Executing Plans

Overview

Load plan, review critically, choose execution mode, execute tasks with code review.

Core principle: User chooses between autonomous execution or batch execution with human review checkpoints.

Two execution modes:

• One-go (autonomous): Execute all batches continuously with code review, report only at completion
• Batch (with review): Execute one batch, code review, pause for human feedback, repeat

Announce at start: “I’m using the ring:executing-plans skill to implement this plan.”

The Process

Step 1: Load and Review Plan

1. Read plan file
2. Review critically – identify any questions or concerns about the plan
3. If concerns: Raise them with your human partner before starting
4. If no concerns: Create TodoWrite and proceed to Step 2

Step 2: Choose Execution Mode (MANDATORY)

⚠️ THIS STEP IS NON-NEGOTIABLE. You MUST use AskUserQuestion before executing ANY tasks.

Ask: “How would you like to execute this plan?” Options: (1) One-go (autonomous) – all batches with code review, no human review until completion (2) Batch (with review) – pause for human review after each batch

Based on response: One-go → Steps 3-4 loop until done | Batch → Steps 3-5 loop

Why AskUserQuestion is Mandatory (Not “Contextual Guidance”)

This is a structural checkpoint, not optional UX polish.

User saying “don’t wait”, “don’t ask questions”, or “just execute” does NOT skip this step because:

1. Execution mode affects architecture – One-go vs batch determines review checkpoints, error recovery paths, and rollback points
2. Implicit intent ≠ explicit choice – “Don’t wait” might mean “use one-go” OR “ask quickly and proceed”
3. AskUserQuestion takes 3 seconds – It’s not an interruption, it’s a confirmation
4. Emergency pressure is exactly when mistakes happen – Structural gates exist FOR high-pressure moments

Common Rationalizations That Mean You’re About to Violate This Rule:

If you catch yourself thinking any of these → STOP → Use AskUserQuestion anyway.

Step 2.5: Context Switching for Multi-Module Plans

If plan has tasks with target: and working_directory: fields:

1. Track current module:

   current_module = None
   current_directory = "."
   

2. Before each task, check for context switch:

   IF task.target != current_module AND current_module != None:
     # Prompt user for confirmation
     AskUserQuestion:
       question: "Switching to {task.target} module at {task.working_directory}. Continue?"
       header: "Context"
       options:
         - label: "Continue"
           description: "Switch to {task.target} and execute task"
         - label: "Skip task"
           description: "Skip this task and continue with next"
         - label: "Stop"
           description: "Stop execution for manual review"
   
     IF answer == "Continue":
       current_module = task.target
       current_directory = task.working_directory
     ELIF answer == "Skip":
       Mark task as skipped → proceed to next
     ELSE:
       Stop execution → report progress
   

3. Load module-specific PROJECT_RULES.md:

   IF {task.working_directory}/PROJECT_RULES.md exists:
     Instruct agent to read module-specific rules
     Module rules override root rules
   

4. Pass working directory to agent:

   Task(
     subagent_type=task.agent,
     model="opus",
     prompt="Working directory: {task.working_directory}
   
     Before executing, cd to the working directory:
     cd {task.working_directory}
   
     If PROJECT_RULES.md exists in this directory, read and follow it.
   
     {task.prompt}"
   )
   

Optimization: To minimize context switches, batch tasks by module when possible:

• Original: [backend, frontend, backend, frontend]
• Optimized: [backend, backend, frontend, frontend]
• Only reorder if no dependencies between modules

Step 3: Execute Batch

Default: First 3 tasks

Agent Selection: Backend Go → ring:backend-engineer-golang | Backend TS → ring:backend-engineer-typescript | Frontend → ring:frontend-bff-engineer-typescript | Infra → ring:devops-engineer | Testing → ring:qa-analyst | Reliability → ring:sre

For each task: Check context switch (Step 2.5) → Mark in_progress → Dispatch to agent with working_directory → Follow plan steps exactly → Run verifications → Mark completed

Step 4: Run Code Review

After each batch, REQUIRED: Use ring:requesting-code-review (all 6 reviewers in parallel)

Handle by severity:

• Critical/High/Medium: Fix immediately (no TODO) → re-run all 6 reviewers → repeat until resolved
• Low: Add TODO(review): [Issue] ([reviewer], [date], Low)
• Cosmetic: Add FIXME(nitpick): [Issue] ([reviewer], [date], Cosmetic)

Proceed when: Zero Critical/High/Medium remain + all Low/Cosmetic have comments

Step 5: Report and Continue

One-go mode: Log internally → proceed to next batch → report only at completion Batch mode: Show implementation + verification + review results → “Ready for feedback.” → wait → apply changes → proceed

Step 6: Complete Development

Use finishing-a-development-branch to verify tests, present options, execute choice.

When to Stop

STOP immediately: Blocker mid-batch | Critical gaps | Unclear instruction | Verification fails repeatedly. Ask rather than guess.

Remember

• MANDATORY: AskUserQuestion for execution mode – NO exceptions
• Use * agents over general-purpose when available
• Run code review after each batch (all 6 parallel)
• Fix Critical/High/Medium immediately (no TODO)
• Low → TODO, Cosmetic → FIXME
• Stop when blocked, don’t guess
• If rationalizing why to skip AskUserQuestion → You’re wrong → Ask anyway