Codex compatibility note:
- Invoke
$skill-name: load the registered.agents/skills/<name>/SKILL.mdand execute it with Codex tools; no separateSkilltool or Claude mode switch is needed. Author.claude/**; mirrors are generated.- Track steps before execution and keep progress/evidence current. Explicit skill requests execute their protocol. Use the native question tool for required questions.
- Map foreign tool names to available host capabilities. A name mismatch needs no approval; an actually unavailable required capability stops with its step/evidence and a user question before adaptation.
- Subagent authorization: when a skill is user-invoked or AI-detected and its protocol requires subagents, that skill activation authorizes use of the required
spawn_agentsubagent(s) for that task.- Preserve protocol order unless the user approves a deviation. Workflows use
$start-workflow: gates stay fixed; other steps may flex with logged reasons and evidence.
Workflow Calls and Todo Bootstrap
Read the registry → workflows.workflow-planned-work together with this skill. Call $start-workflow workflow-planned-work to resolve the selected mode, pre-actions and fingerprint.
Todo FIRST: before triage, analysis or step execution, create one todo per phase of the selected mode, in order, listing every occurrence of that phase as a line, including conditional/optional ones (a mode that declares no phases gets one todo per occurrence); preserve occurrence IDs, roles and barrier groups. Use native todo tools or an equivalent persistent ledger. Then mark the first todo in_progress; close each step line with its run or skip evidence, and complete a phase todo only when every line is closed and its applicable exit gates hold.
Mode selection and registry loading prepare tracking; any 'first action' below means the first substantive action after this bootstrap.
Call each step skill: read its linked SKILL.md and execute its protocol through the active host with the registry args. Reading or naming a skill alone is not execution. Required gates and core/optional flex follow the linked start-workflow Step Execution Protocol; keep this skill's quality gates, loops and evidence requirements.
Conditions: load each occurrence's registry applicability.when and skipReason verbatim, and record its run/skip evidence through the linked start-workflow protocol. Do not silently omit a todo or turn a conditional skill into an unconditional call; close, in one batch at triage, the todos whose condition is already false there. Declared parallel groups retain their all-return barrier.
Explicit step-skill calls by mode (registry order; roles and conditions remain owned by the registry):
- Mode
idea-to-tasks:$web-research --chain=deep-dive(optional; conditional) →$brainstorm(optional; conditional) →$initiative(core) →$spec [mode=discovery](optional; conditional) →$work-item --mode=review(optional; conditional) →$domain-analysis(optional; conditional) →$why-review(optional; conditional) →$spec [mode=draft](optional; conditional) →$spec [mode=tests](optional; conditional) →$work-item --mode=review --type=spec-tests(optional; conditional) →$spec [mode=clarify](optional; conditional) →$scenario(optional; conditional) →$plan(optional; conditional) →$work-item --mode=refine(core) →$work-item --mode=review --type=task --fix-loop(gate) →$work-item --mode=challenge --reuse=task-review(optional; conditional) →$work-item --mode=story(core) →$work-item --mode=dor --reuse=task-review(gate) →$prioritize(optional; conditional) →$design-spec(optional; conditional) →$work-item --mode=review --type=design(optional; conditional) →$work-item --mode=mockup --explore(optional; conditional) →$docs-manager --mode=update(optional; conditional) →$feature-presentation(optional; conditional) →$workflow-end(gate) →$watzup(optional; conditional) Phase todos: Discover (7) → Specify (5) → Plan (11; exit review-converged, spec-synced) → Close (3; exit run-closed)
- Mode
idea-to-spec:$web-research --chain=deep-dive(optional; conditional) →$brainstorm(optional; conditional) →$spec [mode=discovery](optional; conditional) →$scenario(optional; conditional) →$domain-analysis(optional; conditional) →$why-review(optional; conditional) →$initiative(optional; conditional) →$spec [mode=draft](core) →$spec [mode=tests](core) →$work-item --mode=review --type=spec-tests --fix-loop(gate) →$design-spec(optional; conditional) →$work-item --mode=review --type=design(optional; conditional) →$spec [mode=clarify](gate) →$why-review(optional; conditional) →$docs-manager --mode=update(optional; conditional) →$feature-presentation(optional; conditional) →$workflow-end(gate) →$watzup(optional; conditional) Phase todos: Discover (3) → Specify (12; exit review-converged) → Close (3; exit run-closed)
- Mode
spec-to-tasks:$investigate(core) →$spec [mode=index](optional; conditional) →$domain-analysis(optional; conditional) →$why-review(optional; conditional) →$spec [mode=clarify](gate) →$scenario(optional; conditional) →$plan(optional; conditional) →$work-item --mode=refine(core) →$work-item --mode=review --type=task --fix-loop(gate) →$work-item --mode=challenge --reuse=task-review(optional; conditional) →$work-item --mode=story(core) →$work-item --mode=dor --reuse=task-review(gate) →$prioritize(optional; conditional) →$design-spec(optional; conditional) →$work-item --mode=review --type=design(optional; conditional) →$work-item --mode=mockup --explore(optional; conditional) →$docs-manager --mode=update(optional; conditional) →$feature-presentation(optional; conditional) →$workflow-end(gate) →$watzup(optional; conditional) Phase todos: Discover (4) → Specify (2) → Plan (11; exit review-converged, spec-synced) → Close (3; exit run-closed)
Regenerate this block with node .claude/scripts/lib/workflow-skill-contract.cjs --write after registry edits; $sync-codex refreshes it before mirroring.
