---
title: Level 3 - Standard Workflows
description: Complete planning with persistent session management for multi-module changes
sidebar_position: 4
---

import Mermaid from '@theme/Mermaid';

# Level 3: Standard Workflows

**Complexity**: Medium-High | **Artifacts**: Persistent session files | **State**: Full session management

Level 3 workflows provide complete planning with persistent session management. They're designed for multi-module changes that require traceability, verification, and structured execution.

## Overview

<Mermaid
  chart={`
    flowchart TD
        Start([User Input]) --> Select{Select Workflow}

        Select -->|Standard<br/>development| Plan[plan]
        Select -->|Test-driven| TDD[tdd-plan]
        Select -->|Test fix| TestFix[test-fix-gen]

        Plan --> Verify[plan-verify<br/>Optional]
        TDD --> Verify
        Verify --> Execute[execute]

        TestFix --> TestCycle[test-cycle-execute]

        Execute --> Review{Review?}
        TestCycle --> Review

        Review -->|Yes| RevCycle[review-session-cycle]
        Review -->|No| TestQ{Tests?}
        RevCycle --> RevFix[review-cycle-fix]
        RevFix --> TestQ

        TestQ -->|Yes| TFG[test-fix-gen]
        TestQ -->|No| Complete([session:complete])

        TFG --> TCE[test-cycle-execute]
        TCE --> Complete

        classDef startend fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#388e3c
        classDef workflow fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1976d2
        classDef decision fill:#fff9c4,stroke:#f57c00
        classDef execute fill:#c5e1a5,stroke:#388e3c

        class Start,Complete startend,Select,Review,TestQ decision,Plan,TDD,TestFix workflow,Verify,Execute,TestCycle,RevCycle,RevFix,TFG,TCE execute
  `}
/>

## Included Workflows

| Workflow | Purpose | Phases | Artifact Location |
|----------|---------|--------|-------------------|
| `plan` | Complex feature development | 5 phases | `.workflow/active/{session}/` |
| `tdd-plan` | Test-driven development | 6 phases | `.workflow/active/{session}/` |
| `test-fix-gen` | Test fix generation | 5 phases | `.workflow/active/WFS-test-{session}/` |

### Common Characteristics

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| **Complexity** | Medium-High |
| **Artifacts** | Persistent files (`.workflow/active/{session}/`) |
| **State** | Full session management |
| **Verification** | Built-in verification steps |
| **Execution** | `/workflow:execute` |
| **Use Case** | Multi-module, traceable tasks |

---

## Workflow 1: plan -> verify -> execute

**5-phase complete planning workflow**

### Command

```bash
/workflow:plan "Implement OAuth2 authentication system"
/workflow:plan-verify  # Verify plan (recommended)
/workflow:execute
/workflow:review  # (optional) Review
```

### Flow Diagram

<Mermaid
  chart={`
    flowchart TD
        A([Start]) --> B[Phase 1: Session Discovery]
        B --> C[/workflow:session:start<br/>--auto/]
        C --> D[Return: sessionId]

        D --> E[Phase 2: Context Gathering]
        E --> F[/workflow:tools:context-gather/]
        F --> G[Return: context-package.json<br/>+ conflict_risk]

        G --> H{conflict_risk<br/>>= medium?}
        H -->|Yes| I[Phase 3: Conflict Resolution]
        H -->|No| J[Phase 4: Task Generation]
        I --> K[/workflow:tools:conflict<br/>-resolution/]
        K --> J

        J --> L[/workflow:tools:task-generate<br/>-agent/]
        L --> M[Return: IMPL_PLAN.md<br/>+ IMPL-*.json<br/>+ TODO_LIST.md]

        M --> N[Return Summary<br/>+ Next Steps]
        N --> O([Plan Complete])

        classDef startend fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#388e3c
        classDef action fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1976d2
        classDef decision fill:#fff9c4,stroke:#f57c00
        classDef tool fill:#ffecb3,stroke:#ffa000

        class A,O startend,H decision,B,E,G,J,M,N action,C,F,K,L tool
  `}
/>

### Process Phases

**Phase 1: Session Discovery**
```bash
/workflow:session:start --auto "Implement OAuth2 authentication system"
```
- Creates or discovers workflow session
- Returns: `sessionId`

**Phase 2: Context Gathering**
```bash
/workflow:tools:context-gather
```
- Analyzes codebase structure
- Identifies tech stack and patterns
- Returns: `context-package.json` + `conflict_risk`

**Phase 3: Conflict Resolution** (Conditional)
```bash
# Only if conflict_risk >= medium
/workflow:tools:conflict-resolution
```
- Detects potential conflicts
- Resolves dependency issues
- Ensures clean execution path

**Phase 4: Task Generation**
```bash
/workflow:tools:task-generate-agent
```
- Generates structured tasks
- Creates dependency graph
- Returns: `IMPL_PLAN.md` + `IMPL-*.json` + `TODO_LIST.md`

