Implement Feature

Parallel subagent execution for feature implementation with scope control and reflection.

Quick Start

/ork:implement user authentication
/ork:implement --model=opus real-time notifications
/ork:implement dashboard analytics

---

Argument Resolution

FEATURE_DESC = "$ARGUMENTS"  # Full argument string, e.g., "user authentication"
# $ARGUMENTS[0] is the first token, $ARGUMENTS[1] second, etc. (CC 2.1.59)

# Model override detection (CC 2.1.72)
MODEL_OVERRIDE = None
for token in "$ARGUMENTS".split():
    if token.startswith("--model="):
        MODEL_OVERRIDE = token.split("=", 1)[1]  # "opus", "sonnet", "haiku"
        FEATURE_DESC = FEATURE_DESC.replace(token, "").strip()

Pass MODEL_OVERRIDE to all Agent() calls via model=MODEL_OVERRIDE when set. Accepts symbolic names (opus, sonnet, haiku) or full IDs (claude-opus-4-6) per CC 2.1.74.

---

Step -1: MCP Probe + Resume Check

Run BEFORE any other step. Detect available MCP servers and check for resumable state.

# Probe MCPs (parallel — all in ONE message):
ToolSearch(query="select:mcp__memory__search_nodes")
ToolSearch(query="select:mcp__context7__resolve-library-id")

Write(".claude/chain/capabilities.json", JSON.stringify({
  "memory": <true if found>,
  "context7": <true if found>,
  "timestamp": now()
}))

# Resume check:
Read(".claude/chain/state.json")
# If exists and skill == "implement":
#   Read last handoff (e.g., 04-architecture.json)
#   Skip to current_phase
#   "Resuming from Phase {N} — architecture decided in previous session"
# If not: write initial state
Write(".claude/chain/state.json", JSON.stringify({
  "skill": "implement", "feature": FEATURE_DESC,
  "current_phase": 1, "completed_phases": [],
  "capabilities": capabilities
}))

Load: Read("${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/chain-patterns/references/checkpoint-resume.md")

---

Step 0: Effort-Aware Phase Scaling (CC 2.1.76)

Read the /effort setting to scale implementation depth. The effort-aware context budgeting hook detects effort level automatically — adapt the phase plan accordingly:

Effort Level	Phases Run	Agents	Token Budget
low	1 (Discovery) → 5 (Implement) → 10 (Reflect)	2 max	~50K
medium	1 → 2 → 5 → 7 (Scope Creep) → 10	3 max	~150K
high (default)	All 10 phases	4-7	~400K

Override: Explicit user selection in Step 0 (e.g., "Plan first" or "Worktree") overrides /effort downscaling. If user requests full exploration, respect that regardless of effort level.

Step 0a: Project Context Discovery

BEFORE any work, detect the project tier. This becomes the complexity ceiling for all patterns.

Scan codebase signals and classify into tiers 1-6 (Interview through Open Source). Each tier sets an architecture ceiling and determines which phases/agents to use.

Load tier details, workflow mapping, and orchestration mode: Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/tier-classification.md")

Worktree Isolation (CC 2.1.49)

For features touching 5+ files, offer worktree isolation to prevent conflicts with the main working tree:

AskUserQuestion(questions=[{
  "question": "Isolate this feature in a git worktree?",
  "header": "Isolation",
  "options": [
    {"label": "Yes — worktree (Recommended)", "description": "Creates isolated branch via EnterWorktree, merges back on completion", "markdown": "```\nWorktree Isolation\n──────────────────\nmain ─────────────────────────────▶\n  \\                              /\n   └─ feat-{slug} (worktree) ───┘\n      ├── Isolated directory\n      ├── Own branch + index\n      └── Auto-merge on completion\n\nSafe: main stays untouched until done\n```"},
    {"label": "No — work in-place", "description": "Edit files directly in current branch", "markdown": "```\nIn-Place Editing\n────────────────\nmain ──[edit]──[edit]──[edit]───▶\n       ▲       ▲       ▲\n       │       │       │\n     direct modifications\n\nFast: no branch overhead\nRisk: changes visible immediately\n```"},
    {"label": "Plan first", "description": "Research and design in plan mode before writing code", "markdown": "```\nPlan Mode Flow\n──────────────\n  1. EnterPlanMode($ARGUMENTS)\n  2. Read existing code\n  3. Research patterns\n  4. Design approach\n  5. ExitPlanMode → plan\n  6. User approves plan\n  7. Execute implementation\n\n  Best for: Large features,\n  unfamiliar codebases,\n  architectural decisions\n```"}
  ],
  "multiSelect": false
}])

