Implement with Feedback

A disciplined, git-centric implementation workflow. Remote git logs are the primary way others monitor your work.

Workflow

Phase 1: Pre-flight Checks

1. Verify clean checkout. Run git status. If there are ANY uncommitted changes (staged, unstaged, or untracked non-ignored files), STOP and tell the user:

   "Working tree is not clean. Please commit or stash your changes before starting." Do NOT proceed until the checkout is clean.

2. Verify we are on main/master. If not, warn the user and ask whether to continue from the current branch or switch to main first.

3. Pull latest. Run git pull to ensure we're up to date.

Phase 2: Branch Creation

1. Determine branch type from arguments or context. Valid prefixes:

   • feature/ — new functionality
   • bugfix/ — fixing a defect
   • spike/ — exploratory / research / prototype
   • refactor/ — restructuring without behavior change
   • docs/ — documentation only
   • chore/ — maintenance, deps, tooling

2. Create and push the branch.

   git checkout -b <branch-type>/<short-description>
   

   If $ARGUMENTS is provided, use it as the branch name directly (e.g. /implement-with-feedback feature/add-auth). Otherwise, ask the user what kind of work this is and derive a branch name.

Phase 3: WIP Progress File

1. Create docs/plans/plan_<branch-name>_implimentation.md (replacing / with - in the filename). This file tracks the plan, progress, decisions, and blockers in real time.

2. Initial content:

   # WIP: <Branch Name>
   
   **Branch:** `<branch-type>/<description>`
   **Started:** <date>
   **Status:** In Progress
   
   ## Plan
   
   <If a plan file was provided as $1, summarize it here and link to it. Otherwise, work with the user to define the plan.>
   
   ### Tasks
   
   - [ ] Task 1
   - [ ] Task 2
   - ...
   
   ## Progress Log
   
   ### <timestamp>
   - Started work. Branch created from `main` at `<commit-sha>`.
   
   ## Decisions & Notes
   
   <Record architectural decisions, trade-offs, and anything useful for reviewers.>
   
   ## Blockers
   
   <None currently.>
   
   ## Commits
   <githash> - Oneline changelog/commit note
   

3. Commit the WIP file immediately:

   git add docs/wip/<filename>.md
   git commit -m "wip: start <branch-name> — init progress tracker"
   

Phase 4: Implementation Loop

For each piece of work:

1. Update the WIP file FIRST — mark the current task [x] or add a progress log entry with a timestamp.

2. Do the work — write code, update docs, run tests, etc.

3. Commit early, commit often. Each commit should be a logical, small unit of work. Use descriptive commit messages:

   • feat: add auth middleware for API routes
   • fix: handle null response from scanner
   • wip: partial implementation of results table
   • docs: update scanner authoring guide
   • test: add normalizer tests for ffuf
   • refactor: extract fingerprint logic to shared util

4. Update the WIP file with progress, decisions, or blockers after each meaningful step. Commit and push the WIP update too.

5. If blocked or unsure, update the WIP Blockers section, commit, then ask the user.

Phase 5: Completion

1. Update the WIP file:

   • Set **Status:** to Complete
   • Ensure all tasks are checked off
   • Add a final progress log entry

2. Final commit.

3. Inform the user the branch is ready for review / PR creation. Offer to merge, push, or create the PR.

Rules

• NEVER push. We're in a local only workflow.
• NEVER amend pushed commits. Make a new commit instead.
• Commit messages must be meaningful. No "wip" without context — use "wip: partial auth middleware" not just "wip".
• The WIP file is a living document. Update it continuously. It should tell the full story of the implementation to anyone reading the git log.
• Keep commits small and focused. One logical change per commit. If you touch 5 files for 3 different reasons, that's 3 commits.