state-manager

State Manager

State File: .arch/state.json

This file is the single source of truth for project progress. ALWAYS read it before responding to any architecture query. NEVER rely on conversation memory for phase state. ALWAYS update it after every state change.

Reading State

• Parse the JSON file
• Check current_phase to know where we are
• Check phase-specific status fields for detail
• For Phase 2, check sub_phase and individual acceptance flags (pattern_accepted, components_overview_accepted, cross_cutting_accepted)
• For Phase 3, check components object for per-component status
• Check reopens.count and reopens.max for reopen availability

Example – read state (pseudocode; use the Read tool, not code execution):

state = Read(".arch/state.json") → parse JSON
current_phase = state["current_phase"]

Valid Phase Transitions

not_started → evaluation     (when /analyze-prd runs)
evaluation → methodology     (when Phase 1 is accepted)
methodology → components     (when Phase 2 is fully accepted: pattern + components + cross-cutting)
components → finalization    (when ALL components accepted)

Backward transitions are ONLY allowed via /reopen (max 2 per project).

Phase 2 Sub-Phases

pattern → components_overview → cross_cutting

Each sub-phase is accepted independently via /accept. All three must be accepted for Phase 2 to be complete.

Component Status Values

pending → in_progress        (when /design-component starts)
in_progress → awaiting_acceptance  (when design is presented)
awaiting_acceptance → accepted     (when user accepts)
awaiting_acceptance → in_progress  (when user refines)
needs-review → in_progress         (after a reopen cascades)

Updating State

When updating state.json:

1. Read current state
2. Validate the transition is legal
3. Write the updated state
4. Increment decision_count if a decision was made

Example – validate and write state (pseudocode; use Read/Write tools, not code execution):

VALID_TRANSITIONS = {
  "not_started" → ["evaluation"],
  "evaluation"  → ["methodology"],
  "methodology" → ["components"],
  "components"  → ["finalization"],
}

state = Read(".arch/state.json") → parse JSON
current = state["current_phase"]

if new_phase not in VALID_TRANSITIONS[current]:
  # Invalid transition: do NOT write state.
  # Report the error to the user and stop.
  raise error: "Invalid transition: '{current}' → '{new_phase}'"

state["current_phase"] = new_phase
state["decision_count"] += 1
Write(".arch/state.json", JSON.stringify(state, indent=2))