Agent skill
kata-insert-phase
Insert urgent work as a decimal phase between existing phases, adding mid-milestone work, or creating intermediate phases. Triggers include "insert phase", "add urgent phase", "create decimal phase", "insert between phases", and "urgent work".
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/gannonh/kata-orchestrator/tree/main/skills/kata-insert-phase
Metadata
Additional technical details for this skill
- version
- 1.6.1
SKILL.md
Uses decimal numbering (72.1, 72.2, etc.) to preserve the logical sequence of planned phases while accommodating urgent insertions.
Purpose: Handle urgent work discovered during execution without renumbering entire roadmap.
<execution_context> @.planning/ROADMAP.md @.planning/STATE.md </execution_context>
Example: /kata-insert-phase 72 Fix critical auth bug
→ after = 72
→ description = "Fix critical auth bug"
Validation:
if [ $# -lt 2 ]; then
echo "ERROR: Both phase number and description required"
echo "Usage: /kata-insert-phase <after> <description>"
echo "Example: /kata-insert-phase 72 Fix critical auth bug"
exit 1
fi
Parse first argument as integer:
after_phase=$1
shift
description="$*"
# Validate after_phase is an integer
if ! [[ "$after_phase" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]]; then
echo "ERROR: Phase number must be an integer"
exit 1
fi
If ROADMAP.md exists, check format and auto-migrate if old:
if [ -f .planning/ROADMAP.md ]; then
node scripts/kata-lib.cjs check-roadmap 2>/dev/null
FORMAT_EXIT=$?
if [ $FORMAT_EXIT -eq 1 ]; then
echo "Old roadmap format detected. Running auto-migration..."
fi
fi
If exit code 1 (old format):
Invoke kata-doctor in auto mode:
Skill("kata-doctor", "--auto")
Continue after migration completes.
If exit code 0 or 2: Continue silently.
if [ -f .planning/ROADMAP.md ]; then
ROADMAP=".planning/ROADMAP.md"
else
echo "ERROR: No roadmap found (.planning/ROADMAP.md)"
exit 1
fi
Read roadmap content for parsing.
-
Search for "### Phase {after_phase}:" heading
-
If not found:
ERROR: Phase {after_phase} not found in roadmap Available phases: [list phase numbers]Exit.
-
Verify phase is in current milestone (not completed/archived)
- Search for all "### Phase {after_phase}.N:" headings
- Extract decimal suffixes (e.g., for Phase 72: find 72.1, 72.2, 72.3)
- Find the highest decimal suffix
- Calculate next decimal: max + 1
Examples:
- Phase 72 with no decimals → next is 72.1
- Phase 72 with 72.1 → next is 72.2
- Phase 72 with 72.1, 72.2 → next is 72.3
Store as: decimal_phase="$(printf "%02d" $after_phase).${next_decimal}"
slug=$(echo "$description" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]' | sed 's/[^a-z0-9]/-/g' | sed 's/--*/-/g' | sed 's/^-//;s/-$//')
Phase directory name: {decimal-phase}-{slug}
Example: 06.1-fix-critical-auth-bug (phase 6 insertion)
phase_dir=".planning/phases/pending/${decimal_phase}-${slug}"
mkdir -p "$phase_dir"
Confirm: "Created directory: $phase_dir"
-
Find insertion point: immediately after Phase {after_phase}'s content (before next phase heading or "---")
-
Insert new phase heading with (INSERTED) marker:
### Phase {decimal_phase}: {Description} (INSERTED) **Goal:** [Urgent work - to be planned] **Depends on:** Phase {after_phase} **Plans:** 0 plans Plans: - [ ] TBD (run /kata-plan-phase {decimal_phase} to break down) **Details:** [To be added during planning] -
Write updated roadmap back to file
The "(INSERTED)" marker helps identify decimal phases as urgent insertions.
Preserve all other content exactly (formatting, spacing, other phases).
- Read
.planning/STATE.md - Under "## Accumulated Context" → "### Roadmap Evolution" add entry:
- Phase {decimal_phase} inserted after Phase {after_phase}: {description} (URGENT)
If "Roadmap Evolution" section doesn't exist, create it.
Add note about insertion reason if appropriate.
Phase {decimal_phase} inserted after Phase {after_phase}:
- Description: {description}
- Directory: .planning/phases/{decimal-phase}-{slug}/
- Status: Not planned yet
- Marker: (INSERTED) - indicates urgent work
Roadmap updated: {roadmap-path}
Project state updated: .planning/STATE.md
---
## ▶ Next Up
**Phase {decimal_phase}: {description}** — urgent insertion
`/kata-plan-phase {decimal_phase}`
<sub>`/clear` first → fresh context window</sub>
---
**Also available:**
- Review insertion impact: Check if Phase {next_integer} dependencies still make sense
- Review roadmap
---
<anti_patterns>
- Don't use this for planned work at end of milestone (use /kata-add-phase)
- Don't insert before Phase 1 (decimal 0.1 makes no sense)
- Don't renumber existing phases
- Don't modify the target phase content
- Don't create plans yet (that's /kata-plan-phase)
- Don't commit changes (user decides when to commit) </anti_patterns>
<success_criteria> Phase insertion is complete when:
- Phase directory created:
.planning/phases/pending/{N.M}-{slug}/ - Roadmap updated with new phase entry (includes "(INSERTED)" marker)
- Phase inserted in correct position (after target phase, before next integer phase)
- STATE.md updated with roadmap evolution note
- Decimal number calculated correctly (based on existing decimals)
- User informed of next steps and dependency implications </success_criteria>
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