### Artifacts

**Location**: `.workflow/active/{WFS-session}/`

```
.workflow/active/WFS-oauth2-auth-2025-02-03/
├── workflow-session.json          # Session metadata
├── IMPL_PLAN.md                   # Implementation plan
├── TODO_LIST.md                   # Progress tracking
├── .task/
│   ├── IMPL-001.json              # Main task
│   ├── IMPL-002.json
│   └── ...
└── .process/
    ├── context-package.json       # Project context
    ├── conflict-resolution.json   # Conflict analysis
    └── planning-notes.md
```

### Use Cases

- Multi-module changes
- Refactoring
- Dependency analysis needed

---

## Workflow 2: tdd-plan -> execute -> tdd-verify

**6-phase test-driven development workflow**

### Command

```bash
/workflow:tdd-plan "Implement user registration with TDD"
/workflow:execute  # Follow Red-Green-Refactor
/workflow:tdd-verify  # Verify TDD compliance
```

### Flow Diagram

<Mermaid
  chart={`
    flowchart TD
        A([Start]) --> B[Phase 1: Session Discovery]
        B --> C[/workflow:session:start<br/>--type tdd --auto/]
        C --> D[Parse: sessionId]

        D --> E[Phase 2: Context Gathering]
        E --> F[/workflow:tools:context-gather/]
        F --> G[Return: context-package.json]

        G --> H[Phase 3: Test Coverage Analysis]
        H --> I[/workflow:tools:test-context<br/>-gather/]
        I --> J[Detect test framework<br/>Analyze coverage]

        J --> K{conflict_risk<br/>>= medium?}
        K -->|Yes| L[Phase 4: Conflict Resolution]
        K -->|No| M[Phase 5: TDD Task Generation]
        L --> N[/workflow:tools:conflict<br/>-resolution/]
        N --> M

        M --> O[/workflow:tools:task-generate<br/>-tdd/]
        O --> P[Generate IMPL tasks with<br/>Red-Green-Refactor cycles]

        P --> Q[Phase 6: TDD Structure Validation]
        Q --> R[Verify TDD compliance]

        R --> S([TDD Plan Complete])

        T[Execute] --> U[/workflow:execute/]
        U --> V[Follow Red-Green-Refactor<br/>cycles in each task]

        V --> W[Verify]
        W --> X[/workflow:tdd-verify/]
        X --> Y([Complete])

        classDef startend fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#388e3c
        classDef action fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1976d2
        classDef decision fill:#fff9c4,stroke:#f57c00
        classDef tool fill:#ffecb3,stroke:#ffa000

        class A,S,Y startend,K decision,B,E,G,H,J,M,P,Q,R,T,U,V,X action,C,F,I,N,O,W tool
  `}
/>

### Process Phases

**Phase 1: Session Discovery**
```bash
/workflow:session:start --type tdd --auto "TDD: User Registration"
```

**TDD Structured Format**:
```
TDD: [Feature Name]
GOAL: [Objective]
SCOPE: [Included/excluded]
CONTEXT: [Background]
TEST_FOCUS: [Test scenarios]
```

**Phase 2: Context Gathering**
```bash
/workflow:tools:context-gather
```

**Phase 3: Test Coverage Analysis**
```bash
/workflow:tools:test-context-gather
```
- Detect test framework
- Analyze existing test coverage
- Identify coverage gaps

**Phase 4: Conflict Resolution** (Conditional)
```bash
# Only if conflict_risk >= medium
/workflow:tools:conflict-resolution
```

**Phase 5: TDD Task Generation**
```bash
/workflow:tools:task-generate-tdd
```
- Generate IMPL tasks with built-in Red-Green-Refactor cycles
- `meta.tdd_workflow: true`
- `flow_control.implementation_approach` contains 3 steps (red/green/refactor)

**Phase 6: TDD Structure Validation**
- Verify TDD structure compliance

### TDD Task Structure

```json
{
  "id": "IMPL-001",
  "title": "Implement user registration",
  "meta": {
    "tdd_workflow": true
  },
  "flow_control": {
    "implementation_approach": [
      {
        "step": 1,
        "title": "Red: Write failing test",
        "description": "Write test that fails"
      },
      {
        "step": 2,
        "title": "Green: Make test pass",
        "description": "Implement minimal code to pass",
        "test_fix_cycle": {
          "max_iterations": 3,
          "pass_threshold": 0.95
        }
      },
      {
        "step": 3,
        "title": "Refactor: Improve code",
        "description": "Refactor while keeping tests green"
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

### The Iron Law

```
NO PRODUCTION CODE WITHOUT A FAILING TEST FIRST
```

**Enforcement Method**:
- Phase 5: `implementation_approach` includes test-first steps (Red -> Green -> Refactor)
- Green phase: Includes test-fix-cycle configuration (max 3 iterations)
- Auto-revert: Triggered when max iterations reached without passing tests

**Why Order Matters**:
- Tests written after code pass immediately -> proves nothing
- Test-first forces edge case discovery before implementation
- Tests-after verify what was built, not what's required

### Use Cases

- Test-driven development
- High-quality feature requirements
- Critical system components

---

## Workflow 3: test-fix-gen -> test-cycle-execute

**5-phase test fix generation workflow**

### Command

