From economist-agents
Guides incremental implementation of multi-file features, refactors, or large tasks via thin vertical slices. Cycle: implement, test, verify, commit each working slice.
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Build in thin vertical slices — implement one piece, test it, verify it, then expand. Avoid implementing an entire feature in one pass. Each increment should leave the system in a working, testable state. This is the execution discipline that makes large features manageable.
Guides incremental implementation of multi-file features, refactors, or large tasks via thin vertical slices. Cycle: implement, test, verify, commit each working slice.
Implements changes incrementally in thin vertical slices using TDD, atomic commits, and complexity assessment. Run after /plan for structured builds.
Guides incremental development: write, compile, and verify one file (tests, classes, configs) before the next to catch errors early and avoid duplication in multi-file tasks.
Share bugs, ideas, or general feedback.
Build in thin vertical slices — implement one piece, test it, verify it, then expand. Avoid implementing an entire feature in one pass. Each increment should leave the system in a working, testable state. This is the execution discipline that makes large features manageable.
When NOT to use: Single-file, single-function changes where the scope is already minimal.
┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ Implement ──→ Test ──→ Verify ──┐ │
│ ▲ │ │
│ └───── Commit ◄─────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ Next slice │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────┘
For each slice:
git-workflow-and-versioning for atomic commit guidance)Build one complete path through the stack:
Slice 1: Create a task (DB + API + basic UI)
→ Tests pass, user can create a task via the UI
Slice 2: List tasks (query + API + UI)
→ Tests pass, user can see their tasks
Slice 3: Edit a task (update + API + UI)
→ Tests pass, user can modify tasks
Slice 4: Delete a task (delete + API + UI + confirmation)
→ Tests pass, full CRUD complete
Each slice delivers working end-to-end functionality.
When backend and frontend need to develop in parallel:
Slice 0: Define the API contract (types, interfaces, OpenAPI spec)
Slice 1a: Implement backend against the contract + API tests
Slice 1b: Implement frontend against mock data matching the contract
Slice 2: Integrate and test end-to-end
Tackle the riskiest or most uncertain piece first:
Slice 1: Prove the WebSocket connection works (highest risk)
Slice 2: Build real-time task updates on the proven connection
Slice 3: Add offline support and reconnection
If Slice 1 fails, you discover it before investing in Slices 2 and 3.
Before writing any code, ask: "What is the simplest thing that could work?"
After writing code, review it against these checks:
SIMPLICITY CHECK:
✗ Generic EventBus with middleware pipeline for one notification
✓ Simple function call
✗ Abstract factory pattern for two similar components
✓ Two straightforward components with shared utilities
✗ Config-driven form builder for three forms
✓ Three form components
Three similar lines of code is better than a premature abstraction. Implement the naive, obviously-correct version first. Optimize only after correctness is proven with tests.
Touch only what the task requires.
Do NOT:
If you notice something worth improving outside your task scope, note it — don't fix it:
NOTICED BUT NOT TOUCHING:
- src/utils/format.ts has an unused import (unrelated to this task)
- The auth middleware could use better error messages (separate task)
→ Want me to create tasks for these?
Each increment changes one logical thing. Don't mix concerns:
Bad: One commit that adds a new component, refactors an existing one, and updates the build config.
Good: Three separate commits — one for each change.
After each increment, the project must build and existing tests must pass. Don't leave the codebase in a broken state between slices.
If a feature isn't ready for users but you need to merge increments:
// Feature flag for work-in-progress
const ENABLE_TASK_SHARING = process.env.FEATURE_TASK_SHARING === 'true';
if (ENABLE_TASK_SHARING) {
// New sharing UI
}
This lets you merge small increments to the main branch without exposing incomplete work.
New code should default to safe, conservative behavior:
// Safe: disabled by default, opt-in
export function createTask(data: TaskInput, options?: { notify?: boolean }) {
const shouldNotify = options?.notify ?? false;
// ...
}
Each increment should be independently revertable:
When directing an agent to implement incrementally:
"Let's implement Task 3 from the plan.
Start with just the database schema change and the API endpoint.
Don't touch the UI yet — we'll do that in the next increment.
After implementing, run `npm test` and `npm run build` to verify
nothing is broken."
Be explicit about what's in scope and what's NOT in scope for each increment.
After each increment, verify:
npm test)npm run build)npx tsc --noEmit)npm run lint)| Rationalization | Reality |
|---|---|
| "I'll test it all at the end" | Bugs compound. A bug in Slice 1 makes Slices 2-5 wrong. Test each slice. |
| "It's faster to do it all at once" | It feels faster until something breaks and you can't find which of 500 changed lines caused it. |
| "These changes are too small to commit separately" | Small commits are free. Large commits hide bugs and make rollbacks painful. |
| "I'll add the feature flag later" | If the feature isn't complete, it shouldn't be user-visible. Add the flag now. |
| "This refactor is small enough to include" | Refactors mixed with features make both harder to review and debug. Separate them. |
After completing all increments for a task: