APEX Methodology

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APEX Methodology Skill

Analyze → Plan → Execute → eLicit → eXamine

Complete development workflow for features, fixes, and refactoring.

Step 0: Initialize Tracking (MANDATORY FIRST ACTION)

BEFORE anything else, run this command to initialize APEX tracking:

mkdir -p .claude/apex/docs && cat > .claude/apex/task.json << 'INITEOF'
{
  "current_task": "1",
  "created_at": "'"$(date -u +"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")"'",
  "tasks": {
    "1": {
      "status": "in_progress",
      "started_at": "'"$(date -u +"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")"'",
      "doc_consulted": {}
    }
  }
}
INITEOF
echo "✅ APEX tracking initialized in $(pwd)/.claude/apex/"

This creates:

• .claude/apex/task.json - Tracks documentation consultation status
• .claude/apex/docs/ - Stores consulted documentation summaries

The PreToolUse hooks will BLOCK Write/Edit until documentation is consulted.

Workflow Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     APEX WORKFLOW                               │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  00-init-branch     → Create feature branch                     │
│  00.5-brainstorm    → Design-first questioning (B) ← NEW        │
│  01-analyze-code    → Understand codebase (A)                   │
│  02-features-plan   → Plan implementation (P)                   │
│  03-execution       → Write code with TDD (E) ← UPDATED        │
│  03.5-elicit        → Expert self-review (L)                    │
│  03.7-verification  → Functional resolution check (V) ← NEW    │
│  04-validation      → Verify quality (X)                        │
│  05-review          → Self-review                               │
│  06-fix-issue       → Handle issues                             │
│  07-add-test        → Write tests (TDD cycle)                   │
│  08-check-test      → Run tests                                 │
│  09-create-pr       → Create Pull Request                       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Skills Integration

| Phase | Skill | Invocation | |-------|-------|------------| | 00.5 | brainstorming | Questions → alternatives → design doc → approval | | 03 | tdd | RED (test) → GREEN (code) → REFACTOR cycle | | 03.7 | verification | Re-read request → check criteria → confirm resolution |

Phase References

| Phase | File | Purpose | | --- | --- | --- | | 00 | references/00-init-branch.md | Create feature branch | | 01 | references/01-analyze-code.md | Explore + Research (APEX A) | | 02 | references/02-features-plan.md | TaskCreate planning (APEX P) | | 03 | references/03-execution.md | Implementation (APEX E) | | 03.5 | references/03.5-elicit.md | Expert self-review (APEX L) ← NEW | | 04 | references/04-validation.md | sniper validation (APEX X) | | 05 | references/05-review.md | Self-review checklist | | 06 | references/06-fix-issue.md | Fix validation/review issues | | 07 | references/07-add-test.md | Write unit/integration tests | | 08 | references/08-check-test.md | Run and verify tests | | 09 | references/09-create-pr.md | Create and merge PR |

Quick Start

Standard Feature Flow

1. 00-init-branch     → git checkout -b feature/xxx
2. 00.5-brainstorm    → Ask questions, propose alternatives, get design approval
3. 01-analyze-code    → explore-codebase + research-expert
4. 02-features-plan   → TaskCreate task breakdown
5. 03-execution       → TDD: write test FIRST, then implement (files <100 lines)
6. 03.5-elicit        → Expert self-review (elicitation techniques)
7. 03.7-verification  → Verify functional resolution against original request
8. 04-validation      → sniper agent (code quality)
9. 05-review          → Self-review
10. 09-create-pr      → gh pr create

Bug Fix Flow

1. 00-init-branch     → git checkout -b fix/xxx
2. 01-analyze-code    → Understand bug context
3. 07-add-test        → TDD: write failing test FIRST (RED)
4. 03-execution       → Fix the bug (GREEN)
5. 08-check-test      → Verify test passes + no regressions
6. 03.7-verification  → Verify original bug is functionally resolved
7. 04-validation      → sniper agent
8. 09-create-pr       → gh pr create

Hotfix Flow

1. 00-init-branch     → git checkout -b hotfix/xxx
2. 03-execution       → Minimal fix only
3. 03.7-verification  → Verify fix resolves the issue
4. 04-validation      → sniper agent
5. 08-check-test      → Run tests
6. 09-create-pr       → Urgent merge

Core Rules

File Size (ABSOLUTE)

🚨 STOP at 90 lines → Split immediately
❌ NEVER exceed 100 lines
📊 Target: 50-80 lines per file

Interface Location

✅ src/interfaces/     (global)
✅ src/types/          (type definitions)
✅ Contracts/          (PHP/Laravel)
❌ NEVER in component files

Agent Usage

01-analyze:  explore-codebase + research-expert (PARALLEL)
04-validate: sniper (MANDATORY after ANY change)

APEX Phases Explained

A - Analyze

ALWAYS run 2 agents in parallel:

1. explore-codebase
   → Map project structure
   → Find existing patterns
   → Identify change locations

2. research-expert
   → Verify official documentation
   → Confirm API methods
   → Check best practices

P - Plan

ALWAYS use TaskCreate:

1. Break down into tasks
2. Each task <100 lines
3. Plan file splits FIRST
4. Map dependencies (addBlockedBy)

E - Execute (with TDD)

FOLLOW plan strictly with TDD cycle:

1. Create interfaces FIRST
2. Write failing test (RED) → verify it fails
3. Write minimal code (GREEN) → verify it passes
4. Refactor → keep tests green
5. Monitor file sizes (<100 lines)
6. Write JSDoc/comments
7. Atomic commits per task

See tdd skill for detailed RED-GREEN-REFACTOR rules.

V - Verify (Functional Resolution)

BEFORE sniper, verify functional correctness:

1. Re-read original request
2. List all acceptance criteria
3. Verify each with evidence
4. Check for regressions
5. Confirm: "Problem is RESOLVED"

See verification skill for detailed checklist.

X - eXamine

ALWAYS run sniper:

6-phase validation:
1. explore-codebase
2. research-expert
3. grep usages
4. run linters
5. apply fixes
6. ZERO errors

Branching Strategy

Branch Naming

feature/ISSUE-123-short-description
fix/ISSUE-456-bug-name
hotfix/ISSUE-789-urgent-fix
refactor/ISSUE-321-cleanup
docs/ISSUE-654-readme
test/ISSUE-987-coverage

Best Practices (2025)

✅ Short-lived branches (1-3 days)
✅ Small, focused changes
✅ Sync frequently with main
✅ Squash and merge

Commit Convention

Format

<type>(<scope>): <description>

Types: feat, fix, refactor, docs, test, chore
Scope: component/feature name
Description: imperative mood, <50 chars

Examples

feat(auth): add JWT authentication
fix(cart): resolve quantity validation
refactor(api): extract fetch utilities
test(auth): add login component tests

Validation Requirements

Before PR

□ sniper passes (ZERO errors)
□ All tests pass
□ Build succeeds
□ Self-review complete
□ No console.logs
□ No TODO unaddressed

Code Quality

□ Files <100 lines
□ Interfaces in correct location
□ JSDoc on all exports
□ No any types
□ Error handling complete

PR Guidelines

Title Format

feat(auth): add social login with Google
fix(cart): resolve quantity update bug
refactor(api): extract fetch utilities

Description Must Include

□ Summary (1-3 bullets)
□ Changes (added/modified/removed)
□ Related issues (Closes #xxx)
□ Test plan (checkboxes)
□ Screenshots (if UI changes)

Flow Diagram

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