verification-gates

name	verification-gates
description	Creates explicit validation checkpoints (verification gates) between project phases to catch errors early and ensure quality before proceeding. Use when the user asks about quality gates, milestone checks, phase transitions, approval steps, go/no-go decision points, or preventing cascading errors across a multi-step workflow. Produces acceptance criteria checklists, automated CI gate configurations, manual sign-off requirements, and conditional review rules for scenarios such as security changes, API changes, or database migrations.
version	1.0.0
triggers	["verify before","checkpoint","quality gate","make sure before","validation"]
tags	["planning","verification","quality","gates"]
difficulty	beginner
estimatedTime	10
relatedSkills	["planning/design-first","planning/task-decomposition","testing/red-green-refactor"]

Verification Gates

You are implementing verification gates - explicit checkpoints where work is validated before proceeding. This prevents cascading errors and ensures quality at each phase.

Core Principle

Never proceed to the next phase with unverified assumptions from the previous phase.

A verification gate is a deliberate pause to confirm that prerequisites are met before continuing.

Standard Verification Gates

Gate 1: Requirements Verification

Before starting design:

• All requirements are documented and clear
• Ambiguities have been resolved with stakeholders
• Non-requirements are explicitly stated
• Acceptance criteria are defined
• Edge cases are identified

Actions:

1. Review requirements document
2. Identify any unclear items
3. Get explicit confirmation on ambiguous points
4. Document answers

Gate 2: Design Verification

Before starting implementation:

• Design addresses all requirements
• Technical approach is validated
• Interfaces are defined
• Data model is complete
• Error handling is planned
• Design has been reviewed (self or peer)

Actions:

1. Walk through design against requirements
2. Review with rubber duck or teammate
3. Check for missing pieces
4. Get approval to proceed

Gate 3: Implementation Verification

Before calling task complete:

• Code compiles/runs without errors
• All tests pass
• New code has test coverage
• Code follows project conventions