implementation

Implementation

Executes implementation tasks using different approaches: direct execution, dual-agent comparison, or plan-based execution.

Requirements

• Active session must exist (session path in working memory)
• If no active session: STOP and ask user for session path

Common Steps (Mandatory)

These steps apply to ALL actions after implementation is complete.

Working Dir Resolution

• Read Working Dir from session _overview.md
• If not set: check project .samocode file for MAIN_REPO, or use git root, or ask user

After Code Changes

1. Lint/typecheck: Run pyright/ruff (Python). For TypeScript, rely on LSP (vtsls) — do NOT run npx tsc --noEmit (it OOMs on large codebases)
2. Commit code: In Working Dir, commit with descriptive message
   • Check branch first: warn if on main, should be feature branch

After Session Changes

1. Update _overview.md: Add Flow Log entry and Files entry
2. Commit session: cd [SESSION_DIR] && git add . && git commit -m "[action]: [description]"

Plan Progress (when working from a plan)

• Read plan file, mark completed items - [x]
• Add completion note: **Phase completed** ([TIMESTAMP_ITERATION])

Default Action: dop2

IMPORTANT: For implementation phases, use dop2 (dual-agent comparison).

• dop2 (Dual-Agent): Use 2 independent solution passes, then compare
  • Claude Code: spawn 2 Task sub-agents in parallel when the Task tool is available
  • Codex or no Task tool: create both proposal documents yourself in separate passes before editing code
• dop (Direct): Only for trivially simple 1-2 line changes

DO NOT implement directly with Edit/Write until the comparison step is complete.

Rule of thumb: If you're considering dop, ask "Could there be a cleaner way?" If yes -> use dop2.

Actions

do - Direct Implementation

Execute a task directly with full implementation and documentation.

Session path: [SESSION_PATH from working memory] Task: $ARGUMENTS

Steps

1. Investigate and implement:

   • Review session documents for context
   • Explore codebase as needed
   • Make all necessary code changes

2. Document work - Create [SESSION_PATH]/[TIMESTAMP_FILE]-do-[task-slug].md:

   # Task: [brief title]
   Date: [TIMESTAMP_LOG]
   
   ## What was done
   [Description of changes]
   
   ## Files Changed
   - [file] - [what changed]
   
   ## Testing
   [How verified]
   
   ## Notes
   [Any important observations]
   

3. Complete common steps (see above)

4. Report back: Summary of what was done

---

do2 - Dual-Agent Comparison

Spawn two agents with different philosophies to solve the same task independently. Compare solutions and present options.

Session path: [SESSION_PATH from working memory] Task: $ARGUMENTS

Dual Agent Execution

Create 2 independent solution proposals. If the Task tool is available, spawn 2 sub-agents in parallel (model: sonnet). If the Task tool is not available, run the two proposal passes yourself sequentially and keep them independent.

Both agents solve the entire task independently with different philosophies.

Agent 1: Minimal Footprint

Session path: [SESSION_PATH] Task: $ARGUMENTS

Approach: Smallest possible change surface.

• Touch few files, prefer localized fixes
• Avoid new abstractions
• Work within existing structures

Deliverables:

1. Create [SESSION_PATH]/[TIMESTAMP_FILE]-solution-minimal.md:

   # Solution: Minimal Footprint
   Task: [description]
   
   ## Approach
   [High-level strategy]
   
   ## Proposed Changes
   
   ### File: [path]
   ```[language]
   [code]
   

   Why: [rationale]

   Tradeoffs

   [What we accept]

2. DO NOT edit actual code files - proposals only

3. Report summary

Agent 2: Clean Foundation

Session path: [SESSION_PATH] Task: $ARGUMENTS

Approach: The "right way" with time to do it properly.

• Refactor for cleaner solution
• Introduce helpful abstractions
• Consider future maintainability

Deliverables:

1. Create [SESSION_PATH]/[TIMESTAMP_FILE]-solution-clean.md:

   # Solution: Clean Foundation
   Task: [description]
   
   ## Approach
   [High-level strategy]
   
   ## Proposed Changes
   
   ### File: [path]
   ```[language]
   [code]
   

   Why: [rationale]

   Architecture Improvements

   [New patterns, benefits]

2. DO NOT edit actual code files - proposals only

3. Report summary

Synthesis (Parent does this)

After both agents complete:

1. Review both solutions

2. Create [SESSION_PATH]/[TIMESTAMP_FILE]-comparison.md:

   # Comparison: [task]
   
   ## Minimal Footprint
   **Pros:** [list]
   **Cons:** [list]
   
   ## Clean Foundation
   **Pros:** [list]
   **Cons:** [list]
   
   ## Recommendation
   [Which approach and why]
   
   ## Hybrid Possibility
   [Can we combine best of both?]
   

3. Complete common steps for session files

4. Present to user:

   Which approach?
   1. Minimal footprint
   2. Clean foundation
   3. Hybrid
   4. Neither (rethink)
   

After User Confirms

1. Implement chosen solution
2. If part of a plan: Update plan progress
3. Complete common steps (lint, commit code, update session, commit session)

---

dop - Plan Phase Execution (Direct)

Execute a specific phase from the plan without comparing approaches.

Only for TRIVIALLY SIMPLE 1-2 line changes. For anything else, use dop2.

Session path: [SESSION_PATH from working memory] Phase: $ARGUMENTS

IMPORTANT: Only work on this specific part. Don't do other parts of the plan.

