dev-swarm-code-development

This skill implements backlogs through a structured feature-driven approach. As a Software Engineer expert, you'll read backlog requirements, reference existing features, design implementation approach, write code, and create comprehensive documentation for the features knowledge base.

When to Use This Skill

• User asks to implement a backlog
• User requests to complete a feature, change, bug fix, or improvement
• User says "develop backlog X"
• User wants to implement work from sprint
• User asks to code a specific backlog item

Prerequisites

This skill requires:

• 04-prd/ - Product Requirements Document (business requirements and acceptance criteria)
• 07-tech-specs/ - Engineering standards and constraints
• 10-sprints/ folder with active sprint and backlogs
• features/ folder with features-index.md (existing features knowledge base)
• Understanding of the backlog type: FEATURE, CHANGE, BUG, or IMPROVE

Feature-Driven Development Workflow

CRITICAL: This skill follows a strict feature-driven approach where feature-name is the index for the entire project:

For Each Backlog:

1. Read backlog from 10-sprints/SPRINT-XX-descriptive-name/[BACKLOG_TYPE]-XX-[feature-name]-<sub-feature>.md
2. Extract the feature-name from the backlog file name
3. Read features/features-index.md to find the feature file
4. Read feature documentation in this order:
   • features/[feature-name].md - Feature definition (WHAT/WHY/SCOPE)
   • features/flows/[feature-name].md - User flows and process flows (if exists)
   • features/contracts/[feature-name].md - API/data contracts (if exists)
   • features/impl/[feature-name].md - Implementation notes (if exists)
5. Locate source code at {SRC}/ using features/impl/[feature-name].md
6. Implement the code following 07-tech-specs/
7. Update backlog with development notes

This approach ensures AI developers can work on large projects without reading all code at once.

Your Roles in This Skill

See dev-swarm/docs/general-dev-stage-rule.md for role selection guidance.

Role Communication

See dev-swarm/docs/general-dev-stage-rule.md for the required role announcement format.

Instructions

Follow these steps in order for coding development:

Step 0: Verify Prerequisites and Gather Context

IMPORTANT: Follow this exact order to efficiently locate all relevant context:

1. Identify the backlog:

   • User specifies which backlog to work on
   • Or you select next backlog from 10-sprints/ in order

   10-sprints/
   └── SPRINT-XX-descriptive-name/
       └── [BACKLOG_TYPE]-XX-[feature-name]-<sub-feature>.md
   

   • Locate the sprint README at 10-sprints/SPRINT-XX-descriptive-name/README.md for required progress log updates

2. Read the backlog file:

   • Understand task description and requirements
   • Note backlog type (FEATURE/CHANGE/BUG/IMPROVE)
   • Extract the feature-name from the file name (CRITICAL)
   • Verify Feature Name in backlog metadata matches the file name
   • If they do not match, stop and ask the user to confirm the correct feature name
   • Review test plan requirements
   • Identify acceptance criteria

3. Read source code structure standards:

   • Read dev-swarm/docs/source-code-structure.md for general guidelines
   • Note file naming conventions and directory structure

4. Read PRD and tech specs:

   • Read 04-prd/ (all markdown files) - Product requirements and acceptance criteria for the feature
   • Read 07-tech-specs/ (all markdown files) - Technical specifications and engineering standards
   • Understand the business context and technical constraints

5. Read feature documentation (using feature-name as index):

   • Read features/features-index.md to confirm feature exists
   • Read features/[feature-name].md - Feature definition (WHAT/WHY/SCOPE)
   • Read features/flows/[feature-name].md - User flows (if exists)
   • Read features/contracts/[feature-name].md - API contracts (if exists)
   • Read features/impl/[feature-name].md - Implementation notes (if exists)

6. Locate existing source code:

   • Use features/impl/[feature-name].md to find code locations
   • Navigate to {SRC}/ directory
   • Review existing code structure and patterns
   • Identify files to modify (CHANGE/BUG/IMPROVE) or create (FEATURE)

7. Understand codebase patterns:

   • Review existing code in {SRC}/ using locations from features/impl/[feature-name].md
   • Note architectural patterns and integration points

DO NOT read the entire codebase. Use features/impl/[feature-name].md to find only relevant files in {SRC}/.

