6phase

6phase — Router

Triage

Classify before coding. Higher-complexity signal wins. User can override.

Signal	Track	Path
Bug fix, docs-only, config, ≤3 files	Fast	P3 → P6
Clear approach, 4-10 files, single concern	Standard	P1+P2 → P3 → P4 → P5 → P6
Arch decision, unclear reqs, multi-module, major refactor	Full	P1 → P2 → P3 → P4 → P5 → P6
Unknown feasibility, new tech	Spike	P0 → P1 → ...

Multi-task: Unrelated tasks → separate cycles. Related changes forming one feature → one cycle.

User artifacts: User provides design → start P2. Plan → start P3. Code → start P4. Emit: [6PHASE: SKIP → Px | reason: ...]

Emit: ## [6PHASE: TRIAGE → FAST|STANDARD|FULL|SPIKE | reason: ...]

Tracking

On phase entry, emit: ## [6PHASE: Px-NAME] (e.g. P3-DEV). Lost? Scan for last marker.

Gates

⛔ Do NOT proceed past P1, P2, or P4 without user approval. Approval = any affirmative: ok, lgtm, go ahead, looks good, yep, ship it, etc.

Phase Files

Read the phase file before doing any phase work:

Phase	File
P0 Spike	phases/p0-spike.md
P1 Brainstorm	phases/p1-brainstorm.md
P2 Plan	phases/p2-plan.md
P3 Dev	phases/p3-dev.md
P4 Review & Test	phases/p4-review.md
P5 Docs	phases/p5-docs.md
P6 Commit	phases/p6-commit.md

Standard Track

P1+P2 merged into one document, one gate. Output: designs/YYYY-MM-DD-<slug>-design-plan.md

Fast Track

P3 → P6 only. Before P6, show user a brief summary: "Tests pass: yes/no. Here's what changed: ..." P6 includes a one-line STATUS.md entry.

Escalate if bigger than expected: [6PHASE: ESCALATE → STANDARD|FULL | reason: ...] Escalate to P1 if unclear, P2 if needs plan. Keep work done.

Scope Check

During P3, if work exceeds plan — surface early: [6PHASE: SCOPE CHECK | planned: N | actual: M | risk: ...] Options: expand scope, cut & defer, escalate track.

Abort

User abandons cycle → unstage changes, keep docs, add STATUS.md cancelled entry. [6PHASE: ABORT | phase: Px | reason: ...]

Looping Back

Situation	Go to	Emit
Tests fail (minor)	P3	`[6PHASE: P4 → P3
Design flaw	P1	`[6PHASE: P3 → P1
Plan wrong, design sound	P2	`[6PHASE: P3 → P2

Keep completed work. Updated design/plan accounts for it.

Session Resumption

Determine phase from artifacts: spike exists no design → P1 | design no plan → P2 | plan/design-plan, incomplete impl → P3 | impl complete no test report → P4 | test report, docs outdated → P5 | all done not pushed → P6 | nothing → triage.

Skill Delegation

At each phase, check available skills for domain matches. Use them — they beat generic instructions. 6phase owns the workflow; delegated skills own domain expertise. Fully optional.

Quick Reference

Phase	Purpose	Output
P0	Spike: explore feasibility	Findings
P1	Brainstorm: design solution	Design doc
P2	Plan: ordered tasks	Plan
P1+P2	Combined (standard track)	Design-plan
P3	Dev: implement	Code + tests
P4	Review & test	Test report
P5	Docs: update project docs	Documentation
P6	Commit & push	Commits