Steps

1. Find the plan:

   • Check session _overview.md -> Plans section for plan file
   • Read the plan file from session folder
   • Locate the specific phase/section to implement

2. Implement:

   • Make all necessary code changes for this phase only
   • Follow codebase best practices

3. Document work - Create [SESSION_PATH]/[TIMESTAMP_FILE]-dop-[phase-slug].md:

   # Phase: [phase name]
   Date: [TIMESTAMP_LOG]
   Plan: [plan filename]
   
   ## Completed Items
   - [x] [Item from plan]
   - [x] [Item from plan]
   
   ## Changes Made
   - [file] - [what changed]
   
   ## Testing
   [How verified]
   
   ## Notes
   [Any issues or observations]
   

4. Complete common steps (lint, commit code, update plan, update session, commit session)

5. Report back: Summary of completed items

---

dop2 - Dual-Agent Plan Phase with Auto-Selection

DEFAULT IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY - Use two independent proposal passes before editing code.

Execute a plan phase using dual-agent comparison, with automatic solution selection weighted toward clean approach.

CRITICAL: If the Task tool is available, use it to spawn sub-agents. If it is not available, create the two proposal documents yourself in separate passes. DO NOT implement directly before comparing the proposals.

Session path: [SESSION_PATH from working memory] Task: $ARGUMENTS

IMPORTANT: Only work on this specific task. Don't do other parts of the plan.

Phase Scope Assessment

Before spawning agents, assess phase complexity:

1. Review the phase items - Count distinct deliverables/changes
2. If phase has 5+ items or touches 5+ files:
   • Consider splitting into sub-phases (e.g., "Phase 3a", "Phase 3b")
   • Each sub-phase should be a coherent unit (1-3 related items)
   • Run dop2 for each sub-phase sequentially
3. If phase has 2-4 independent sub-items:
   • Can run 2 dop2 calls in parallel for independent items
   • Only parallelize if items don't share files/dependencies

Dual Agent Execution

Create 2 independent proposals with the context below. If the Task tool is available, spawn 2 sub-agents in parallel (model: sonnet). If the Task tool is not available, do the minimal proposal first, then the clean proposal, without letting the second proposal optimize around the first.

CRITICAL: Both agents solve the entire task independently. This is NOT task splitting - each agent produces a FULL solution with their own philosophy.

Agent 1: Minimal Footprint

Session path: [SESSION_PATH] Task: $ARGUMENTS

Your approach: Solve with the smallest possible change surface.

Guidelines:

• Touch as few files as possible
• Prefer simple, localized fixes
• Avoid new abstractions or patterns
• Work within existing structures

Deliverables:

1. Create [SESSION_PATH]/[TIMESTAMP_FILE]-solution-minimal.md:

   # Solution: Minimal Footprint
   Date: [TIMESTAMP_LOG]
   Task: [description]
   
   ## Approach
   [High-level strategy]
   
   ## Proposed Changes
   
   ### File: [path]
   ```[language]
   [code]
   

   Why: [rationale]

   Tradeoffs

   [What we accept with this approach]

   Risks

   [Potential issues]

2. Update _overview.md: Flow Log and Files entries

3. DO NOT edit actual code files - suggestions only

4. Report back with summary

Agent 2: Clean Foundation

Session path: [SESSION_PATH] Task: $ARGUMENTS

Your approach: Solve the "right way" assuming time to do it properly.

Guidelines:

• Refactor if it leads to cleaner solution
• Introduce abstractions where they reduce future complexity
• Consider how this code will evolve
• Prioritize maintainability over minimal diff

Deliverables:

1. Create [SESSION_PATH]/[TIMESTAMP_FILE]-solution-clean.md:

   # Solution: Clean Foundation
   Date: [TIMESTAMP_LOG]
   Task: [description]
   
   ## Approach
   [High-level strategy]
   
   ## Proposed Changes
   
   ### File: [path]
   ```[language]
   [code]
   

   Why: [rationale]

   Architecture Improvements

   [New patterns, refactorings]

   Benefits

   [Long-term advantages]

2. Update _overview.md: Flow Log and Files entries

3. DO NOT edit actual code files - suggestions only

4. Report back with summary

Synthesis & Auto-Selection

After both agents complete:

1. Create [SESSION_PATH]/[TIMESTAMP_FILE]-comparison-[task-slug].md:

   # Comparison: [task]
   
   ## Key Differences
   [What's fundamentally different]
   
   ## Solution 1: Minimal
   **Pros:** [list]
   **Cons:** [list]
   **Risk:** [Low/Medium/High]
   
   ## Solution 2: Clean
   **Pros:** [list]
   **Cons:** [list]
   **Risk:** [Low/Medium/High]
   
   ## Recommendation
   [Which approach and why]
   
   ## Hybrid Possibility
   [Can we combine best of both?]
   

2. Auto-Selection Logic:

   • Default: Choose Clean Foundation unless minimal has compelling justification
   • Choose Minimal only if:
     • Clean introduces significant complexity with unclear benefit
     • Minimal solves urgent issue with acceptable tradeoffs
     • Clean approach has high risk/uncertainty

3. Complete common steps for session files

4. Present comparison and ask:

   Which approach?
   1. Minimal footprint
   2. Clean foundation
   3. Hybrid
   4. Neither (rethink)
   

After User Confirms

1. Implement chosen solution
2. Update plan progress (mark items - [x], add completion note)
3. Complete common steps (lint, commit code, update session, commit session)

IMPORTANT! If unsure about something, ask first.