```bash
# Session Mode
/workflow:test-fix-gen WFS-user-auth-v2
/workflow:test-cycle-execute

# Prompt Mode
/workflow:test-fix-gen "Test the auth API"
/workflow:test-cycle-execute
```

### Flow Diagram

<Mermaid
  chart={`
    flowchart TD
        A([Start]) --> B{Input Mode?}

        B -->|Session<br/>Mode| C[Phase 1: Use Source<br/>Session]
        B -->|Prompt<br/>Mode| D[Phase 1: Create<br/>Test Session]

        C --> E[/workflow:session:start<br/>--type test --resume/]
        D --> F[/workflow:session:start<br/>--type test --new/]

        E --> G[Phase 2: Gather Test Context]
        F --> H[Phase 2: Gather Test Context]

        G --> I[/workflow:tools:test-context<br/>-gather/]
        H --> I

        I --> J[Phase 3: Test Generation Analysis]
        J --> K[/workflow:tools:test-concept<br/>-enhanced/]
        K --> L[Multi-layer test requirements<br/>L0: Static, L1: Unit<br/>L2: Integration, L3: E2E]

        L --> M[Phase 4: Generate Test Tasks]
        M --> N[/workflow:tools:test-task-generate/]
        N --> O[IMPL-001: generate<br/>+ IMPL-001.5: quality gate<br/>+ IMPL-002: execute fix]

        O --> P[Phase 5: Return Summary]
        P --> Q[-> test-cycle-execute]

        Q --> R([Test Fix Complete])

        classDef startend fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#388e3c
        classDef action fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1976d2
        classDef decision fill:#fff9c4,stroke:#f57c00
        classDef tool fill:#ffecb3,stroke:#ffa000

        class A,R startend,B decision,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,M,P,Q action,I,K,N tool
  `}
/>

### Process Phases

**Phase 1: Create/Use Test Session**

**Session Mode** (uses existing session):
```bash
/workflow:session:start --type test --resume WFS-user-auth-v2
```

**Prompt Mode** (creates new session):
```bash
/workflow:session:start --type test --new
```

**Phase 2: Gather Test Context**
```bash
/workflow:tools:test-context-gather
```

**Phase 3: Test Generation Analysis**
```bash
/workflow:tools:test-concept-enhanced
```
- Multi-layer test requirements:
  - **L0: Static** - Type checking, linting
  - **L1: Unit** - Function-level tests
  - **L2: Integration** - Component interaction
  - **L3: E2E** - Full system tests

**Phase 4: Generate Test Tasks**
```bash
/workflow:tools:test-task-generate
```
- `IMPL-001.json`: Test understanding & generation
- `IMPL-001.5-review.json`: Quality gate
- `IMPL-002.json`: Test execution & fix cycle

**Phase 5: Return Summary**
- -> `/workflow:test-cycle-execute`

### Dual-Mode Support

| Mode | Input Pattern | Context Source |
|------|---------------|----------------|
| **Session Mode** | `WFS-xxx` | Source session summaries |
| **Prompt Mode** | Text/file path | Direct codebase analysis |

### Artifacts

**Location**: `.workflow/active/WFS-test-{session}/`

```
.workflow/active/WFS-test-user-auth-2025-02-03/
├── workflow-session.json
├── .task/
│   ├── IMPL-001.json              # Test understanding & generation
│   ├── IMPL-001.5-review.json     # Quality gate
│   └── IMPL-002.json              # Test execution & fix cycle
└── .process/
    ├── TEST_ANALYSIS_RESULTS.md
    └── test-context-package.json
```

### Use Cases

- Test failure fixes
- Coverage improvement
- Test suite generation

---

## Level 3 Comparison Table

| Aspect | plan | tdd-plan | test-fix-gen |
|--------|------|----------|--------------|
| **Purpose** | Complex features | Test-driven dev | Test fixes |
| **Phases** | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| **TDD** | No | Yes (Red-Green-Refactor) | Optional |
| **Artifacts** | `.workflow/active/` | `.workflow/active/` | `.workflow/active/WFS-test-*/` |
| **Verification** | plan-verify | tdd-verify | Built-in quality gate |
| **Best For** | Multi-module changes | High-quality features | Test improvements |

## Execution: execute

All Level 3 workflows execute via `execute`:

```bash
/workflow:execute --session WFS-{session-id}
```

### Key Features

- **Dependency analysis** - Automatic task dependency resolution
- **Parallel execution** - Independent tasks run in parallel
- **Progress tracking** - Session-based TODO updates
- **Summaries** - Task completion summaries for dependent tasks

## Related Workflows

- [Level 2: Rapid](./level-2-rapid.mdx) - Simpler workflow
- [Level 4: Brainstorm](./level-4-brainstorm.mdx) - Multi-role exploration
- [Level 5: Intelligent](./level-5-intelligent.mdx) - Automated orchestration
- [FAQ](./faq.mdx) - Common questions