subagent-driven-development

```dot

digraph when_to_use {

"Have implementation plan?" [shape=diamond];

"Tasks mostly independent?" [shape=diamond];

"Stay in this session?" [shape=diamond];

"subagent-driven-development" [shape=box];

"executing-plans" [shape=box];

"Manual execution or brainstorm first" [shape=box];

"Have implementation plan?" -> "Tasks mostly independent?" [label="yes"];

"Have implementation plan?" -> "Manual execution or brainstorm first" [label="no"];

"Tasks mostly independent?" -> "Stay in this session?" [label="yes"];

"Tasks mostly independent?" -> "Manual execution or brainstorm first" [label="no - tightly coupled"];

"Stay in this session?" -> "subagent-driven-development" [label="yes"];

"Stay in this session?" -> "executing-plans" [label="no - parallel session"];

}

```

vs. Executing Plans (parallel session):

• Same session (no context switch)
• Fresh subagent per task (no context pollution)
• Two-stage review after each task: spec compliance first, then code quality
• Faster iteration (no human-in-loop between tasks)

```dot

digraph process {

rankdir=TB;

subgraph cluster_per_task {

label="Per Task";

"Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];

"Implementer subagent asks questions?" [shape=diamond];

"Answer questions, provide context" [shape=box];

"Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" [shape=box];

"Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];

"Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" [shape=diamond];

"Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" [shape=box];

"Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];

"Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" [shape=diamond];

"Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" [shape=box];

"Mark task complete in TodoWrite" [shape=box];

}

"Read plan, extract all tasks with full text, note context, create TodoWrite" [shape=box];

"More tasks remain?" [shape=diamond];

"Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" [shape=box];

"Use superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch" [shape=box style=filled fillcolor=lightgreen];

"Read plan, extract all tasks with full text, note context, create TodoWrite" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)";

"Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" -> "Implementer subagent asks questions?";

"Implementer subagent asks questions?" -> "Answer questions, provide context" [label="yes"];

"Answer questions, provide context" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)";

"Implementer subagent asks questions?" -> "Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" [label="no"];

"Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" -> "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)";

"Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" -> "Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?";

"Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" -> "Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" [label="no"];

"Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" -> "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="re-review"];

"Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" -> "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="yes"];

"Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" -> "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?";

"Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" -> "Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" [label="no"];

"Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" -> "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="re-review"];

"Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" -> "Mark task complete in TodoWrite" [label="yes"];

"Mark task complete in TodoWrite" -> "More tasks remain?";

"More tasks remain?" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" [label="yes"];

"More tasks remain?" -> "Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" [label="no"];

"Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" -> "Use superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch";

}

```

• ./implementer-prompt.md - Dispatch implementer subagent
• ./spec-reviewer-prompt.md - Dispatch spec compliance reviewer subagent
• ./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md - Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent

```

You: I'm using Subagent-Driven Development to execute this plan.

[Read plan file once: docs/plans/feature-plan.md]

[Extract all 5 tasks with full text and context]

[Create TodoWrite with all tasks]

Task 1: Hook installation script

[Get Task 1 text and context (already extracted)]

[Dispatch implementation subagent with full task text + context]

Implementer: "Before I begin - should the hook be installed at user or system level?"

You: "User level (~/.config/superpowers/hooks/)"

Implementer: "Got it. Implementing now..."

[Later] Implementer:

- Implemented install-hook command

- Added tests, 5/5 passing

- Self-review: Found I missed --force flag, added it

- Committed

[Dispatch spec compliance reviewer]

Spec reviewer: ✅ Spec compliant - all requirements met, nothing extra

[Get git SHAs, dispatch code quality reviewer]

Code reviewer: Strengths: Good test coverage, clean. Issues: None. Approved.

[Mark Task 1 complete]

Task 2: Recovery modes

[Get Task 2 text and context (already extracted)]

[Dispatch implementation subagent with full task text + context]

Implementer: [No questions, proceeds]

Implementer:

- Added verify/repair modes

- 8/8 tests passing

- Self-review: All good

- Committed

[Dispatch spec compliance reviewer]

Spec reviewer: ❌ Issues:

- Missing: Progress reporting (spec says "report every 100 items")

- Extra: Added --json flag (not requested)

[Implementer fixes issues]

Implementer: Removed --json flag, added progress reporting

[Spec reviewer reviews again]

Spec reviewer: ✅ Spec compliant now

[Dispatch code quality reviewer]

Code reviewer: Strengths: Solid. Issues (Important): Magic number (100)

[Implementer fixes]

Implementer: Extracted PROGRESS_INTERVAL constant

[Code reviewer reviews again]

Code reviewer: ✅ Approved

[Mark Task 2 complete]

...

[After all tasks]

[Dispatch final code-reviewer]

Final reviewer: All requirements met, ready to merge

Done!

```

vs. Manual execution:

• Subagents follow TDD naturally
• Fresh context per task (no confusion)
• Parallel-safe (subagents don't interfere)
• Subagent can ask questions (before AND during work)

vs. Executing Plans:

• Same session (no handoff)
• Continuous progress (no waiting)
• Review checkpoints automatic

Efficiency gains:

• No file reading overhead (controller provides full text)
• Controller curates exactly what context is needed
• Subagent gets complete information upfront
• Questions surfaced before work begins (not after)

Quality gates:

• Self-review catches issues before handoff
• Two-stage review: spec compliance, then code quality
• Review loops ensure fixes actually work
• Spec compliance prevents over/under-building
• Code quality ensures implementation is well-built

Cost:

• More subagent invocations (implementer + 2 reviewers per task)
• Controller does more prep work (extracting all tasks upfront)
• Review loops add iterations
• But catches issues early (cheaper than debugging later)

Never:

• Start implementation on main/master branch without explicit user consent
• Skip reviews (spec compliance OR code quality)
• Proceed with unfixed issues
• Dispatch multiple implementation subagents in parallel (conflicts)
• Make subagent read plan file (provide full text instead)
• Skip scene-setting context (subagent needs to understand where task fits)
• Ignore subagent questions (answer before letting them proceed)
• Accept "close enough" on spec compliance (spec reviewer found issues = not done)
• Skip review loops (reviewer found issues = implementer fixes = review again)
• Let implementer self-review replace actual review (both are needed)
• Start code quality review before spec compliance is ✅ (wrong order)
• Move to next task while either review has open issues

If subagent asks questions:

• Answer clearly and completely
• Provide additional context if needed
• Don't rush them into implementation

If reviewer finds issues:

• Implementer (same subagent) fixes them
• Reviewer reviews again
• Repeat until approved
• Don't skip the re-review

If subagent fails task:

• Dispatch fix subagent with specific instructions
• Don't try to fix manually (context pollution)

Required workflow skills:

• superpowers:using-git-worktrees - REQUIRED: Set up isolated workspace before starting
• superpowers:writing-plans - Creates the plan this skill executes
• superpowers:requesting-code-review - Code review template for reviewer subagents
• superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch - Complete development after all tasks

Subagents should use:

• superpowers:test-driven-development - Subagents follow TDD for each task

Alternative workflow:

• superpowers:executing-plans - Use for parallel session instead of same-session execution