subagent-driven-development
obra
Use when executing implementation plans with independent tasks in the current session
Quick Install
bunx add-skill obra/superpowers -s subagent-driven-developmentInstructions
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obra
Use when executing implementation plans with independent tasks in the current session
bunx add-skill obra/superpowers -s subagent-driven-developmentLoadingβ¦
Execute plan by dispatching fresh subagent per task, with two-stage review after each: spec compliance review first, then code quality review.
Core principle: Fresh subagent per task + two-stage review (spec then quality) = high quality, fast iteration
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):
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 subagentYou: 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: β
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: β 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: β
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: β
Approved
[Mark Task 2 complete]
...
[After all tasks]
[Dispatch final code-reviewer]
Final reviewer: All requirements met, ready to merge
Done!
vs. Manual execution:
vs. Executing Plans:
Efficiency gains:
Quality gates:
Cost:
Never:
If subagent asks questions:
If reviewer finds issues:
If subagent fails task:
Required workflow skills:
Subagents should use:
Alternative workflow:
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