implement

name	implement
description	Explicit preset-driven implementation workflow. Use only when the user invokes `/implement` or another skill explicitly delegates to it. Do not trigger for ordinary coding requests, straightforward follow-up edits, fixes with an established design, or requests to amend an existing commit.
allowed-tools	Bash, Glob, Grep, Read, Edit, Write

Implement one bounded unit of work. Optimize for cheap execution by doing enough reasoning before edits that implementation can follow concrete instructions instead of inventing design, APIs, tests, or control flow.

Argument handling

Arguments are $ARGUMENTS.

Parse these flags before starting:

• --preset light|standard|design|strict: workflow preset. Default: standard.
• --planning note|rich|consult-first: override compiled planning mode.
• --plan-review none|narrow|full: override compiled plan review mode.
• --verification light|full: override compiled verification.
• --parent-plan <path>: path to a master plan or phase brief.
• --reviewer <selector>: reviewer selector for consult-llm. Repeatable.
• --reviewers <selector,selector>: comma-separated reviewer selectors.
• --validation <command>: expected validation command.

Everything else is the implementation request. Preserve it as the task statement.

If no preset is provided, use standard. Apply explicit compiled-field overrides after resolving the preset.

Preset compilation:

light:
  planning: note
  plan_review: none
  verification: light
standard:
  planning: rich
  plan_review: narrow
  verification: light
design:
  planning: consult-first
  plan_review: full
  verification: light
strict:
  planning: rich
  plan_review: full
  verification: full

Do not ask the user during the workflow unless there is no safe way to continue. Use best judgment.

Required artifacts

Write artifacts under history/ using today's date prefix.

Required:

• implementation note or rich implementation plan
• final summary

Required only when --parent-plan is provided or the caller explicitly requests one:

• result sentinel

Optional:

• external proposal capture
• external review capture
• debug notes

Artifacts under history/ are workflow records, not repository changes. Do not stage or commit them, even when they are required for the workflow or requested as sentinels. Leave them as uncommitted files unless the user explicitly asks to commit history artifacts.

Do not create a feedback ledger. Before implementation starts, when review changes a plan, update the plan directly. After implementation starts, or when the worktree already contains source changes for this unit, do not rewrite the plan for minor review feedback. Append a short Review feedback section to the plan or note instead, then apply the needed amendments manually.

Phase A: snapshot and context

1. Record the start commit:

   git rev-parse HEAD
   

2. Check the working tree before editing:

   git status --short
   

   Stop if unrelated uncommitted changes would make the work unsafe. Existing user changes may be present. Do not overwrite them.

3. Gather context:

   • Use Glob and Grep to find relevant files, callers, tests, fixtures, generated code, and configuration.
   • Read enough code to understand current behavior and project idioms.
   • Identify validation commands. Prefer project-local commands from docs, justfiles, package scripts, or existing test patterns.
   • If a parent plan path is provided, read it and treat it as authoritative for scope.
   • Keep scope to one implementation unit.

4. Choose the validation command. If --validation was provided, use it unless it is plainly wrong. Otherwise choose the narrowest useful command plus any required project check.

Phase B: plan

Light planning

For planning: note, write a compact implementation note:

# <Feature> Implementation Note

**Goal:** <one sentence>
**Preset:** light
**Compiled fields:** planning=note, plan_review=none, verification=light
**Parent plan:** <path or n/a>
**Start commit:** <sha>
**Validation:** `<command>`

## Checklist

- <concrete step>

## Acceptance criteria

- <criterion>

The note must include enough accountability to verify the result: checklist, acceptance criteria, and validation command.

Rich planning

For planning: rich, research first and write a rich code-bearing plan:

# <Feature> Implementation Plan

**Goal:** <one sentence>
**Preset:** standard | design | strict
**Compiled fields:** planning=<mode>, plan_review=<mode>, verification=<mode>
**Parent plan:** <path or n/a>
**Start commit:** <sha>
**Approach:** <2-3 sentences>
**Validation:** `<command>`

## Requirements

- In scope:
  - <item>
- Out of scope:
  - <item>
- Acceptance criteria:
  - <criterion>

## Context

- `<file>`: <relevant behavior or pattern>

## Tasks

### Task 1: <short description>

**Files:**

- Create: `path/to/file`
- Modify: `path/to/file` lines 10-40

**Steps:**

1. Write or update the failing test.
2. Run `<focused test>` and confirm the expected failure.
3. Apply the source change.
4. Run `<focused test>` and confirm it passes.

**Code:**

```language
actual code, not placeholders
```

**Tests:**

```language
actual test code, not placeholders
```

**Validates:** <acceptance criterion>

## Validation

1. `<focused command>`
2. `<final command>`

Rules for rich plans:

• Include exact files and paths.
• Break work into small ordered tasks.
• Include test-first steps whenever a test can be written.
• Include actual code blocks for non-trivial source edits.
• Include actual code blocks for non-trivial test edits.
• Omit code only for mechanical replacements or generated content.
• Prefer existing project patterns over new abstractions.
• Include constraints from the parent plan or phase brief.
• Do not include speculative future work.
• Do not include rollout notes or transient comments in code.

Consult-first planning

For planning: consult-first, load the consult-llm skill before any consult-llm CLI call. Then gather factual context and ask external LLMs for plan proposals before synthesizing the rich plan.

