Implementing Work

Conventions

Read capy knowledge base conventions at shared-capy-knowledge-protocol.md.

Profile detection is delegated to shared-profile-detection.md. When the sub-task's target files activate a profile that contributes an implement/ subdirectory (e.g., ../../profiles/k8s/implement/), its index.md lists per-task gotchas the skill must consult BEFORE writing. See Step 2.

Modes

Two modes, determined automatically: plan mode when the user references a docs/wip feature or task number; standalone mode otherwise (bug fix, GitHub issue, one-off change). When ambiguous, ask.

• Plan mode: Read plan-mode.md for entry, iteration, and completion procedures.
• Standalone mode: Read standalone-mode.md for entry procedure.

Both modes share the same execution core (Step 2 onward) — profile detection, dependency handling, verification, review.

Required Outputs

After each execution + review cycle, verify all outputs:

• Implementation addresses the requirement (plan mode: matches plan)
• Verification/tests pass
• Code review completed (via $kk:review-code — which owns indexing its own kk:review-findings)
• New project conventions indexed as kk:project-conventions (skip if none established)
• (Plan mode only) tasks.md updated to done

Indexing ownership: Review skills ($kk:review-code, $kk:review-spec) index their own findings. This skill only indexes kk:project-conventions for non-obvious patterns discovered during implementation. Do NOT duplicate review indexing here.

Review Mode

By default, review checkpoints use isolated mode (kk:review-code:isolated, kk:review-spec:isolated). This is mandatory because the implementing session has authorship bias — the same model that wrote the code produces weaker reviews of it. Isolated mode spawns an independent sub-agent with no prior exposure to the implementation.

The user can override at any checkpoint ("use standard review for this one") to fall back to in-session $kk:review-code.

Workflow

Mandatory order — understand before executing. The flow below is strictly sequential. Do not read source files to modify, write code, edit files, run tests, or otherwise act on any task until you have loaded full context (design, implementation plan, task list in plan mode, or full problem understanding in standalone) and completed profile detection and loaded all resolved profile content. The only early contact with the codebase is the task's target filenames — enough to drive profile detection, not enough to pattern-match implementation.

The Process

Step 1: Load Context

Determine mode (see §Modes), then read the appropriate mode file and follow its entry procedure:

• Plan mode: Read plan-mode.md — loads tasks.md, design.md, implementation.md, identifies next task.
• Standalone mode: Read standalone-mode.md — parses the problem, explores relevant code, forms an approach.

After completing the mode's entry procedure, continue with Step 2.

Step 2: Execute

Mandatory order — instructions before action. Steps 1–3 load instructions; step 4 is the first step that touches subject matter. Do not write code, edit files, or otherwise act until steps 1–3 have been performed in order. If a later step reveals that an instruction was missed, return to step 1.

1. (Plan mode only) Update tasks.md: set the task's status to in-progress.
2. Profile-aware per-task gotchas (pre-write). Run the shared profile-detection procedure against the target files (and any diff-so-far). For each active profile that contributes an implement/ subdirectory, load ../../profiles/<name>/implement/index.md and read the always-load + any matching conditional content. Apply those gotchas to the upcoming edits — they exist to prevent mistakes the post-write reviewer would otherwise catch. If no active profile contributes an implement/ subdirectory, skip this step.
3. Dependency-handling (pre-write). Whenever the task introduces or changes a dependency — new import, version bump, unfamiliar call, and per the widened trigger also: a Kubernetes API version, a CRD, a Helm chart or chart dependency, or a container image tag/digest — apply the $kk:dependency-handling skill BEFORE writing the call. Do not guess signatures, API versions, or configuration; look them up via capy/context7 per that skill's rules. Per-profile lookup cascades live in each profile's overview.md (e.g., ../../profiles/k8s/overview.md §Looking up Kubernetes dependencies).
4. Make the changes. (Plan mode: follow the plan exactly.)
5. (Plan mode only) Check off subtasks (- [x]) in tasks.md as you complete them.
6. Run verifications; run $kk:test skill.

Step 3: Report and Review

• Show what was implemented
• Show verification output
• Load kk:review-code:isolated skill — this handles both sub-agent and pal codereview internally with independent reviewers. Do NOT run a separate pal codereview call, as it is already included in the isolated workflow.
• Based on user and code-review feedback: apply changes if needed and finalize
• (Plan mode only) Update tasks.md: set the task's status to done

After finalizing, verify all items in the Required Outputs section above:

• Implementation addresses the requirement (plan mode: implementation matches plan)
• Verification/tests pass, $kk:test completed
• Code review completed (Explicitly via $kk:review-code:isolated skill — which owns indexing its own kk:review-findings)
• New project conventions indexed as kk:project-conventions (skip if none established)
• (Plan mode only) tasks.md updated to done

If any item is unchecked, go back and complete it. Do NOT proceed to the next task with incomplete outputs.

Step 4: Continue (plan mode only)

Follow the iteration procedure in plan-mode.md — move to next task, repeat Steps 1–3.

Step 5: Complete (plan mode only)

Follow the completion procedure in plan-mode.md — final validation, documentation, reflection.

When to Stop and Ask for Help

STOP executing immediately when:

• Hit a blocker (missing dependency, test fails, instruction unclear)
• (Plan mode) Plan has critical gaps preventing starting
• You don't understand a requirement or instruction is ambiguous
• Verification fails repeatedly

IMPORTANT! Always ask for clarification rather than guessing.

When to Revisit Earlier Steps

Return to Step 1 when:

• Partner updates the plan or clarifies the problem
• Fundamental approach needs rethinking

IMPORTANT! Don't force through blockers — stop and ask.

Remember

• Review plan critically first
• Follow plan steps exactly
• Don't skip verifications
• Use skills when applicable ($kk:dependency-handling, $kk:test, $kk:review-code:isolated) (Plan mode: also when the plan says to do so)
• Between batches: just report and wait
• Stop when blocked, don't guess