Agent skill

subagent-driven-development

Use when executing implementation plans with independent tasks in the current session

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Install this agent skill to your Project

npx add-skill https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/main/cli-tool/components/skills/ai-research/subagent-driven-development

SKILL.md

Subagent-Driven Development

Execute plan by dispatching fresh subagent per task, with two-stage review after each: spec compliance review first, then code quality review.

Core principle: Fresh subagent per task + two-stage review (spec then quality) = high quality, fast iteration

When to Use

dot
digraph when_to_use {
    "Have implementation plan?" [shape=diamond];
    "Tasks mostly independent?" [shape=diamond];
    "Stay in this session?" [shape=diamond];
    "subagent-driven-development" [shape=box];
    "executing-plans" [shape=box];
    "Manual execution or brainstorm first" [shape=box];

    "Have implementation plan?" -> "Tasks mostly independent?" [label="yes"];
    "Have implementation plan?" -> "Manual execution or brainstorm first" [label="no"];
    "Tasks mostly independent?" -> "Stay in this session?" [label="yes"];
    "Tasks mostly independent?" -> "Manual execution or brainstorm first" [label="no - tightly coupled"];
    "Stay in this session?" -> "subagent-driven-development" [label="yes"];
    "Stay in this session?" -> "executing-plans" [label="no - parallel session"];
}

vs. Executing Plans (parallel session):

  • Same session (no context switch)
  • 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

dot
digraph process {
    rankdir=TB;

    subgraph cluster_per_task {
        label="Per Task";
        "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];
        "Implementer subagent asks questions?" [shape=diamond];
        "Answer questions, provide context" [shape=box];
        "Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" [shape=box];
        "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];
        "Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" [shape=diamond];
        "Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" [shape=box];
        "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];
        "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" [shape=diamond];
        "Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" [shape=box];
        "Mark task complete in TodoWrite" [shape=box];
    }

    "Read plan, extract all tasks with full text, note context, create TodoWrite" [shape=box];
    "More tasks remain?" [shape=diamond];
    "Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" [shape=box];
    "Use superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch" [shape=box style=filled fillcolor=lightgreen];

    "Read plan, extract all tasks with full text, note context, create TodoWrite" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)";
    "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" -> "Implementer subagent asks questions?";
    "Implementer subagent asks questions?" -> "Answer questions, provide context" [label="yes"];
    "Answer questions, provide context" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)";
    "Implementer subagent asks questions?" -> "Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" [label="no"];
    "Implementer subagent implements, tests, commits, self-reviews" -> "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)";
    "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" -> "Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?";
    "Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" -> "Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" [label="no"];
    "Implementer subagent fixes spec gaps" -> "Dispatch spec reviewer subagent (./spec-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="re-review"];
    "Spec reviewer subagent confirms code matches spec?" -> "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="yes"];
    "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" -> "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?";
    "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" -> "Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" [label="no"];
    "Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" -> "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="re-review"];
    "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" -> "Mark task complete in TodoWrite" [label="yes"];
    "Mark task complete in TodoWrite" -> "More tasks remain?";
    "More tasks remain?" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" [label="yes"];
    "More tasks remain?" -> "Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" [label="no"];
    "Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" -> "Use superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch";
}

Prompt Templates

  • ./implementer-prompt.md - Dispatch implementer subagent
  • ./spec-reviewer-prompt.md - Dispatch spec compliance reviewer subagent
  • ./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md - Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent

Example Workflow

You: I'm using Subagent-Driven Development to execute this plan.

[Read plan file once: docs/plans/feature-plan.md]
[Extract all 5 tasks with full text and context]
[Create TodoWrite with all tasks]

Task 1: Hook installation script

[Get Task 1 text and context (already extracted)]
[Dispatch implementation subagent with full task text + context]

Implementer: "Before I begin - should the hook be installed at user or system level?"

