| name | subagent-driven-development |
| description | Use when executing implementation plans with independent tasks in the current session |
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
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
Step 1: Read Plan and Create TodoWrite
- Read plan file once
- Extract all tasks with full text and context
- Create TodoWrite with all tasks
Step 2: Per Task Loop
For each task:
- Dispatch implementer subagent with full task text + context
- If implementer asks questions: Answer and re-dispatch
- Implementer implements, tests, commits, self-reviews
- Dispatch spec reviewer subagent
- If spec issues found: implementer fixes, re-review
- Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent
- If quality issues found: implementer fixes, re-review
- Mark task complete in TodoWrite
Step 3: Final Review
After all tasks complete:
- Dispatch final code reviewer for entire implementation
- Use superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch
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
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
