The Foundation: Four Distinct Development Phases
Phase-driven workflows organize development activities into four distinct, purpose-driven phases that address specific aspects of systematic software delivery. The Explore phase focuses exclusively on understanding requirements, surfacing assumptions, and identifying edge cases before any technical decisions are made. Plan phase activities center on architectural feasibility, complexity management, and solution validation. Implement phase work creates code with comprehensive testing and documentation. Check Results validates production readiness across deployment, operations, maintainability, performance, and security dimensions.
Sequential Logic with Feedback Loops
Unlike traditional linear development, phase-driven workflows incorporate explicit feedback loops that allow returning to earlier phases when new information emerges. When implementation reveals architectural challenges, the workflow guides you back to the Plan phase for reassessment rather than forcing problematic solutions. This circular approach transforms unexpected discoveries from project derailers into systematic learning opportunities, ensuring that each phase builds upon validated foundations rather than accumulated assumptions.
Phase-Specific Activities and Validation Gates
Each phase includes specific activities and validation criteria that must be satisfied before progression. Explore phase completion requires comprehensive requirement analysis and stakeholder validation. Plan phase gates verify architectural feasibility and document technical decisions. Implementation phases include working code, comprehensive tests, and documentation. Check Results demands production deployment validation, operational assessment, and real-world performance verification. These gates prevent the premature progression that typically leads to production failures.
Adaptive Orchestration for Real-World Development
Phase-driven workflows adapt to development reality rather than enforcing rigid sequences. The orchestration system recognizes when current phase activities have sufficient completion to warrant progression, when discovered complexity requires returning to earlier phases, and when external constraints demand workflow adjustment. This adaptive intelligence ensures that systematic methodology serves development needs rather than becoming bureaucratic overhead that slows delivery.
