| name | pdca-framework |
| description | Guides developers through a human-supervised PDCA framework for AI code generation. Applies analysis, TDD, validation, and retrospection. Activates for sessions requiring systematic quality control. |
PDCA Framework for AI-Assisted Code Generation
A disciplined approach to AI-assisted code generation that employs agile practices organized in the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. This framework occurs within individual code generation sessions as a nested loop, with full cycles taking 1-3 hours.
Core Philosophy
This framework addresses the sustainability crisis in AI code generation where research shows:
- 10x increase in duplicated code blocks (GitClear 2024)
- 7.2% decrease in delivery stability per 25% AI adoption increase (Google DORA 2024)
- 19% slower development with AI tools vs. without (METR research)
The solution keeps humans actively engaged, empowered, and accountable while using structured prompts to regulate agent behavior toward transparency and discipline.
Working Agreements
Commitments you hold yourself accountable to when interacting with coding agents. See references/working-agreements.md for complete list and examples.
Core principles:
- Enforce strict TDD: one failing test at a time, no exceptions
- Respect existing architecture: work within established patterns
- Intervene immediately on process violations
- Explicitly establish methodology, scope, and intervention rights before coding
Beads Integration (Optional)
Beads provides persistent, git-backed memory across PDCA sessions:
- Cross-session continuity: Resume cycles days/weeks later with full context
- Task dependency tracking: Link Plan → Do → Check → Act formally
- Searchable retrospectives: Find past learnings easily
First-time setup: See references/beads-setup.md
Active sessions: See references/beads-workflow.md for per-phase commands
All beads commands in the phase addon files are optional. The framework works with or without beads installed.
PDCA Cycle Overview
Each step has distinct prompts and human commitments:
1. PLAN: Analyze & Plan (7-15 min)
- Analysis: Examine codebase, define achievable objectives, explore approaches
- Planning: Create detailed execution plan with numbered steps and checkpoints
- See
references/plan-prompts.md for complete templates
- Beads (Optional): See
references/plan-beads-addon.md for epic tracking
2. DO: Code Generation (30 min - 2.5 hrs)
- TDD Implementation: Red-green-refactor with checklist-based guidance
- Active Oversight: Follow agent's work, intervene early and often
- See
references/do-prompts.md for implementation checklists
- Anti-patterns: See
references/testing-anti-patterns.md for common TDD violations to avoid
- Beads (Optional): See
references/do-beads-addon.md for TDD step tracking
3. CHECK: Validate (2-5 min)
- Completeness: Verify against analysis, plan, and quality standards
- Definition of Done: Explicit checklist for delivery readiness
- See
references/check-prompts.md for validation templates
- Beads (Optional): See
references/check-beads-addon.md for task graph validation
4. ACT: Retrospect (5-10 min)
- Process Review: Identify what worked and what to improve
- Continuous Improvement: Update 1-3 small things for next cycle
- See
references/act-prompts.md for retrospective guides
- Beads (Optional): See
references/act-beads-addon.md for storing retrospectives
When to Use Each Phase
Before opening any phase — goal check (30 sec):
Can you complete this sentence: "After this session, [outcome]."
If you cannot state the outcome in one sentence, write it now. A session without a stated goal produces untestable CHECK and ACT phases.
Start with PLAN when:
- Beginning a new feature or significant change
- Scope is unclear or could expand
- Multiple approaches are possible
Use DO iteratively:
- After completing plan
- For each step in the implementation plan
- When context drift occurs, restart with updated plan
CHECK after:
- Completing all planned steps
- Before committing code
- When uncertain if work is complete
ACT at end of session:
- After successful completion
- After encountering significant challenges
- To refine prompts and practices
Context Drift Recovery
If agent makes sprawling edits, breaks TDD, or ignores working agreements:
- Stop the thread immediately
- Describe what you observe
- Repost the relevant phase prompts
- Direct agent to proceed with renewed focus
Prompt Customization
All prompts are starting templates. Adapt them to:
- Your specific model and version
- Your team's practices and conventions
- Your codebase architecture
- Lessons from retrospectives
The PDCA cycle itself provides rapid feedback for incremental prompt evolution.
License & Attribution
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Attribution: Process framework developed by Ken Judy with Claude Anthropic 4
Source: PDCA Framework Repository
Living Framework: These prompts and working agreements should be continuously refined based on retrospective learnings from each collaboration session.
