Vrau Workflow
Red Flags - STOP If You're Thinking This
| Thought | Reality |
|---|---|
| "The brainstorm is detailed enough to skip planning" | Brainstorm ≠ Plan. NEVER skip phases. |
| "I can just implement this directly" | Implementation requires an APPROVED PLAN. No exceptions. |
| "The changes are simple/already done" | Sunk cost. Delete it, follow the workflow. |
| "I'll track to the issue later" | Track NOW or you'll forget. No batching. |
| "I know what phase this is in" | VERIFY with files. Don't assume. |
| "Review isn't necessary for this" | Review is ALWAYS necessary. No exceptions. |
| "I can review my own work" | NO. You wrote it = you CANNOT review it. Spawn separate agent. |
| "I'll check it myself before spawning reviewer" | That's self-review. Spawn reviewer INSTEAD. |
If any of these thoughts occur: STOP. Re-read this skill. Follow the workflow exactly.
CRITICAL SAFETY RULE
NEVER COMMIT TO MAIN BRANCH
Before doing ANYTHING, check current branch:
bash
git branch --show-current
If on main/master:
- •STOP immediately
- •Create a new branch OR use worktree
- •NEVER proceed with commits on main
This is non-negotiable. No exceptions. Ever.
On Start
- •Scan
docs/designs/for folders matchingYYYY-MM-DD-* - •If none: start new workflow (see below)
- •If one: auto-select, detect state, ask about worktree/branch (see Resuming Workflow below), invoke correct phase
- •If multiple: ask user which to resume (or start new, or delete old), then ask about worktree/branch (see Resuming Workflow below), invoke correct phase
New Workflow Setup
- •Ask user for task description
- •Ask: Track with GitHub Issue?
- •Yes → run /start-job command, set Tracking Mode: GitHub
- •No → set Tracking Mode: None
- •Ask: Worktree or new branch?
- •Worktree → use superpowers:using-git-worktrees
- •New branch →
git checkout -b <workflow-name>andgit push -u origin <workflow-name>
- •Update main first:
git checkout main && git pull - •Create worktree OR branch based on choice
- •Create folder
docs/designs/YYYY-MM-DD-<slug>/ - •Create README.md with Tracking Mode and issue number (if any)
- •Commit, push
- •Invoke vrau:brainstorm
Resuming Workflow
When resuming an existing workflow:
- •Update main first:
git checkout main && git pull - •Ask: Worktree or new branch?
- •Worktree → use superpowers:using-git-worktrees
- •New branch →
git checkout -b <workflow-name>-<phase>andgit push -u origin <workflow-name>-<phase>
- •Create/go to existent worktree OR branch based on choice
- •Proceed to invoke correct phase
Why: User must choose worktree/branch preference every time they resume work. Never assume.
State Detection
Check files in docs/designs/<workflow>/:
- •Only README.md → brainstorm phase
- •Has
design/*.md, noplan/*.md→ plan phase - •Has
plan/*.md→ execute phase - •If unclear → ASK USER
For Tracking Mode: GitHub - can also check issue comments for status updates.
For Tracking Mode: None - vrau asks user to confirm detected state before proceeding.
Mandatory Phase Order
code
Brainstorm → Plan → Execute
↓ ↓ ↓
(review) (review) (review)
↓ ↓ ↓
merge merge merge
PHASES CANNOT BE SKIPPED. This is not negotiable.
- •Brainstorm MUST be reviewed and merged before Plan
- •Plan MUST be reviewed and merged before Execute
- •A "detailed brainstorm" is still NOT a plan
- •"Simple changes" still require the full workflow
REVIEW MUST BE FRESH EYES:
- •You wrote it = you CANNOT review it
- •Always spawn a SEPARATE agent for review
- •Use Task tool with
vrau:vrau-reviewerfor brainstorm/plan review - •Use
superpowers:requesting-code-reviewfor code review
Routing
Based on state detection, invoke the CORRECT phase:
- •Only README.md → invoke vrau:brainstorm (Phase 1)
- •Has
design/*.md, noplan/*.md→ invoke vrau:plan (Phase 2) - •Has
plan/*.md→ invoke vrau:execute (Phase 3)
NEVER skip phases:
- •If only brainstorm exists → MUST do plan next, not execute
- •If no plan exists → CANNOT execute, even if brainstorm is "detailed"
- •Each phase has its own review gate that MUST pass