Orchestrate - Multi-Phase Feature Development
Build features through structured phases with validation gates.
The Pattern
/develop <feature>
│
├── Phase 1: Research (orchestrator agent)
│ └── Score confidence → GO/HOLD
│
├── Phase 2: Plan (orchestrator agent)
│ └── Present plan → wait for approval
│
├── Phase 3: Implement (orchestrator agent)
│ └── Execute plan → quality gates
│
└── Phase 4: Review (reviewer agent)
└── Code review → commitUsage
When asked to build a feature:
- Start with research: Delegate to the orchestrator agent or scout agent to explore the codebase
- Wait for GO/HOLD: Don't proceed if confidence is below 70
- Present a plan: List all files to change, the approach, and risks
- Get approval: Never implement without explicit "proceed"
- Implement step by step: Quality gates every 5 edits
- Review before commit: Run the reviewer agent on changes
When to Use This
- Feature touches >5 files
- Architecture decisions needed
- Requirements are unclear or complex
- Cross-cutting concerns (auth, logging, error handling)
- New patterns not yet established in the codebase
When NOT to Use This
- Quick bug fixes (just fix it)
- Single-file changes
- Well-understood patterns (follow existing code)
- Documentation-only changes
Agent Selection
| Phase | Agent | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Research | scout (background, worktree) | Non-blocking exploration |
| Plan | orchestrator (opus, memory) | Deep reasoning, pattern recall |
| Implement | orchestrator (opus, memory) | Full tool access |
| Review | reviewer (read + bash) | Security and quality focus |
| Debug | debugger (opus, memory) | Systematic investigation |
Integration with Pro-Workflow
- Corrections during implementation trigger self-correction loop
- Quality gates fire at checkpoints via hooks
- Learnings are captured at the end of each phase
- Session handoff works across phases