Xiaobai Workflow Enforcer 🔒#

Mandatory workflows for AI Agents. Not suggestions, not "when appropriate" — mandatory.

Inspired by Superpowers (161K stars) which proved that enforced workflows transform chaotic AI outputs into reliable engineering.

Core Philosophy#

Superpowers PrincipleXiaobai ImplementationTest-Driven DevelopmentEVR + TDD skillSystematic over ad-hocWorkflow CheckpointComplexity reductionSimplicity CheckEvidence over claimsVerification Gate

Mandatory Workflows#

Workflow 1: Pre-Action Design Gate 🔒#

Trigger: Before any multi-step task or code creation

Mandatory Steps:

1. STOP. Don't write code yet.
2. Ask clarifying questions (minimum 3)
3. Present design/spec in chunks
4. Get user sign-off on design
5. Save design document

text

❌ Wrong:
User: Build me a scraper
Agent: [Writes code]

✅ Right:
User: Build me a scraper
Agent: Before I code, let me understand:
       1. What site are we scraping?
       2. What data do you need?
       3. How often should it run?
       4. Any rate limits to consider?
       [After answers, presents design]
       Does this design match what you need?

Workflow 2: Implementation Planning 🔒#

Trigger: After design approval, before implementation

Mandatory Steps:

1. Break into 2-5 minute tasks
2. Each task has: file path, exact code, verification step
3. Present plan for approval
4. Save plan to checkpoint file

text

Plan Format:

## Task 1: Create scraper module (3 min)
- File: src/scraper.py
- Code: [exact code or pseudocode]
- Verify: `python -c "import scraper"`

## Task 2: Add rate limiting (2 min)
- File: src/scraper.py
- Code: [exact changes]
- Verify: Run with test request, check delay

...

Workflow 3: Test-First Gate 🔒#

Trigger: Before implementing any function

Mandatory Steps:

1. Write test first
2. Run test, confirm it FAILS (RED)
3. Write minimal code to pass
4. Run test, confirm it PASSES (GREEN)
5. Refactor if needed
6. Commit only after GREEN

text

❌ Wrong:
[Writes function]
[Tests it manually]
"It works"

✅ Right:
1. Write test_function()
2. Run: pytest test_module.py
3. See: FAILED (expected)
4. Write function()
5. Run: pytest test_module.py
6. See: PASSED
7. Commit

Workflow 4: Execution Gate 🔒#

Trigger: During task execution

Mandatory Steps:

1. Read task from plan
2. Execute exactly as planned
3. Verify (run command, check output)
4. Update checkpoint
5. Only then move to next task

text

Checkpoint Update:
- Task 1: DONE (verified: scraper.py imports successfully)
- Task 2: IN_PROGRESS
- Tasks 3-5: PENDING

Workflow 5: Verification Gate 🔒#

Trigger: Before claiming "done" or "complete"

Mandatory Steps:

1. Run verification command
2. Show output to user
3. Confirm evidence matches claim
4. Only then say "done"

text

❌ Wrong:
"Scraper is done!"

✅ Right:
"Scraper implementation complete.

Verification:
- Module imports: ✅
- Test suite passes: ✅ (5/5)
- Sample scrape works: ✅

Evidence:
[Output from test run]

Would you like me to proceed with deployment?"

Workflow Enforcement Protocol#

Before Any Action#

text

1. Is this a multi-step task?
   → Yes → Trigger Workflow 1 (Design Gate)

2. Is there a plan?
   → No → Trigger Workflow 2 (Planning)

3. Does this involve code?
   → Yes → Trigger Workflow 3 (Test-First)

4. Is task in progress?
   → Yes → Trigger Workflow 4 (Execution Gate)

5. About to say "done"?
   → Yes → Trigger Workflow 5 (Verification Gate)

Blockers That Must Stop Progress#

ConditionActionNo design docDon't code, ask questions firstNo planDon't execute, create plan firstNo testDon't write function, write test firstTest failingDon't continue, fix the codeNo verificationDon't say "done", verify first

Integration with Other Xiaobai Skills#

• EVR Framework — Verification gate implementation
• Workflow Checkpoint — Plan and progress tracking
• Skill Quality Eval — Measure workflow compliance
• Self-Improve — Learn from workflow violations

Anti-Patterns (What This Skill Prevents)#

Anti-PatternWhy It's BadWorkflow FixJumping to codeSolves wrong problemDesign GateNo planChaotic executionPlanning GateWrite-then-testTests that pass triviallyTest-First GateSkipping verificationSilent failuresVerification GateClaiming done prematurelyUser finds out laterExecution Gate

Quick Reference Card#

text

Before Coding:    DESIGN → APPROVE → PLAN → APPROVE
While Coding:     TEST(RED) → CODE → TEST(GREEN) → REFACTOR
After Coding:     VERIFY → EVIDENCE → REPORT
Always:           CHECKPOINT after each step

License#

MIT