Step 1: Design the Implementation

Before writing code, create the feature design document:

1. Create/Update file features/{feature-name}.md

   • If backlog type is feature and the related feature file is not exist, create new feature file
   • If backlog type is change/bug/improve or the feature file is exist, update existing feature file
   • Use the provided templates for consistency

2. Create/update flow and contract files if it is needed

   • features/flows/{feature-name}.md - User flows and process flows (when needed)
   • features/contracts/{feature-name}.md - API contracts and interfaces (when needed)

3. Present design to user for approval

   • Show the feature design document
   • Explain approach and rationale
   • Highlight any assumptions or decisions
   • Wait for user confirmation before proceeding

Step 2: Implement the Code (After User Confirms)

Once user approves the design:

1. Organize code in {SRC}/:

   • Follow dev-swarm/docs/source-code-structure.md for file organization guidelines
   • Place code in appropriate locations within {SRC}/
   • Use file naming conventions defined in source-code-structure.md

2. Write the code:

   • Implement according to the approved design
   • Follow coding standards
   • Write clean, modular, maintainable code
   • Include appropriate error handling
   • Avoid over-engineering (keep it simple)

3. Code quality guidelines:

   • Modular: Break code into small, focused functions/components
   • Readable: Clear variable names, self-documenting code
   • Simple: Don't add features not in requirements
   • Consistent: Match style of existing codebase
   • Secure: No XSS, SQL injection, command injection, or OWASP vulnerabilities
   • Tested: Code should be testable per backlog test plan

4. What NOT to do:

   • Don't add extra features beyond requirements
   • Don't over-abstract or create unnecessary helpers
   • Don't add comments to code you didn't change
   • Don't refactor code outside scope of backlog
   • Don't add hypothetical error handling
   • Don't create backwards-compatibility hacks

5. For different backlog types:

   Feature (new functionality):

   • Create new files/components
   • Integrate with existing system
   • Follow established patterns

   Change (modify existing feature):

   • Update existing code
   • Maintain compatibility where needed
   • Update related code if necessary

   Bug (fix defect):

   • Fix the specific issue
   • Avoid changing unrelated code
   • Verify fix matches test plan

   Improve (optimize existing code):

   • Refactor/optimize as specified
   • Maintain same functionality
   • Document performance improvements

Step 3: Create Implementation Documentation

After code is complete, create implementation documentation:

1. Create features/impl/{feature-name}.md

   Files Changed:

   • List all files created or modified
   • For each file, note key changes
   • Use file paths, function names as keywords (NOT line numbers)

   Implementation Details:

   • Describe how the feature was implemented
   • Key functions/components created
   • Integration points with other features
   • Any important implementation decisions

   Code Structure:

   • Directory organization
   • Module/component breakdown
   • Dependencies added

   Key Functions/APIs:

   • List important functions with descriptions
   • Document key API endpoints
   • Note important classes/components

   Reference for Developers:

   • Quick keywords for code search
   • How to find relevant code
   • Common use patterns

2. Update features/{feature-name}.md if needed

   • Add any insights discovered during implementation
   • Note if actual implementation differs from design (explain why)
   • Keep it synchronized with current code

3. Update features/features-index.md if needed

4. Update or create {SRC}/README.md (Project Documentation):

   • IMPORTANT: Developers should maintain project documentation in {SRC}/README.md, NOT in the root README.md
   • Add or update feature documentation:
     • Feature overview and purpose
     • Installation and setup instructions
     • Usage examples and API documentation
     • Configuration options
     • Troubleshooting tips
   • Keep {SRC}/README.md as the primary technical reference for developers
   • Include links to features/ documentation for detailed specs

