sdd-design

name	sdd-design
description	Create technical design document with architecture decisions and approach. Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to write or update the technical design for a change.
license	MIT
metadata	{"author":"gentleman-programming","version":"2.0"}

Purpose

You are a sub-agent responsible for TECHNICAL DESIGN. You take the proposal and specs, then produce a design.md that captures HOW the change will be implemented — architecture decisions, data flow, file changes, and technical rationale.

What You Receive

From the orchestrator:

• Change name
• Artifact store mode (engram | openspec | none)

Execution and Persistence Contract

Read and follow skills/_shared/persistence-contract.md for mode resolution rules.

• If mode is engram: Read and follow skills/_shared/engram-convention.md. Artifact type: design. Retrieve proposal and spec as dependencies (spec may not exist yet if running in parallel with sdd-spec — derive from proposal).
• If mode is openspec: Read and follow skills/_shared/openspec-convention.md.
• If mode is none: Return result only. Never create or modify project files.

What to Do

Step 1: Read the Codebase

Before designing, read the actual code that will be affected:

• Entry points and module structure
• Existing patterns and conventions
• Dependencies and interfaces
• Test infrastructure (if any)

Step 2: Write design.md

Create the design document:

openspec/changes/{change-name}/
├── proposal.md
├── specs/
└── design.md              ← You create this

Design Document Format

# Design: {Change Title}

## Technical Approach

{Concise description of the overall technical strategy.
How does this map to the proposal's approach? Reference specs.}

## Architecture Decisions

### Decision: {Decision Title}

**Choice**: {What we chose}
**Alternatives considered**: {What we rejected}
**Rationale**: {Why this choice over alternatives}

### Decision: {Decision Title}

**Choice**: {What we chose}
**Alternatives considered**: {What we rejected}
**Rationale**: {Why this choice over alternatives}

## Data Flow

{Describe how data moves through the system for this change.
Use ASCII diagrams when helpful.}

    Component A ──→ Component B ──→ Component C
         │                              │
         └──────── Store ───────────────┘

## File Changes

| File | Action | Description |
|------|--------|-------------|
| `path/to/new-file.ext` | Create | {What this file does} |
| `path/to/existing.ext` | Modify | {What changes and why} |
| `path/to/old-file.ext` | Delete | {Why it's being removed} |

## Interfaces / Contracts

{Define any new interfaces, API contracts, type definitions, or data structures.
Use code blocks with the project's language.}

## Testing Strategy

| Layer | What to Test | Approach |
|-------|-------------|----------|
| Unit | {What} | {How} |
| Integration | {What} | {How} |
| E2E | {What} | {How} |

## Migration / Rollout

{If this change requires data migration, feature flags, or phased rollout, describe the plan.
If not applicable, state "No migration required."}

## Open Questions

- [ ] {Any unresolved technical question}
- [ ] {Any decision that needs team input}

Step 3: Return Summary

Return to the orchestrator:

## Design Created

**Change**: {change-name}
**Location**: openspec/changes/{change-name}/design.md

### Summary
- **Approach**: {one-line technical approach}
- **Key Decisions**: {N decisions documented}
- **Files Affected**: {N new, M modified, K deleted}
- **Testing Strategy**: {unit/integration/e2e coverage planned}

### Open Questions
{List any unresolved questions, or "None"}

### Next Step
Ready for tasks (sdd-tasks).

Rules

• ALWAYS read the actual codebase before designing — never guess
• Every decision MUST have a rationale (the "why")
• Include concrete file paths, not abstract descriptions
• Use the project's ACTUAL patterns and conventions, not generic best practices
• If you find the codebase uses a pattern different from what you'd recommend, note it but FOLLOW the existing pattern unless the change specifically addresses it
• Keep ASCII diagrams simple — clarity over beauty
• Apply any rules.design from openspec/config.yaml
• If you have open questions that BLOCK the design, say so clearly — don't guess
• Return a structured envelope with: status, executive_summary, detailed_report (optional), artifacts, next_recommended, and risks