The Bottom Line

If you wrote a subtask with "TODO" or "..." or "add necessary imports", delete it and rewrite with complete code.

Subtasks are not instructions. Subtasks are complete, copy-pasteable implementations following TDD.

• "Add validation" is not a step. [Complete validation code with test] is a step.
• "Update the service" is not a step. [Exact file path + exact code changes with test] is a step.
• "Import necessary packages" is not a step. [Complete list of imports] is a step.

Every subtask must be completable by someone who:

• Just joined the team yesterday
• Has never seen the codebase before
• Doesn't know the business domain
• Won't ask questions (you're unavailable)
• Follows TDD religiously

If they can't complete it with zero questions while following RED-GREEN-REFACTOR, it's not atomic enough.

Remember: DRY. YAGNI. TDD. Frequent commits.

Standards Loading (MANDATORY)

This skill creates implementation subtasks. While it does NOT require direct WebFetch of standards, subtasks MUST reference lib-commons patterns for Go projects.

For Go projects: All code examples in subtasks MUST use lib-commons imports. See shared-patterns/code-example-standards.md for required patterns.

HARD GATE: Subtasks with custom logger, config loader, or HTTP helper implementations are INVALID. Use lib-commons.

Blocker Criteria - STOP and Report

Cannot Be Overridden

These requirements are NON-NEGOTIABLE:

• MUST NOT include placeholders (TODO, ..., "implement here")
• MUST NOT include vague instructions ("update the service")
• MUST provide complete file paths (absolute or from root)
• MUST provide all imports explicitly
• MUST follow TDD cycle: RED (failing test) → GREEN (implementation) → REFACTOR
• MUST include verification commands with expected output
• MUST include rollback procedures
• MUST use lib-commons for Go code examples (no custom utilities)

Severity Calibration

Pressure Resistance

When This Skill Is Not Needed

• Small Track workflow (execute tasks directly without subtask breakdown)
• Tasks are simple enough without fine-grained breakdown
• Tasks (Gate 7) not yet validated (complete Gate 7 first)
• Implementation already in progress (use ring:executing-plans)
• Proof-of-concept work without formal process needs

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