[BLOCKING] Workflow steps follow the guided contract in
$start-workflow→ Step Execution Protocol:gatesteps are fixed; other steps may flex with a logged reason. [BLOCKING] Before each step or sub-skill call, update todo tracking: setin_progresswhen step starts, setcompletedwhen step ends. [BLOCKING] Every completed/skipped step MUST include brief evidence or explicit skip reason. [BLOCKING] If Task tools are unavailable, create and maintain an equivalent step-by-step plan tracker with the same status transitions.
Work tracking: Keep the project's tracked work current in the same change, as its root instructions (
CLAUDE.mdorAGENTS.md) say. When the project uses the portable tracker (taskTracking.modeisobserveorlinked), read the linked work integration guide at capture, start, saved-work, verification, handoff and close-out checkpoints. Initiative, task and story files are work records owned by$task-track; continue untracked when no link exists, and acceptance remains explicit.
Renamed: formerly
/workflow-initiative-to-task(now modeidea-to-tasks), formerly/workflow-initiative-to-spec(now modeidea-to-spec) and formerly/workflow-spec-to-task(now modespec-to-tasks); before those, formerlyworkflow-idea-to-pbi, formerlyworkflow-idea-to-specand formerlyworkflow-spec-to-pbi. The old names no longer resolve.
Quick Summary
Goal: Turn product intent into reviewed planning artifacts through one workflow with three modes, chosen by --from and --to (or --mode): idea-to-tasks (default) turns an idea, ticket, brief or raw vision into reviewed, readiness-checked, prioritized planned work; idea-to-spec turns a raw idea into one reviewed provisional canonical spec per capability and stops there; spec-to-tasks turns existing canonical specs into complete, dependency-ordered, prioritized planned tasks and stories. No mode writes production code.
Use when: a PO, BA or user wants planned work or a reviewed spec before any implementation. To build code use $workflow-feature (behavior not yet in a canonical spec) or $workflow-implement-spec (behavior already specified). To see and click UI directions first use $workflow-spec-to-mockup. Formerly /workflow-initiative-to-task (idea-to-tasks), /workflow-initiative-to-spec (idea-to-spec) and /workflow-spec-to-task (spec-to-tasks).
IMPORTANT MANDATORY Steps: resolve the workflow-planned-work manifest variant for the selected mode first (default idea-to-tasks), then create the phase todos the manifest returns (default: $web-research --chain=deep-dive -> $brainstorm -> $initiative -> $spec [mode=discovery] -> $work-item --mode=review -> $domain-analysis -> $why-review -> $spec [mode=draft] -> $spec [mode=tests] -> $work-item --mode=review --type=spec-tests -> $spec [mode=clarify] -> $scenario -> $plan -> $work-item --mode=refine -> $work-item --mode=review --type=task --fix-loop -> $work-item --mode=challenge --reuse=task-review -> $work-item --mode=story -> $work-item --mode=dor --reuse=task-review -> $prioritize -> $design-spec -> $work-item --mode=review --type=design -> $work-item --mode=mockup --explore -> $docs-manager --mode=update -> $feature-presentation -> $workflow-end -> $watzup)
Variant step chains (each equals the registry variant of that name; gates and optional steps are declared there and restated in the mode reference):
idea-to-tasks: $web-research --chain=deep-dive -> $brainstorm -> $initiative -> $spec [mode=discovery] -> $work-item --mode=review -> $domain-analysis -> $why-review -> $spec [mode=draft] -> $spec [mode=tests] -> $work-item --mode=review --type=spec-tests -> $spec [mode=clarify] -> $scenario -> $plan -> $work-item --mode=refine -> $work-item --mode=review --type=task --fix-loop -> $work-item --mode=challenge --reuse=task-review -> $work-item --mode=story -> $work-item --mode=dor --reuse=task-review -> $prioritize -> $design-spec -> $work-item --mode=review --type=design -> $work-item --mode=mockup --explore -> $docs-manager --mode=update -> $feature-presentation -> $workflow-end -> $watzupidea-to-spec: $web-research --chain=deep-dive -> $brainstorm -> $spec [mode=discovery] -> $scenario -> $domain-analysis -> $why-review -> $initiative -> $spec [mode=draft] -> $spec [mode=tests] -> $work-item --mode=review --type=spec-tests --fix-loop -> $design-spec -> $work-item --mode=review --type=design -> $spec [mode=clarify] -> $why-review -> $docs-manager --mode=update -> $feature-presentation -> $workflow-end -> $watzupspec-to-tasks: $investigate -> $spec [mode=index] -> $domain-analysis -> $why-review -> $spec [mode=clarify] -> $scenario -> $plan -> $work-item --mode=refine -> $work-item --mode=review --type=task --fix-loop -> $work-item --mode=challenge --reuse=task-review -> $work-item --mode=story -> $work-item --mode=dor --reuse=task-review -> $prioritize -> $design-spec -> $work-item --mode=review --type=design -> $work-item --mode=mockup --explore -> $docs-manager --mode=update -> $feature-presentation -> $workflow-end -> $watzup
Step contract: steps follow $start-workflow → Step Execution Protocol — gate steps always run, a step that runs invokes its skill invocation, and every other deviation is logged. NEVER batch-complete validation gates.
Activate the workflow-planned-work workflow. Run $start-workflow workflow-planned-work with --mode=<mode> (mapped from --from/--to below) and the user's prompt as context. The resolved variant is a complete sequence: execute that manifest and never a hand-swapped list.
Contents
- Workflow Calls and Todo Bootstrap
- Quick Summary
- Mode Selection — FIRST Action
- Mode
idea-to-tasks - Mode
idea-to-spec - Mode
spec-to-tasks - Closing Reminders
Mode Selection — FIRST Action
Pick the mode BEFORE creating tasks and record it, with the resolver fingerprint, in the workflow report. --from and --to map to the mode; an explicit --mode wins; with neither, choose from the prompt and state the assumption. Every mode closes through $workflow-end, which checks the mode's own outcome gates.
--from / --to |
Mode | Pick it when | Deliverable | Outcome gates (registry) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
--from=idea --to=tasks (default) |
idea-to-tasks |
An idea, ticket, brief or raw product vision must become ready-to-plan work: one task through a provisional spec (Single-Task track), or several opportunities through a RICE opportunity map (Multi-Opportunity track). | A provisional spec and test specifications (Single-Task), reviewed and readiness-checked tasks and stories, prioritization, UI mockups for UI tasks | review-converged · spec-synced (when a draft spec or test specifications changed) · run-closed |
--from=idea --to=spec |
idea-to-spec |
A raw idea, vision or problem must become one reviewed provisional canonical spec per converged capability, with no task, story or mockup yet. | Reviewed provisional canonical specs with their planned test cases | review-converged · run-closed |
--from=spec --to=tasks |
spec-to-tasks |
Canonical specs already exist and must become complete, dependency-ordered, prioritized planned work with capability slicing and implementation ordering. | A coverage matrix, tasks, stories, DoR evidence and ranked planned work | review-converged · spec-synced (when the run changed canonical spec content) · run-closed |
One flag alone: --to=spec → idea-to-spec; --from=spec → spec-to-tasks; --from=idea or --to=tasks → idea-to-tasks. --from=spec --to=spec is not a mode: to revise a spec use $workflow-feature-spec.
Mode idea-to-tasks
[BLOCKING] When idea-to-tasks resolves, read .claude/skills/workflow-planned-work/references/mode-idea-to-tasks.md in full FIRST, then references/planned-work-core.md before the first spec, readiness or UI step. Its triage, quality gates, recommended-skills table, multi-opportunity loop, artifacts and fix path are the contract for this mode.
Mode idea-to-spec
[BLOCKING] When idea-to-spec resolves, read .claude/skills/workflow-planned-work/references/mode-idea-to-spec.md in full FIRST, then references/planned-work-core.md before the first spec step. Its triage, quality gates, recommended skills, orchestration and fix path are the contract for this mode.
Mode spec-to-tasks
[BLOCKING] When spec-to-tasks resolves, read .claude/skills/workflow-planned-work/references/mode-spec-to-tasks.md in full FIRST, then references/planned-work-core.md before the first readiness or UI step. Its canonical input profile, triage, quality gates, recommended skills, outputs and fix path are the contract for this mode.
