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 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 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