Executing Plans

Overview

Execute implementation plans by implementing tasks inline (fast) with independent subagent reviews (unbiased). Combines speed of inline execution with quality assurance of fresh-context reviewers.

Core principle: Inline implementation + subagent review gates = fast execution with independent quality checks.

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

The Process

For each task:
  1. Load task from plan
  2. Implement inline (TDD)
  3. Commit
  4. Dispatch spec reviewer subagent
  5. Fix issues if any (inline)
  6. Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent
  7. Fix issues if any (inline)
  8. Mark task complete

After all tasks:
  Use completing-work

Step 1: Load and Review Plan

1. Read plan file
2. Review critically - identify any questions or concerns
3. If concerns: Raise them before starting
4. If no concerns: Create TodoWrite with all tasks and proceed

Step 2: Execute Each Task

For each task in order:

2a. Mark In Progress

Mark task as in_progress in TodoWrite

2b. Implement Inline

Follow the plan's steps exactly. Use TDD:

• Write failing test
• Verify it fails
• Write minimal implementation
• Verify it passes
• Refactor if needed

Reference: Skill(test-driven-development) for TDD discipline.

2c. Commit

git add -A
git commit -m "feat: [task description]"

Capture the commit SHA for review:

BASE_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD~1)
HEAD_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)

2d. Dispatch Spec Reviewer

Use prompt template at ./spec-reviewer-prompt.md

Fill in:

• Task requirements (full text from plan)
• What was implemented (your summary)

If spec reviewer finds issues:

1. Fix issues inline
2. Amend commit: git add -A && git commit --amend --no-edit
3. Re-dispatch spec reviewer
4. Repeat until approved

Only proceed to code quality review after spec compliance passes.

2e. Dispatch Code Quality Reviewer

Use prompt template at ./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md

The code-reviewer subagent uses the template at ./code-reviewer-template.md.

Fill in:

• WHAT_WAS_IMPLEMENTED: Task summary
• PLAN_OR_REQUIREMENTS: Task text from plan
• BASE_SHA: Commit before this task
• HEAD_SHA: Current commit
• DESCRIPTION: Brief description

If code reviewer finds issues:

• Critical: Fix immediately, amend commit, re-review
• Important: Fix immediately, amend commit, re-review
• Minor: Note for later or fix now (judgment call)

2f. Mark Complete

Mark task as completed in TodoWrite

Proceed to next task.

Step 3: Complete Development

After all tasks complete:

1. Run full test suite to verify everything works together
2. REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use Skill(completing-work)
3. Follow that skill to verify tests, present options, execute choice

When to Stop and Ask

STOP executing immediately when:

• Hit a blocker (missing dependency, unclear instruction)
• Test fails and fix is not obvious
• Spec reviewer identifies fundamental misunderstanding
• Code reviewer identifies Critical architectural issues

Ask for clarification rather than guessing.

Prompt Templates

• ./spec-reviewer-prompt.md - Verify implementation matches spec
• ./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md - Verify implementation is well-built
• ./code-reviewer-template.md - Full template for code-reviewer subagent

Review Order Matters

Implementation → Spec Review → Code Quality Review
                     ↓              ↓
              "Did we build    "Did we build
               the right        it well?"
               thing?"

Never skip spec review. Code quality review on wrong code is wasted effort.

Never skip code quality review. Spec-compliant code can still be buggy or unmaintainable.

Red Flags

Never:

• Skip either review stage
• Proceed to code quality before spec compliance passes
• Ignore Critical or Important issues
• Guess when blocked

Always:

• Follow plan steps exactly
• Use TDD for implementation
• Fix issues before proceeding to next task
• Commit after each task (before review)

Integration

Required skills:

• test-driven-development - Implementation discipline
• completing-work - Complete development after all tasks

Used by:

• writing-plans - Creates plans this skill executes