subagent-driven-development

$2c

"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!