Workflow Patterns
Guide for implementing tasks using Conductor's TDD workflow, managing phase checkpoints, handling git commits, and executing the verification protocol that ensures quality throughout implementation.
When to Use This Skill Implementing tasks from a track's plan.md Following TDD red-green-refactor cycle Completing phase checkpoints Managing git commits and notes Understanding quality assurance gates Handling verification protocols Recording progress in plan files TDD Task Lifecycle
Follow these 11 steps for each task:
Step 1: Select Next Task
Read plan.md and identify the next pending [ ] task. Select tasks in order within the current phase. Do not skip ahead to later phases.
Step 2: Mark as In Progress
Update plan.md to mark the task as [~]:
- [~] Task 2.1: Implement user validation
Commit this status change separately from implementation.
Step 3: RED - Write Failing Tests
Write tests that define the expected behavior before writing implementation:
Create test file if needed Write test cases covering happy path Write test cases covering edge cases Write test cases covering error conditions Run tests - they should FAIL
Example:
def test_validate_user_email_valid(): user = User(email="test@example.com") assert user.validate_email() is True
def test_validate_user_email_invalid(): user = User(email="invalid") assert user.validate_email() is False
Step 4: GREEN - Implement Minimum Code
Write the minimum code necessary to make tests pass:
Focus on making tests green, not perfection Avoid premature optimization Keep implementation simple Run tests - they should PASS Step 5: REFACTOR - Improve Clarity
With green tests, improve the code:
Extract common patterns Improve naming Remove duplication Simplify logic Run tests after each change - they should remain GREEN Step 6: Verify Coverage
Check test coverage meets the 80% target:
pytest --cov=module --cov-report=term-missing
If coverage is below 80%:
Identify uncovered lines Add tests for missing paths Re-run coverage check Step 7: Document Deviations
If implementation deviated from plan or introduced new dependencies:
Update tech-stack.md with new dependencies Note deviations in plan.md task comments Update spec.md if requirements changed Step 8: Commit Implementation
Create a focused commit for the task:
git add -A git commit -m "feat(user): implement email validation
- Add validate_email method to User class
- Handle empty and malformed emails
- Add comprehensive test coverage
Task: 2.1 Track: user-auth_20250115"
Commit message format:
Type: feat, fix, refactor, test, docs, chore Scope: affected module or component Summary: imperative, present tense Body: bullet points of changes Footer: task and track references Step 9: Attach Git Notes
Add rich task summary as git note:
git notes add -m "Task 2.1: Implement user validation
Summary: - Added email validation using regex pattern - Handles edge cases: empty, no @, no domain - Coverage: 94% on validation module
Files changed: - src/models/user.py (modified) - tests/test_user.py (modified)
Decisions: - Used simple regex over email-validator library - Reason: No external dependency for basic validation"
Step 10: Update Plan with SHA
Update plan.md to mark task complete with commit SHA:
- [x] Task 2.1: Implement user validation
abc1234
Step 11: Commit Plan Update
Commit the plan status update:
git add conductor/tracks/*/plan.md git commit -m "docs: update plan - task 2.1 complete
Track: user-auth_20250115"
Phase Completion Protocol
When all tasks in a phase are complete, execute the verification protocol:
Identify Changed Files
List all files modified since the last checkpoint:
git diff --name-only
Ensure Test Coverage
For each modified file:
Identify corresponding test file Verify tests exist for new/changed code Run coverage for modified modules Add tests if coverage < 80% Run Full Test Suite
Execute complete test suite:
pytest -v --tb=short
All tests must pass before proceeding.
Generate Manual Verification Steps
Create checklist of manual verifications:
Phase 1 Verification Checklist
- [ ] User can register with valid email
- [ ] Invalid email shows appropriate error
- [ ] Database stores user correctly
- [ ] API returns expected response codes
WAIT for User Approval
Present verification checklist to user:
Phase 1 complete. Please verify: 1. [ ] Test suite passes (automated) 2. [ ] Coverage meets target (automated) 3. [ ] Manual verification items (requires human)
Respond with 'approved' to continue, or note issues.
Do NOT proceed without explicit approval.
Create Checkpoint Commit
After approval, create checkpoint commit:
git add -A git commit -m "checkpoint: phase 1 complete - user-auth_20250115
Verified: - All tests passing - Coverage: 87% - Manual verification approved
Phase 1 tasks: - [x] Task 1.1: Setup database schema - [x] Task 1.2: Implement user model - [x] Task 1.3: Add validation logic"
Record Checkpoint SHA
Update plan.md checkpoints table:
Checkpoints
| Phase | Checkpoint SHA | Date | Status |
| ------- | -------------- | ---------- | -------- |
| Phase 1 | def5678 | 2025-01-15 | verified |
| Phase 2 | | | pending |
Quality Assurance Gates
Before marking any task complete, verify these gates:
Passing Tests All existing tests pass New tests pass No test regressions Coverage >= 80% New code has 80%+ coverage Overall project coverage maintained Critical paths fully covered Style Compliance Code follows style guides Linting passes Formatting correct Documentation Public APIs documented Complex logic explained README updated if needed Type Safety Type hints present (if applicable) Type checker passes No type: ignore without reason No Linting Errors Zero linter errors Warnings addressed or justified Static analysis clean Mobile Compatibility
If applicable:
Responsive design verified
Touch interactions work
Performance acceptable
Security Audit
No secrets in code
Input validation present
Authentication/authorization correct
Dependencies vulnerability-free
Git Integration
Commit Message Format