Protocol guides — Apply each protocol only when its read-when condition holds. If a protocol's text is not in your context, read its file below before you act on it.
design-distinctiveness-gate— Design identity gate DD-1 to DD-8: subject, design plan, generic test, restraint; designing, implementing or reviewing a visual surface → .claude/skills/shared/protocols/design-distinctiveness-gate.mdincremental-persistence— Persist results per file or section while the work proceeds; a sub-agent or heavy step processes more than three files → .claude/skills/shared/protocols/incremental-persistence.mdsession-goal-ledger— Keep the original goal and every user prompt of the session; running a long or multi-prompt session → .claude/skills/shared/protocols/session-goal-ledger.mdsubagent-return-contract— Sub-agents return a structured envelope and a report path, never an inline report; spawning a sub-agent → .claude/skills/shared/protocols/subagent-return-contract.mdui-intent-layer— Tech-agnostic UI intent layer in every UI-bearing spec; writing a spec for a feature with a user interface → .claude/skills/shared/protocols/ui-intent-layer.mdui-ux-design-principles— Forty usability and accessibility clauses, UI-1.1 to UI-9.4; designing, building or reviewing a user-facing interface → .claude/skills/shared/protocols/ui-ux-design-principles.mdux-journey-gate— Journey-first UX gate UX-1 to UX-11: report journeys, read the design authority, generate, then check every UI/UX gate; generating, specifying, planning, mocking up or reviewing a user-facing surface → .claude/skills/shared/protocols/ux-journey-gate.mdworkflow-registry-binding— Read the workflow registry entry and the workflow skill together, since they must agree; executing or editing a workflow → .claude/skills/shared/protocols/workflow-registry-binding.md
- MANDATORY For UI-bearing specs, author/maintain the tech-agnostic interaction-surface layer (views with information priority now/later/not-here and container role + navigation map + observable states + user-action flows), resolving it through the configured profile's intent/evidence roles and logical IDs; an unresolved owner, role, ID, carrier, or link stays
UNKNOWN/BLOCKED. Strict portable fallback — only when neither config nor local references declares a native artifact contract: trace each flow to the defaultUS-/OP-/BR-IDs and record the companion artifact in thedesign_spec:/mockup:frontmatter keys. Name ZERO frameworks/routes/CSS/component classes; skip ONLY for backend-only features with a stated reason.
- MUST ATTENTION journey-first, BLOCKING order: REPORT the main user journeys (
UX-1, evidence-tagged; confirm an inferred actor/job/outcome, or with no question tool record itINFERRED — unconfirmedand continue) → READ project design principles, design system, existing UI (UX-2) → generate → CHECK all gates. Checks: views = journey steps (UX-3) · important information first — one focal point, one primary action = next step, first viewport holds the primary tier (UX-4) · rules become prevention, states, recovery (UX-5) · the user's mental model (UX-6) · low-fi first (UX-7) · walkthrough + traceability, no unserved step or orphan (UX-8) · interaction cost per journey measured — steps, clicks, view changes, fields, decisions — every click confident, not a 3-click rule (UX-9) · wayfinding: where am I, where can I go, how do I get back, no dead ends (UX-10) · close with the UI/UX Gate Report coveringUX-*,UI-*,DD-*,CL-*and UI copy — an unresolvedFAILblocks hand-off (UX-11). Catalog:.claude/docs/ux-journey-process.md. Skip ONLY with no user-facing surface, stated.
- MANDATORY Session goal ledger per the
Task Planning Rules: pinOriginal goal:, keepUser prompts this session: P1…Pn, and map the result to every prompt before claiming done; full text:.claude/skills/shared/protocols/session-goal-ledger.md.
Closing Reminders
IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION Goal: turn product intent into reviewed planning artifacts in the selected mode — a reviewed provisional spec (idea-to-spec) or reviewed, readiness-checked, prioritized planned work (idea-to-tasks, spec-to-tasks) — and stop before implementation.
- MUST ATTENTION select the mode FIRST from
--from/--to,--modeor the prompt, record it with the fingerprint, then read that mode's reference in full before any step. - MUST ATTENTION
gatesteps always run; core and optional steps follow their registry conditions, each skip logged with evidence; frontmatter priority and the releasable-outcome contract hold in every task-producing run. - MUST ATTENTION no mode writes production code, creates a product roadmap or holds all tasks in memory: write each artifact as soon as it is drafted.
[TASK-PLANNING] Create the phase todos the manifest returns before triage, analysis or step execution.