Use this prompt shape:

We need an implementation plan for one bounded code change.

Task:
<task statement>

Scope constraints:
<parent plan constraints, paths, acceptance criteria, out-of-scope items>

Relevant facts from source:
<brief factual summary with file paths>

Please propose a concrete implementation plan. Include exact files, ordered tasks, tests, validation commands, compatibility concerns, and edge cases. Include code snippets where they are important. Do not assume access to files beyond the attached context.

Call consult-llm with file context, a quoted heredoc terminator, and a 10 minute timeout:

cat <<'__CONSULT_LLM_END__' | consult-llm --task plan -f <file> -f <file>
<prompt body>
__CONSULT_LLM_END__

If reviewer selectors were supplied, pass one -m <selector> per selector. Otherwise omit -m so consult-llm applies configured default_models when present, then default_model or fallback. Always set Bash timeout to 600000.

Synthesize one rich implementation plan from the proposals and source evidence. Do not paste proposals blindly. The plan is the contract for execution.

Phase C: review the plan

Skip this phase for plan_review: none.

For plan_review: narrow or full, load the consult-llm skill before calling consult-llm. Attach the plan, relevant source files, tests, and parent plan if any. Use --task review. Use supplied reviewer selectors when present. Use the quoted heredoc terminator __CONSULT_LLM_END__ and Bash timeout 600000.

Narrow plan review prompt

Review this implementation plan only for handoff quality.

Check whether a cheaper execution agent can implement it correctly without inventing missing details. Focus on exact files, task order, code snippets, test-first steps, acceptance coverage, validation commands, phase scope boundaries, and vague instructions.

Do not redesign the architecture unless the plan is plainly inconsistent or impossible.

If something is missing, provide concrete replacement text, missing code blocks, missing tests, or task edits. Return only must-fix and should-fix feedback.

Full plan review prompt

Review this implementation plan for correctness, risk, and handoff quality.

Include the narrow handoff checks: exact files, task order, code snippets, test-first steps, acceptance coverage, validation commands, phase scope boundaries, and vague instructions.

Also check architecture, module boundaries, compatibility, public contracts, regression risk, edge cases, invariants, test adequacy, and security where relevant.

If something is missing or wrong, provide concrete replacement text, missing code blocks, missing tests, or task edits. Return only actionable feedback.

Apply accepted feedback according to implementation state:

• Before implementation starts, edit the plan directly when review feedback changes the execution contract.
• After implementation starts, or when the worktree already contains source changes for this unit, do not churn the plan for minor amendments. Append a compact Review feedback section to the plan or note with the actionable items, then apply them manually during validation.
• If feedback is wrong, ignore it.
• If review materially changes the design before implementation starts, add this optional section:

## Review changes applied

- <short bullet>

Do not create a large feedback ledger.

Phase D: execute

Implement directly from the note or plan.

Rules:

• Implement tasks in order.
• Follow test-first steps when present.
• Stop if the note or plan is wrong or underspecified in a way that changes scope.
• Make small obvious corrections directly and update the note or plan.
• Do not overwrite user changes.
• Keep scope to this unit only.
• If a correction changes design or scope, stop and report the blocker.
• Do not stage or commit history/ artifacts.
• Write the result sentinel only when --parent-plan is provided or the caller explicitly requests one.

Phase E: validate and verify

Run the selected validation command. Also run any focused tests from the plan.

For verification: light, check:

• validation passed
• when a result sentinel is required, it exists and reports success
• diff follows the note or plan
• acceptance criteria are plausibly covered
• no obvious scope drift, regression, or unsafe overwrite occurred

For verification: full, check all light verification items plus:

• compatibility with existing callers
• public contract consistency
• edge cases and error paths
• test adequacy against acceptance criteria
• regression risk across touched modules
• security issues when relevant

Only auto-fix localized must-fix issues with one clear answer. If a fix requires redesign or scope changes, stop and report the blocker.

Result sentinel

Standalone /implement runs do not write a result sentinel. When --parent-plan is provided or the caller explicitly requests one, write or confirm a result sentinel under history/ before committing:

# Implementation Result: <feature>

status: success | blocked | failed
preset: light | standard | design | strict
planning: note | rich | consult-first
plan_review: none | narrow | full
verification: light | full
start_commit: <sha>
end_commit: <sha or pending>
commit: <sha or pending>
plan_or_note: <path>
validation: <command>
validation_status: passed | failed | skipped

## Summary

- <what changed>

## Acceptance

- <criterion>: met | not met | unknown

## Blockers

- <blocker or none>

Update end_commit and commit after committing. This update still stays uncommitted when the sentinel is under history/.

When no result sentinel is required, include the same status, validation, acceptance, and blocker facts in the final summary instead.

Phase F: commit and summarize

Commit when validation passes, verification passes, no blockers remain, and you are confident the change is done.

Commit rules:

• Do not stage or commit history/ artifacts.

After committing, print the final summary:

## Result

- Preset: <preset>
- Plan or note: `<path>`
- Review: <none | narrow passed | full passed | blocker>
- Validation: `<command>` <passed | failed | skipped>
- Verification: <light | full> <passed | failed>
- Commit: `<sha>`
- Sentinel: `<path or n/a>`
- Blockers: <none or list>