implement

Implement Mode

Recommended model tier: smart (opus) - this skill requires complex reasoning

Focused TDD implementation: make failing tests pass with minimal code.

Purpose

This is the DEV stage of the SDLC pipeline. Tests already exist from the TEST stage. Your job is to write the minimal implementation that makes them pass.

Prerequisites

Before starting:

• Tests exist and are failing (from TEST stage)
• Design/spec is available (from DESIGN stage)
• You know which files to create/modify

Workflow

Step 1: Verify Tests Exist and Fail

# Run the tests - they MUST fail initially
npm test -- path/to/feature.test.ts
# or
go test ./pkg/feature/...

If tests pass: The work is already done. Mark complete and move on.

If tests don't exist: This is wrong - go back to TEST stage.

Step 2: Read the Tests

Understand what the tests expect:

• What functions/methods need to exist?
• What are the expected inputs and outputs?
• What edge cases are covered?

# For large test files, get the structure first
mcp__plugin_aide_aide__code_outline file="path/to/feature.test.ts"

# Then read specific test sections with offset/limit
Read path/to/feature.test.ts offset=<start> limit=<count>

# For small test files (<100 lines), reading the full file is fine
Read path/to/feature.test.ts

When implementing, use code_outline on adjacent/related source files to understand their structure before reading them fully. This preserves context for the implementation work.

Step 3: Check Design Decisions

Use mcp__plugin_aide_aide__decision_get with the feature topic to review decisions from DESIGN stage. Use mcp__plugin_aide_aide__decision_list to see all project decisions.

Step 4: Implement Incrementally

Write code to make tests pass one at a time:

1. Pick the simplest failing test
2. Write minimal code to pass it
3. Run tests
4. If passing, move to next test
5. If failing, fix before proceeding

# Run specific test
npm test -- --grep "should create user"
# or
go test -run TestCreateUser ./pkg/...