Decompose high-level objectives into manageable, testable sub-tasks.
Session Start Protocol: Identify parallelizable work and spawn task agents immediately at the start of a session to maximize efficiency.
When to Use
- Complex requests with multiple components
- Multi-phase projects requiring coordination
- Tasks benefiting from parallel execution
Framework
1. Requirements Analysis
Extract: Primary objective, implicit requirements, constraints, success criteria.
2. Goal Hierarchy
Main Goal
├─ Sub-goal 1 → Tasks 1.1, 1.2
├─ Sub-goal 2 → Task 2.1
└─ Sub-goal 3
Atomic Criteria: Single action, defined inputs/outputs, one agent, testable.
3. Dependency Mapping
- Sequential: A → B → C
- Parallel: A, B, C (independent)
- Converging: A, B, C → D
4. Success Criteria
Define: Inputs, outputs, quality standards.
Process
Step 1: Understand Goal
Request: [Original]
Goal: [Main objective]
Type: [Implementation/Debug/Refactor]
Complexity: [Simple/Medium/Complex]
Step 2: Identify Components (3-7)
Goal: Implement feature
Components: Database, API, Logic, Testing, Docs
Step 3: Decompose Components
Component: Database
Tasks: 1. Design schema, 2. Implement operations
Step 4: Map Dependencies
[Design] → [Implement] → [Test]
Step 5: Assign Priorities
- P0 (Critical), P1 (Important), P2 (Nice-to-have)
Step 6: Estimate Complexity
- Low (<30min), Medium (30min-2hr), High (>2hr)
Patterns
Layer-Based
- Data/Storage 2. Business logic 3. API 4. Testing 5. Documentation
Feature-Based
- Core (MVP) 2. Error handling 3. Performance 4. Integration 5. Testing 6. Docs
Phase-Based
- Research 2. Foundation 3. Implementation 4. Integration 5. Polish 6. Release
Problem-Solution
- Reproduce 2. Diagnose 3. Design 4. Fix 5. Verify 6. Prevent
Examples
Simple
Request: "Fix failing test"
Tasks: 1. Run test 2. Identify cause 3. Apply fix 4. Verify
Sequential, Low complexity
Medium
Request: "Add caching"
Tasks: 1. Design 2. Implement 3. Integrate 4. Test 5. Measure
Dependencies: 1→2→3, 4→3, 5→3
Complex
Request: "Multiple backends"
Components: Abstraction, Backend A, Backend B, Factory, Migration, Testing, Docs
Strategy: Multi-phase hybrid
Quality Checklist
✓ Atomic and actionable tasks ✓ Dependencies identified ✓ Measurable success criteria ✓ Appropriate complexity estimates ✓ No task >4 hours ✓ Parallelization opportunities
✗ Tasks too large/vague ✗ Missing dependencies ✗ No quality/testing tasks
Integration
GOAP Phase 1: Decomposition → Execution Plan → Monitor → Report
Tips
- Start with Why: Understand true goal
- Think Top-Down: High-level first
- Consider User: Value per task
- Plan for Quality: Include testing/docs
- Anticipate Issues: Identify risks
- Enable Parallelization: Find independent tasks
Summary
Good decomposition enables optimal execution, clear validation, and higher quality.
Reference Files
- references/guide.md - Complete guide with detailed framework, process, patterns, examples, and GOAP integration