| name | subagent-driven-development |
| description | Use when executing implementation plans with independent tasks — dispatches fresh subagents per task with two-stage review (spec compliance, then code quality) |
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Subagent-Driven Development
Execute a plan by dispatching a fresh subagent per task, with two-stage review after each: spec compliance first, then code quality.
Why subagents: Fresh subagents have isolated context. By precisely crafting their instructions, you ensure they stay focused. They should never inherit the session's context or history — you construct exactly what they need. This also preserves your own context for coordination work.
Core principle: Fresh subagent per task + two-stage review (spec then quality) = high quality, fast iteration
When to Use
- You have an implementation plan with mostly independent tasks
- You want to stay in the current session (vs. parallel sessions)
- Each task can be dispatched to a fresh agent with full context provided
vs. inline execution:
- 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
Setup
- Read the plan file once
- Extract ALL tasks with full text and context
- Create TodoWrite with all tasks
- Work directory: confirm with
using-git-worktrees if needed
Per Task Loop
For each task:
-
Dispatch implementer subagent using ./implementer-prompt.md template
- Provide: full task text, scene-setting context, working directory
- Do NOT make the subagent read the plan file — paste the text
-
Handle implementer status:
DONE → proceed to spec review
DONE_WITH_CONCERNS → read concerns, address if correctness/scope issue, then proceed
NEEDS_CONTEXT → provide missing info, re-dispatch
BLOCKED → assess: provide more context / upgrade model / break task smaller / escalate to human
-
Dispatch spec compliance reviewer using ./spec-reviewer-prompt.md
- Verify: does implementation match spec? nothing missing? nothing extra?
- If ⌠issues → implementer fixes → spec reviewer re-reviews → repeat until ✅
-
Dispatch code quality reviewer using ./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md
- Only after spec compliance is ✅
- If issues → implementer fixes → re-review → repeat until ✅
-
Mark task complete in TodoWrite
After All Tasks
- Dispatch final code reviewer for the entire implementation
- Use
finishing-a-development-branch skill
Model Selection
Fleet policy: Composer 2.5 only — omit Task model for composer-2.5[fast=false] (default), or pass model: fast for shallow tasks. Never pass Sonnet/Opus/GPT.
| Task type | Model |
|---|
| Isolated functions, clear spec, 1-2 files | fast |
| Multi-file coordination, integration concerns | omit Task model (frontmatter default) |
| Architecture, design, broad review | omit Task model (frontmatter default) |
Handling Implementer Status
DONE: Proceed to spec compliance review.
DONE_WITH_CONCERNS: Read concerns before proceeding. If correctness/scope concerns → address first. If observations (file getting large, etc.) → note and proceed.
NEEDS_CONTEXT: Provide missing information and re-dispatch.
BLOCKED:
- Context problem → provide more context and re-dispatch
- Needs more reasoning → break task smaller or provide more context (same fleet model)
- Task too large → break into smaller pieces
- Plan is wrong → escalate to human
Never ignore an escalation or force the same model to retry without changes.
Red Flags
Never:
- Start implementation on main/master without explicit user consent
- Skip spec compliance review OR code quality review
- Proceed with unfixed review issues
- Dispatch multiple implementation subagents in parallel (causes conflicts)
- Make the subagent read the plan file (paste the text instead)
- Skip scene-setting context
- Accept "close enough" on spec compliance
- Start code quality review before spec compliance is ✅
- Move to next task while either review has open issues
Prompt Templates
./implementer-prompt.md — Dispatch implementer subagent
./spec-reviewer-prompt.md — Dispatch spec compliance reviewer
./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md — Dispatch code quality reviewer
Integration
Required before starting:
using-git-worktrees — Set up isolated workspace
Creates the plan this skill executes:
Subagents should use:
test-driven-development — For each implementation task
After all tasks complete:
finishing-a-development-branch