You: "User level (~/.config/superpowers/hooks/)"

Implementer: "Got it. Implementing now..."
[Later] Implementer:
  - Implemented install-hook command
  - Added tests, 5/5 passing
  - Self-review: Found I missed --force flag, added it
  - Committed

[Dispatch spec compliance reviewer]
Spec reviewer: ✅ Spec compliant - all requirements met, nothing extra

[Get git SHAs, dispatch code quality reviewer]
Code reviewer: Strengths: Good test coverage, clean. Issues: None. Approved.

[Mark Task 1 complete]

Task 2: Recovery modes

[Get Task 2 text and context (already extracted)]
[Dispatch implementation subagent with full task text + context]

Implementer: [No questions, proceeds]
Implementer:
  - Added verify/repair modes
  - 8/8 tests passing
  - Self-review: All good
  - Committed

[Dispatch spec compliance reviewer]
Spec reviewer: ❌ Issues:
  - Missing: Progress reporting (spec says "report every 100 items")
  - Extra: Added --json flag (not requested)

[Implementer fixes issues]
Implementer: Removed --json flag, added progress reporting

[Spec reviewer reviews again]
Spec reviewer: ✅ Spec compliant now

[Dispatch code quality reviewer]
Code reviewer: Strengths: Solid. Issues (Important): Magic number (100)

[Implementer fixes]
Implementer: Extracted PROGRESS_INTERVAL constant

[Code reviewer reviews again]
Code reviewer: ✅ Approved

[Mark Task 2 complete]

...

[After all tasks]
[Dispatch final code-reviewer]
Final reviewer: All requirements met, ready to merge

Done!

Advantages

vs. Manual execution:

  • Subagents follow TDD naturally
  • Fresh context per task (no confusion)
  • Parallel-safe (subagents don't interfere)
  • Subagent can ask questions (before AND during work)

vs. Executing Plans:

  • Same session (no handoff)
  • Continuous progress (no waiting)
  • Review checkpoints automatic

Efficiency gains:

  • No file reading overhead (controller provides full text)
  • Controller curates exactly what context is needed
  • Subagent gets complete information upfront
  • Questions surfaced before work begins (not after)

Quality gates:

  • Self-review catches issues before handoff
  • Two-stage review: spec compliance, then code quality
  • Review loops ensure fixes actually work
  • Spec compliance prevents over/under-building
  • Code quality ensures implementation is well-built

Cost:

  • More subagent invocations (implementer + 2 reviewers per task)
  • Controller does more prep work (extracting all tasks upfront)
  • Review loops add iterations
  • But catches issues early (cheaper than debugging later)

Red Flags

Never:

  • Skip reviews (spec compliance OR code quality)
  • Proceed with unfixed issues
  • Dispatch multiple implementation subagents in parallel (conflicts)
  • Make subagent read plan file (provide full text instead)
  • Skip scene-setting context (subagent needs to understand where task fits)
  • Ignore subagent questions (answer before letting them proceed)
  • Accept "close enough" on spec compliance (spec reviewer found issues = not done)
  • Skip review loops (reviewer found issues = implementer fixes = review again)
  • Let implementer self-review replace actual review (both are needed)
  • Start code quality review before spec compliance is ✅ (wrong order)
  • Move to next task while either review has open issues

If subagent asks questions:

  • Answer clearly and completely
  • Provide additional context if needed
  • Don't rush them into implementation

If reviewer finds issues:

  • Implementer (same subagent) fixes them
  • Reviewer reviews again
  • Repeat until approved
  • Don't skip the re-review

If subagent fails task:

  • Dispatch fix subagent with specific instructions
  • Don't try to fix manually (context pollution)

Integration

Required workflow skills:

  • superpowers:writing-plans - Creates the plan this skill executes
  • superpowers:requesting-code-review - Code review template for reviewer subagents
  • superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch - Complete development after all tasks

Subagents should use:

  • superpowers:test-driven-development - Subagents follow TDD for each task

Alternative workflow:

  • superpowers:executing-plans - Use for parallel session instead of same-session execution

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