SkillHub

subagent-driven-development

v0.1.0

Use when executing implementation plans with independent tasks in the current session

Sourced from ClawHub, Authored by zlc000190

Installation

Please help me install the skill `subagent-driven-development` from SkillHub official store. npx skills add zlc000190/subagent-driven-development

Subagent-Driven Development

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

When to Use

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)

The Process

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";
}

Prompt Templates

  • ./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

Example Workflow

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!

Advantages

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)

Red Flags

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)

Integration

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