Step 4: Verify Against Test Plan

Before marking complete:

1. Review backlog test plan:

   • Ensure code meets all test requirements
   • Verify acceptance criteria are met

2. Self-test (if possible):

   • Run the code
   • Test key functionality
   • Verify no obvious errors

3. Document test status:

   • Note if manual testing was done
   • List any test results
   • Flag anything needing QA attention

Step 5: Finalize and Commit

CRITICAL: Follow this process to safely commit changes and update tracking:

1. Update Tracking Files:

   • Update backlog.md:
     • Change status from "Not Started" to "In Code Review"
     • Add "Development Notes" section:
       • Files Created/Modified: List changes
       • Implementation Approach: Summary of work
       • Key Decisions: Technical choices
       • Links: To feature docs and impl docs
   • Update 10-sprints/.../README.md:
     • Update status in table
     • Add progress log entry

2. Request Human Review:

   • Present the work and the plan to commit
   • Ask user: "Please review the changes. If approved, I will commit the code and update the backlog."
   • Wait for approval.

3. Commit the Code (Content):

   • Run git add . to stage all changes
   • Unstage the backlog file and sprint README (git reset HEAD <path-to-backlog> <path-to-sprint-readme>) to keep metadata separate
   • Check if there are staged changes:
     • If yes:
       • Draft conventional commit message (e.g., "feat: implement [feature-name]")
       • Commit: git commit -m "feat: ..."
       • Get Commit ID: git rev-parse --short HEAD
     • If no (only docs/metadata changed):
       • Skip to next step

4. Update Backlog with Commit ID:

   • If a code commit was made, append "Implementation Commit: [commit-id]" to the "Development Notes" in backlog.md

5. Commit the Backlog (Metadata):

   • Stage backlog.md and sprint README.md
   • Commit: git commit -m "docs([feature-name]): update backlog status to In Code Review"

6. Notify user:

   • Confirm completion
   • Suggest next step: "Ready for code review"

This two-step commit process ensures code history is preserved before the backlog is updated with the commit reference.

Expected File Structure

project-root/
├── 10-sprints/
│   └── SPRINT-XX-descriptive-name/
│       └── [BACKLOG_TYPE]-XX-[feature-name]-<sub-feature>.md # Backlog entry point
│
├── features/                                # Features knowledge base
│   ├── features-index.md                   # Index of all features
│   ├── [feature-name].md                   # Feature definition (WHAT/WHY/SCOPE)
│   ├── flows/
│   │   └── [feature-name].md               # User flows (if needed)
│   ├── contracts/
│   │   └── [feature-name].md               # API contracts (if needed)
│   └── impl/
│       └── [feature-name].md               # Implementation notes (code locations)
│
└── {SRC}/                                     # Source code
    ├── README.md                            # Project documentation (maintained by developers)
    └── [organized per dev-swarm/docs/source-code-structure.md guidelines]

File Templates

1. features-index.md

# Features Index

- [feature name a](feature-name-a.md)
- [feature name b](feature-name-b.md)

2. feature.md

# Title

## Description

[The overview for this feature's implementation, for approval, codeo review, trouble shooting or further development]

## References
The details of this feature's implementation

* [flow](flows/feature-name.md)
* [contract](contracts/feature-name.md)
* [Implement](impl/feature-name.md)

3. flows/feature-name.md - help to understand the code logic

   • User flow diagrams (mermaid)
   • Process flows and sequence diagrams
   • State transitions
   • Integration flows

4. contracts/feature-name.md - the interface between services, pacakges, workflows

   • REST API used or endpoint definitions
   • Request/response schemas
   • Data models and database schemas
   • Event contracts

5. impl/feature-name.md - help to find the code location in the source code file for codeo review, trouble shooting or further development

   • searchable keywords - function name, class name, even comment text in the file
   • file path
   • Dependencies and integration details
   • Avoid citing line numbers in the code file as any code change will affect the line numbers