If 'Plan first' selected:

# 1. Enter read-only plan mode
EnterPlanMode("Research and design: $ARGUMENTS")

# 2. Research phase — Read/Grep/Glob ONLY, no Write/Edit
#    - Read existing code in the target area
#    - Grep for related patterns, imports, dependencies
#    - Check tests, configs, and integration points
#    - If context7 available: query library docs

# 3. Design the plan — produce:
#    - File map: which files to create/modify
#    - Architecture decisions with rationale
#    - Task breakdown with acceptance criteria
#    - Risk assessment and edge cases

# 4. Exit plan mode — returns plan to user for approval
ExitPlanMode()

# 5. User reviews plan. If approved → continue to Phase 1 (Discovery)
#    with the plan as input. If rejected → revise or stop.

If worktree selected:

1. Call EnterWorktree(name: "feat-{slug}") to create isolated branch
2. All agents work in the worktree directory
3. On completion, merge back: git checkout {original-branch} && git merge feat-{slug}
4. If merge conflicts arise, present diff to user via AskUserQuestion

Load worktree details: Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/worktree-isolation-mode.md")

---

Task Management (MANDATORY)

Create tasks with TaskCreate BEFORE doing any work. Each phase gets a subtask. Update status with TaskUpdate as you progress.

---

Workflow (10 Phases)

Phase	Activities	Agents
1. Discovery	Research best practices, Context7 docs, break into tasks	—
2. Micro-Planning	Detailed plan per task (load ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/micro-planning-guide.md)	—
3. Worktree	Isolate in git worktree for 5+ file features (load ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/worktree-workflow.md)	—
4. Architecture	4 parallel background agents	workflow-architect, backend-system-architect, frontend-ui-developer, llm-integrator
5. Implementation + Tests	Parallel agents, single-pass artifacts with mandatory tests	backend-system-architect, frontend-ui-developer, llm-integrator, test-generator
6. Integration Verification	Code review + real-service integration tests	backend, frontend, code-quality-reviewer, security-auditor
7. Scope Creep	Compare planned vs actual (load ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/scope-creep-detection.md)	workflow-architect
8. E2E Verification	Browser + API E2E testing (load ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/e2e-verification.md)	—
9. Documentation	Save decisions to memory graph	—
10. Reflection	Lessons learned, estimation accuracy	workflow-architect

Load agent prompts: Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/agent-phases.md")

For Agent Teams mode: Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/agent-teams-phases.md")

Phase Handoffs (CC 2.1.71)

Write handoff JSON after major phases. See chain-patterns skill for schema.

After Phase	Handoff File	Key Outputs
1. Discovery	01-discovery.json	Best practices, library docs, task breakdown
2. Micro-Plan	02-plan.json	File map, acceptance criteria per task
4. Architecture	04-architecture.json	Decisions, patterns chosen, agent results
5. Implementation	05-implementation.json	Files created/modified, test results
7. Scope Creep	07-scope.json	Planned vs actual, PR split recommendation

Progressive Output (CC 2.1.76)

Output results incrementally after each phase — don't batch everything until the end:

After Phase	Show User
1. Discovery	Key findings, library recommendations, task breakdown
4. Architecture	Each agent's design decisions as they return
5. Implementation	Files created/modified per agent, test results
7. Scope Creep	Planned vs actual delta, PR split recommendation

When agents run with run_in_background=true, output each agent's findings as soon as it returns — don't wait for all agents to finish. This gives users ~60% faster perceived feedback and enables early intervention if an agent's approach diverges from the plan.

