gate-check

name	gate-check
description	Validate readiness to advance between development phases. Produces a PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL verdict with specific blockers and required artifacts.
argument-hint	[target-phase: systems-design | technical-setup | pre-production | production | polish | release]
user-invocable	true
allowed-tools	Read, Glob, Grep, Bash, Write

Phase Gate Validation

This skill validates whether the project is ready to advance to the next development phase. It checks for required artifacts, quality standards, and blockers.

Distinct from /project-stage-detect: That skill is diagnostic ("where are we?"). This skill is prescriptive ("are we ready to advance?" with a formal verdict).

Production Stages (7)

The project progresses through these stages:

1. Concept — Brainstorming, game concept document
2. Systems Design — Mapping systems, writing GDDs
3. Technical Setup — Engine config, architecture decisions
4. Pre-Production — Prototyping, vertical slice validation
5. Production — Feature development (Epic/Feature/Task tracking active)
6. Polish — Performance, playtesting, bug fixing
7. Release — Launch prep, certification

When a gate passes, write the new stage name to production/stage.txt (single line, e.g. Production). This updates the status line immediately.

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1. Parse Arguments

• With argument: /gate-check production — validate readiness for that specific phase
• No argument: Auto-detect current stage using the same heuristics as /project-stage-detect, then validate the NEXT phase transition

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2. Phase Gate Definitions

Gate: Concept → Systems Design

Required Artifacts:

• design/gdd/game-concept.md exists and has content
• Game pillars defined (in concept doc or design/gdd/game-pillars.md)

Quality Checks:

• Game concept has been reviewed (/design-review verdict not MAJOR REVISION NEEDED)
• Core loop is described and understood
• Target audience is identified

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Gate: Systems Design → Technical Setup

Required Artifacts:

• Systems index exists at design/gdd/systems-index.md with at least MVP systems enumerated
• At least 1 GDD in design/gdd/ (beyond game-concept.md and systems-index.md)

Quality Checks:

• GDD(s) pass design review (8 required sections present)
• System dependencies are mapped in the systems index
• MVP priority tier is defined

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Gate: Technical Setup → Pre-Production

Required Artifacts:

• Engine chosen (CLAUDE.md Technology Stack is not [CHOOSE])
• Technical preferences configured (.claude/docs/technical-preferences.md populated)
• At least 1 Architecture Decision Record in docs/architecture/
• Engine reference docs exist in docs/engine-reference/

Quality Checks:

• Architecture decisions cover core systems (rendering, input, state management)
• Technical preferences have naming conventions and performance budgets set

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Gate: Pre-Production → Production

Required Artifacts:

• At least 1 prototype in prototypes/ with a README
• First sprint plan exists in production/sprints/
• All MVP-tier GDDs from systems index are complete

Quality Checks:

• Prototype validates the core loop hypothesis
• Sprint plan references real work items from GDDs
• Vertical slice scope is defined

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Gate: Production → Polish

Required Artifacts:

• src/ has active code organized into subsystems
• All core mechanics from GDD are implemented (cross-reference design/gdd/ with src/)
• Main gameplay path is playable end-to-end
• Test files exist in tests/
• At least 1 playtest report (or /playtest-report has been run)

Quality Checks:

• Tests are passing (run test suite via Bash)
• No critical/blocker bugs in any bug tracker or known issues
• Core loop plays as designed (compare to GDD acceptance criteria)
• Performance is within budget (check technical-preferences.md targets)

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Gate: Polish → Release

Required Artifacts:

• All features from milestone plan are implemented
• Content is complete (all levels, assets, dialogue referenced in design docs exist)
• Localization strings are externalized (no hardcoded player-facing text in src/)
• QA test plan exists
• Balance data has been reviewed (/balance-check run)
• Release checklist completed (/release-checklist or /launch-checklist run)
• Store metadata prepared (if applicable)
• Changelog / patch notes drafted

Quality Checks:

