PSI - Plan Spec Implement

Structured workflow for planning, specifying, and implementing changes with documentation-first approach.

When to Use

Only use when:

• Explicitly directed by the user
• Mentioned in project

  AGENTS.md

  file

Do not use automatically - this is an opt-in workflow, not a default.

Core Workflow

Plan → Spec → Implement

Phases are independent - you can start with any phase, but all must ensure documentation stays up-to-date.

Key Principles

1. Ephemeral planning - Plans stored in

   ~/.dot-agent/

   (not committed)
2. Documentation-first - Specs applied to project docs/READMEs/AGENTS.md
3. Test-first implementation - Tests for docs/user journeys before code
4. Design/review embedded - Design and review integrated into Plan/Spec phases
5. Phase independence - Each phase can work standalone, all update docs

Phase Overview

Plan Phase

• Generates detailed plans in

  ~/.dot-agent/repo/YYYY-MM-work-name.plan.md

• Research stored in

  ~/.dot-agent/working-dir/repo/YYYY-MM-work-name.research.md

• Embeds design considerations
• Includes review before proceeding

Spec Phase

• Generates specs for: API schemas, interfaces, DTOs, database models, config, env vars, architecture, user journeys, package structure, tech choices
• Embeds design considerations
• Reviews specs before applying
• Applies to:

  docs/

  , README.md files, AGENTS.md files

Implement Phase

• Test-first: tests for docs/user journeys before code
• CI verification: verify types, tests, lint pass before committing
• Atomic commits: group related changes with tests
• Updates docs, README.md, AGENTS.md as code evolves
• Can work independently if specs exist in docs

Research Management

Detects phrases like:

• "looking at your research" → Loads research file
• "refine your research" → Updates research file, narrows focus

Documentation Structure

• README.md: Aim for < 1000 lines (not hard rule), can be longer if needed
• AGENTS.md: < 200 lines, inline at root/packages/modules/code level
• docs/: Architecture, roadmap, tech-choices, setup/, user-journeys/, design/

References

For detailed protocols, see:

• references/plan-phase.md

  - Plan generation with embedded design/review

• references/spec-phase.md

  - Spec generation and application

• references/implement-phase.md

  - Test-first implementation

• references/review-protocol.md

  - Reviewing plans/specs/design

• references/research-management.md

  - Research file handling

• references/docs-structure.md

  - Documentation organization rules

• references/file-paths.md

  - Storage paths and conventions