Worktree-Isolated Implementation (CC 2.1.50)

Phase 5 agents SHOULD use isolation: "worktree" to prevent file conflicts:

Agent(subagent_type="backend-system-architect",
  prompt="Implement backend: {feature}. Architecture: {from 04-architecture.json}",
  isolation="worktree", run_in_background=true)
Agent(subagent_type="frontend-ui-developer",
  prompt="Implement frontend: {feature}...",
  isolation="worktree", run_in_background=true)
Agent(subagent_type="test-generator",
  prompt="Generate tests: {feature}...",
  isolation="worktree", run_in_background=true)

Post-Deploy Monitoring (CC 2.1.71)

After final PR, schedule health monitoring:

# Guard: Skip cron in headless/CI (CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_CRON)
# if env CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_CRON is set, run a single check instead
CronCreate(
  schedule="0 */6 * * *",
  prompt="Health check for {feature} in PR #{pr}:
    gh pr checks {pr} --repo {repo}.
    If healthy 24h → CronDelete. If errors → alert."
)

context7 with Detection

if capabilities.context7:
  mcp__context7__resolve-library-id({ libraryName: "next-auth" })
  mcp__context7__query-docs({ libraryId: "...", query: "..." })
else:
  WebFetch("https://docs.example.com/api")  # T1 fallback

Issue Tracking

If working on a GitHub issue, run the Start Work ceremony from issue-progress-tracking and post progress comments after major phases.

Feedback Loop

Maintain checkpoints after each task. Load triggers: Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/feedback-loop.md")

---

Test Requirements Matrix

Phase 5 test-generator MUST produce tests matching the change type. Each change type maps to specific required tests and testing rules.

Load test matrix, real-service detection, and phase 9 gate: Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/test-requirements-matrix.md")

---

Key Principles

• Tests are NOT optional — each task includes its tests, matched to change type (see matrix above)
• Parallel when independent — use run_in_background: true, launch all agents in ONE message
• Output limits (CC 2.1.77+): Opus 4.6 defaults to 64k output tokens (128k upper bound). Generate complete artifacts in a single pass when possible; chunk across turns if output exceeds the limit
• Micro-plan before implementing — scope boundaries, file list, acceptance criteria
• Detect scope creep (phase 7) — score 0-10, split PR if significant
• Real services when available — if docker-compose/testcontainers exist, use them in Phase 6
• Reflect and capture lessons (phase 10) — persist to memory graph
• Clean up agents — use TeamDelete() after completion; press Ctrl+F twice as manual fallback. Note: /clear (CC 2.1.72+) preserves background agents
• Exit worktrees — call ExitWorktree(action: "keep") in Phase 10 if worktree was entered in Step 0; never leave orphaned worktrees

---

Next Steps (suggest to user after implementation)

/ork:verify {FEATURE}              # Grade the implementation
/ork:cover {FEATURE}               # Generate test suite
/ork:commit                        # Commit changes
/loop 10m npm test                 # Watch tests while iterating
/loop 30m /ork:verify {FEATURE}    # Periodic quality gate

Related Skills

• ork:explore: Explore codebase before implementing
• ork:verify: Verify implementations work correctly
• ork:issue-progress-tracking: Auto-updates GitHub issues with commit progress

References

Load on demand with Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/<file>"):

File	Content
agent-phases.md	Agent prompts and spawn templates
agent-teams-phases.md	Agent Teams mode phases
interview-mode.md	Interview/take-home constraints
orchestration-modes.md	Task tool vs Agent Teams selection
feedback-loop.md	Checkpoint triggers and actions
cc-enhancements.md	CC version-specific features
agent-teams-full-stack.md	Full-stack pipeline for teams
team-worktree-setup.md	Team worktree configuration
micro-planning-guide.md	Detailed micro-planning guide
scope-creep-detection.md	Planned vs actual comparison
worktree-workflow.md	Git worktree workflow
e2e-verification.md	Browser + API E2E testing guide
worktree-isolation-mode.md	Worktree isolation details
tier-classification.md	Tier classification, workflow mapping, orchestration mode
test-requirements-matrix.md	Test matrix by change type, real-service detection, phase 9 gate