# Dual Pass Workflow > Structure a task into a first pass and an optional second pass without replacing the domain skill. Use when Codex or Claude Code should collaborate on paper reviews, bug fixes, writing, website edits, research memos, or other tasks where one pass produces the main artifact and a later pass may check or refine it. - Skill: `yzhao062/dual-pass-workflow` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 8 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add yzhao062/dual-pass-workflow` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/yzhao062/dual-pass-workflow/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Research & Search - Author: yzhao062 (https://skillmd.com/u/yzhao062) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/yzhao062/dual-pass-workflow --- # Dual Pass Workflow ## Overview Use this skill as an outer shell. Let the domain skill handle task-specific method, canonical outputs, and detailed verification. Use this skill to define a `first-pass` mode and, when needed, a `second-pass` mode. ## Step 1: Select The Domain Skill - Identify the task-specific skill first. Examples: `cs-paper-review`, `cs-meta-review`, a bug-fix workflow, a frontend-edit skill, or a writing skill. - Keep the domain skill as the source of truth for the main artifact and its verification. - If the domain skill already has an `outputs/` folder or other task-local artifact layout, reuse it. Do not create a second top-level workflow folder unless the task has no obvious artifact directory. ## Step 1.5: Run Environment And Input Preflight - If the domain skill defines a **workspace contract** (a set of paths or files that must exist before work starts), verify that contract now. If any required path is missing, stop and ask the user instead of improvising. See `workspace_contract` in [references/contracts.md](references/contracts.md). - If the domain skill defines an **input integrity check** (such as PDF injection scanning, adversarial input detection, or untrusted-input handling), run it before any drafting. Record the result as a preflight artifact under the artifact directory. - If the domain skill defines an **ordered preflight pipeline** (multiple sequential checks that each produce an artifact), run them in the declared order. Do not collapse them into a single flat verification step. See the ordered `verification` form in [references/contracts.md](references/contracts.md). - This step is a dispatch point, not a duplication point. The dual-pass workflow triggers the domain skill's preflight; it does not redefine what the preflight checks. - If the domain skill has no workspace contract, no integrity check, and no ordered preflight, skip this step. ## Step 2: Write The Task Packet - Prefer `workflow.yaml` in the task root when the repo already has a task folder. If it is missing, infer the packet from the domain skill's standard layout before asking for more setup. - For review folders in this repo, default to: - `task_root: reviews//` - `primary_result: outputs/review.md` - `artifact_dir: outputs/` - `sources_of_truth: review.yaml, intake/requirements.md, intake/extra-text.md, intake/extracted-paper.md` - If the task has no dedicated folder and no obvious standard layout, create `.agent//workflow.yaml`. - Use the required fields in [references/contracts.md](references/contracts.md). - Fill only the fields needed for a clean handoff: `task_type`, `goal`, `selected_skills`, `task_root`, `primary_result`, `artifact_dir`, `sources_of_truth`, `constraints`, `acceptance_criteria`, and `verification`. - If the task is already packetized by a domain skill, keep the packet thin and point to the domain files instead of duplicating them. ## Step 2.5: Build Intermediate Representation - If the domain skill defines a **fact extraction or evidence mapping step** before drafting (such as an evidence map, normalized fact table, or consensus map), run it now and record the output as a preflight artifact. - The intermediate representation belongs to the domain skill. Dual-pass only ensures it exists before first-pass drafting starts. - If the domain skill has no such step, skip this. ## Step 3: Run `first-pass` - The current agent is the default `first-pass` agent unless the user says otherwise. - `first-pass` uses the domain skill and updates the primary result. - `first-pass` may also write short workflow artifacts under the artifact directory: - `build..md` - `handoff..md` - `build..md` should record what changed, which files moved, and what verification actually ran. - `handoff..md` should contain: `what_i_did`, `assumptions`, `verification`, `open_issues`, and `suggested_audit_focus`. - When the domain skill already produces evidence or reasoning artifacts, reference them instead of repeating their full contents. - If the task is low risk or the first pass is already sufficient, stop here. ## Step 4: Run `second-pass` When Needed - Use `second-pass` only when you want a real check, refinement, or adversarial review. - If there is no first-pass record (no `handoff..md`, no `build..md`, and the primary result does not exist or is empty), stop and ask the user before proceeding. The user may override to run an independent audit on a human-written artifact. - The second-pass agent reads `workflow.yaml` when present and otherwise infers the packet from the task layout. - If independence matters, let the second-pass agent write a short `precheck..md` with expected strengths, risks, or failure modes before opening the draft. - The second-pass agent then reads the primary result, the first-pass handoff when available, and the domain verification artifacts. - The second-pass agent writes `audit..md` with the categories from [references/task-mappings.md](references/task-mappings.md): - `factual_or_behavior_issue` - `unsupported_claim_or_assumption` - `missed_requirement` - `clarity_or_structure_issue` - If the primary result or any output file contains **protected region markers** defined by the domain skill (such as `% refiner:body-*` in nsf-proposal-composer), the second-pass agent must not rewrite content inside those regions unless the user explicitly requests a full overwrite. The audit may comment on protected regions, but reconciliation must respect their boundaries. See `protected_regions` in [references/contracts.md](references/contracts.md). - Default rule: audit first, rewrite second. Do not let the second pass collapse into unstructured polishing. - If the issues are clear and safe to fix immediately, the second-pass agent may also reconcile the draft in the same turn. ## Step 5: Reconcile Only If `second-pass` Ran - Reconcile is optional because `second-pass` is optional. - If `second-pass` ran, update the primary result, keep or reject audit points explicitly, and rerun the domain verification steps. - Write `reconcile.md` with three short sections: adopted changes, rejected points, and verification after reconcile. - The primary result remains the canonical artifact. Workflow notes are supporting context only. ## Output Contract - Use [references/contracts.md](references/contracts.md) to map the workflow onto an existing task layout. - Use [references/task-mappings.md](references/task-mappings.md) to tune the audit emphasis by task type. - Copy the templates under `assets/` only when the repo or skill does not already provide an equivalent file. - Treat `workflow.yaml` as an override file, not a hard prerequisite, when the domain skill already defines a clear task folder layout. ## When Not To Use Dual-Pass - Do not use dual-pass when the task is a single atomic operation with no meaningful check (e.g., renaming a file, running a script with no judgment). - Do not use dual-pass when the domain skill already has a complete internal verification pipeline and the user has not asked for an external audit. - Do not use dual-pass when the second pass would lack the context needed to audit meaningfully (e.g., a code review where the checker cannot run the tests). - Do not use dual-pass as a substitute for domain-skill-internal quality steps. If the domain skill has built-in cross-checks, dual-pass adds value only when a separate agent or separate context provides genuine independence. ## Stop And Ask - Ask when there are multiple plausible primary results. - Ask when the domain skill has no clear verification step and the task is high risk. - Ask when the checker would need context that the packet does not record and cannot infer safely.