track-management

# Track Management Guide for creating, managing, and completing Conductor tracks - the logical work units that organize features, bugs, and refactors through specification, planning, and implementation phases. ## When to Use This Skill - Creating new feature, bug, or refactor tracks - Writing or reviewing spec.md files - Creating or updating plan.md files - Managing track lifecycle from creation to completion - Understanding track status markers and conventions - Working with the tracks.md registry - Interpreting or updating track metadata ## Detailed patterns and worked examples Detailed pattern documentation lives in `references/details.md`. Read that file when the navigation tier above is insufficient. ## Best Practices 1. **One track, one concern**: Keep tracks focused on a single logical change 2. **Small phases**: Break work into phases of 3-5 tasks maximum 3. **Verification after phases**: Always include verification tasks 4. **Update markers immediately**: Mark task status as you work 5. **Record SHAs**: Always note commit SHAs for completed tasks 6. **Review specs before planning**: Ensure spec is complete before creating plan 7. **Link dependencies**: Explicitly note track dependencies 8. **Archive, don't delete**: Preserve completed tracks for reference 9. **Size appropriately**: Keep tracks between 1-5 days of work 10. **Clear acceptance criteria**: Every requirement must be testable