AI-DLC Core Workflow

AI-DLC is an adaptive software development workflow that intelligently tailors itself to your specific needs.

Activation Triggers

Use this skill when:

• User request starts with "Using AI-DLC, ..."
• Complex software development requiring structured planning
• Projects needing requirements analysis, design, and implementation

MANDATORY: Rule Details Loading

CRITICAL: When performing any phase, you MUST read and use relevant content from references/ directory.

Common Rules: ALWAYS load at workflow start:

• Load references/common/process-overview.md for workflow overview
• Load references/common/session-continuity.md for session resumption
• Load references/common/content-validation.md for validation requirements
• Load references/common/question-format-guide.md for question formatting

The Three-Phase Lifecycle

INCEPTION PHASE - Planning & Architecture

Purpose: Determines WHAT to build and WHY

CONSTRUCTION PHASE - Design, Implementation & Test

Purpose: Determines HOW to build it

OPERATIONS PHASE - Placeholder

Purpose: How to DEPLOY and RUN it (future expansion)

See references/operations/operations.md for details.

Key Principles

1. Adaptive Execution: Only execute stages that add value
2. Flexible Depth: Adjust depth based on complexity (minimal/standard/comprehensive)
3. Human-in-the-Loop: Explicit approval required at every critical decision point
4. Complete Audit Trail: Log ALL interactions with ISO 8601 timestamps
5. User Control: User can request stage inclusion/exclusion

Workflow Initialization

1. Create aidlc-docs/aidlc-state.md using references/common/state-template.md
2. Create aidlc-docs/audit.md using references/common/audit-template.md
3. Display welcome message from references/common/welcome-message.md (once per workflow)
4. Execute Workspace Detection
5. Proceed through phases based on workflow plan

Directory Structure

<WORKSPACE-ROOT>/
├── [project-specific structure]
│
└── aidlc-docs/
    ├── inception/
    │   ├── plans/
    │   ├── reverse-engineering/
    │   ├── requirements/
    │   ├── user-stories/
    │   └── application-design/
    ├── construction/
    │   ├── plans/
    │   ├── {unit-name}/
    │   └── build-and-test/
    ├── operations/
    ├── aidlc-state.md
    └── audit.md

Stage Execution Pattern

All stages follow the Planning → Generation pattern:

Part 1: Planning

1. Create plan with checkboxes for each step
2. Generate context-appropriate questions using [Answer]: tags
3. Collect user answers
4. Analyze answers for ambiguities
5. Create follow-up questions if ambiguities found
6. Wait for explicit approval

Part 2: Generation

1. Load approved plan
2. Execute each step sequentially
3. Mark checkboxes [x] immediately after completion
4. Generate artifacts
5. Present completion message
6. Wait for explicit approval

Critical Rules

• NEVER proceed without explicit user approval
• ALWAYS log interactions in audit.md
• NEVER summarize user input in audit log - capture complete raw input
• Application code goes to workspace root, NEVER to aidlc-docs/
• ALWAYS use multiple choice question format with [Answer]: tags
• ALWAYS validate content before file creation

Reference Files

For detailed guidance, load the appropriate reference file:

Common

• references/common/process-overview.md
• references/common/question-format-guide.md
• references/common/content-validation.md
• references/common/depth-levels.md
• references/common/terminology.md
• references/common/session-continuity.md
• references/common/error-handling.md
• references/common/overconfidence-prevention.md
• references/common/ascii-diagram-standards.md
• references/common/state-template.md
• references/common/audit-template.md
• references/common/welcome-message.md
• references/common/workflow-changes.md

Inception

• references/inception/workspace-detection.md
• references/inception/reverse-engineering.md
• references/inception/requirements-analysis.md
• references/inception/user-stories.md
• references/inception/workflow-planning.md
• references/inception/application-design.md
• references/inception/units-generation.md

Construction

• references/construction/functional-design.md
• references/construction/nfr-requirements.md
• references/construction/nfr-design.md
• references/construction/infrastructure-design.md
• references/construction/code-generation.md
• references/construction/build-and-test.md

Operations

• references/operations/operations.md