Implementing Issue

Overview

Implements a single MCP issue with TDD and automated code review. Designed for two use cases:

1. Standalone -- user invokes directly for a specific issue
2. Dispatched -- called as the unit of work from implementing-specs

Entry point: /wrangler:implementing-issue ISS-XXXXXX

When to Use

• Implementing a specific issue (ISS-XXXXXX)
• Invoked directly for standalone work
• Dispatched as a subagent from implementing-specs

When NOT to Use

• Implementing a full specification (use implementing-specs)
• Exploring code (use locating-code)
• Answering questions (just answer directly)

Input

• Issue ID (required): e.g., ISS-000042
• Working directory context (optional): defaults to current directory

Core Workflow

1. Setup

1. Read issue via issues_get MCP tool
2. Capture working directory and branch (see references/working-directory-protocol.md)
3. Understand requirements and acceptance criteria from the issue description

2. Implementation (TDD)

Follow the practicing-tdd skill strictly:

1. RED -- Write a failing test that captures the requirement
2. GREEN -- Implement the minimum code to make the test pass
3. REFACTOR -- Clean up implementation and tests
4. Commit work with a descriptive message

Repeat for each distinct requirement in the issue.

3. Code Review

1. Request code review using requesting-code-review skill
2. Parse feedback into severity categories:
   • Critical -- Must fix. Auto-fix with up to 2 attempts, escalate if both fail.
   • Important -- Must fix. Same 2-attempt process as Critical.
   • Minor -- Document only, do not fix.
3. Verify all Critical/Important issues resolved before proceeding

See references/code-review-automation.md for the detailed process.

4. Completion

1. Verify all tests pass
2. Provide TDD Compliance Certification (from practicing-tdd)
3. Verify git status (working tree clean, changes committed)
4. Report results:
   • Implementation summary (what was done)
   • Test results (pass count, coverage if available)
   • TDD Compliance Certification table
   • Commit hash
   • Any Minor issues noted for future cleanup

See references/verification-checklist.md for the full checklist.

Blocker Detection

Only stop for genuine blockers. See references/blocker-detection.md for the full decision flowchart.

Immediate escalation:

• Unclear requirements (do not guess)
• Git conflicts (do not auto-resolve)

Escalation after 2 attempts:

• Persistent test failures
• Fix subagent cannot resolve the issue
• Missing dependencies that cannot be auto-installed

Non-blockers (continue autonomously):

• First test failure -- auto-fix
• Code review feedback -- auto-fix (2 attempts)
• Warnings -- document and continue

Anti-Patterns

• Stopping to ask "should I continue?" when not blocked
• Guessing about unclear requirements instead of escalating
• Proceeding with failing tests
• Skipping code review
• Fixing Minor issues instead of documenting them

Integration with Other Skills

• practicing-tdd -- TDD workflow (RED-GREEN-REFACTOR)
• verifying-before-completion -- Final verification checks
• requesting-code-review -- Code review dispatch and feedback parsing

References

Detailed documentation in references/ subdirectory:

• working-directory-protocol.md -- Location verification and command patterns
• subagent-prompts.md -- Subagent prompt templates (reviewer, fix agent)
• code-review-automation.md -- Review handling and fix loop process
• verification-checklist.md -- Completion verification steps
• blocker-detection.md -- Decision flowchart and escalation criteria
• examples.md -- Workflow examples

For workflow checklists, see assets/workflow-checklist.md.