• Full QA pass signed off by qa-lead
• All tests passing
• Performance targets met across all target platforms
• No known critical, high, or medium-severity bugs
• Accessibility basics covered (remapping, text scaling if applicable)
• Localization verified for all target languages
• Legal requirements met (EULA, privacy policy, age ratings if applicable)
• Build compiles and packages cleanly

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3. Run the Gate Check

For each item in the target gate:

Artifact Checks

• Use Glob and Read to verify files exist and have meaningful content
• Don't just check existence — verify the file has real content (not just a template header)
• For code checks, verify directory structure and file counts

Quality Checks

• For test checks: Run the test suite via Bash if a test runner is configured
• For design review checks: Read the GDD and check for the 8 required sections
• For performance checks: Read technical-preferences.md and compare against any profiling data in tests/performance/ or recent /perf-profile output
• For localization checks: Grep for hardcoded strings in src/

Cross-Reference Checks

• Compare design/gdd/ documents against src/ implementations
• Check that every system referenced in architecture docs has corresponding code
• Verify sprint plans reference real work items

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4. Collaborative Assessment

For items that can't be automatically verified, ask the user:

• "I can't automatically verify that the core loop plays well. Has it been playtested?"
• "No playtest report found. Has informal testing been done?"
• "Performance profiling data isn't available. Would you like to run /perf-profile?"

Never assume PASS for unverifiable items. Mark them as MANUAL CHECK NEEDED.

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5. Output the Verdict

## Gate Check: [Current Phase] → [Target Phase]

**Date**: [date]
**Checked by**: gate-check skill

### Required Artifacts: [X/Y present]
- [x] design/gdd/game-concept.md — exists, 2.4KB
- [ ] docs/architecture/ — MISSING (no ADRs found)
- [x] production/sprints/ — exists, 1 sprint plan

### Quality Checks: [X/Y passing]
- [x] GDD has 8/8 required sections
- [ ] Tests — FAILED (3 failures in tests/unit/)
- [?] Core loop playtested — MANUAL CHECK NEEDED

### Blockers
1. **No Architecture Decision Records** — Run `/architecture-decision` to create one
   covering core system architecture before entering production.
2. **3 test failures** — Fix failing tests in tests/unit/ before advancing.

### Recommendations
- [Priority actions to resolve blockers]
- [Optional improvements that aren't blocking]

### Verdict: [PASS / CONCERNS / FAIL]
- **PASS**: All required artifacts present, all quality checks passing
- **CONCERNS**: Minor gaps exist but can be addressed during the next phase
- **FAIL**: Critical blockers must be resolved before advancing

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6. Update Stage on PASS

When the verdict is PASS and the user confirms they want to advance:

1. Write the new stage name to production/stage.txt (single line, no trailing newline)
2. This immediately updates the status line for all future sessions

Example: if passing the "Pre-Production → Production" gate:

echo -n "Production" > production/stage.txt

Always ask before writing: "Gate passed. May I update production/stage.txt to 'Production'?"

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7. Follow-Up Actions

Based on the verdict, suggest specific next steps:

• No game concept? → /brainstorm to create one
• No systems index? → /map-systems to decompose the concept into systems
• Missing design docs? → /reverse-document or delegate to game-designer
• Missing ADRs? → /architecture-decision
• Tests failing? → delegate to lead-programmer or qa-tester
• No playtest data? → /playtest-report
• Performance unknown? → /perf-profile
• Not localized? → /localize
• Ready for release? → /launch-checklist

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Collaborative Protocol

This skill follows the collaborative design principle:

1. Scan first: Check all artifacts and quality gates
2. Ask about unknowns: Don't assume PASS for things you can't verify
3. Present findings: Show the full checklist with status
4. User decides: The verdict is a recommendation — the user makes the final call
5. Get approval: "May I write this gate check report to production/gate-checks/?"

Never block a user from advancing — the verdict is advisory. Document the risks and let the user decide whether to proceed despite concerns.