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GSD Workflow Guide

Get Shit Done (GSD) — Project Automation Guide

Automates projects with phases, executable plans, and parallel agents. Pipeline: Idea → Project → Milestone → Phase → Plan → Execution → Verification → Ship. Every step writes durable artefacts to .planning/ so context persists across sessions.

Project-agnostic. This guide describes the GSD framework itself; it doesn’t assume a specific repo.

Companion guides:


Table of Contents

  1. Concept
  2. Happy Path
  3. Execution Modes
  4. Lifecycle Hierarchy
  5. Namespaces (Routers)
  6. Command Reference
  7. .planning/ Structure
  8. Agents (33)
  9. Quality Gates
  10. Codebase Intelligence
  11. Ideation Track
  12. AI Integration Phases
  13. Cross-AI Peer Review
  14. Parallelization
  15. Configuration & Gates
  16. Recipes
  17. Core Concepts
  18. Backend JVM Tips
  19. Common Pitfalls

1. Concept

GSD transforms an idea into running code through a structured pipeline. Each step produces durable artefacts under .planning/ that serve as persistent memory across sessions, context resets, and team members.

Inputs: idea, PRD, existing codebase, or partial planning docs. Outputs: executable phase plans, atomic commits, traceable requirements, verified deliverables.

Three properties distinguish GSD from ad-hoc Claude usage:

  • Goal-backward: plans derive from “what must this phase deliver?”, not from “what tasks should we do?”.
  • Persistent state: STATE.md records progress, velocity, decisions, and blockers; reloaded at every command.
  • Quality gates everywhere: configurable approval points before plan, before execute, before ship.

2. Happy Path

/gsd-new-project ← vision + requirements + roadmap
/gsd-spec-phase 1 ← (optional) clarify WHAT with ambiguity scoring → SPEC.md
/gsd-discuss-phase 1 ← gather decisions + gray areas → CONTEXT.md
/gsd-plan-phase 1 ← executable PLAN.md (verified by plan-checker)
/gsd-execute-phase 1 ← atomic commits + SUMMARY.md
/gsd-verify-work 1 ← conversational UAT → UAT.md
/gsd-ship 1 ← PR + review + merge-ready

Single-command shortcut that auto-detects state and advances:

Terminal window
/gsd-progress # situational: status + next step + dispatch

The classic /gsd-next was folded into /gsd-progress — use /gsd-progress for both inspection and progression.


3. Execution Modes

Mode Command When
Interactive /gsd-plan-phase N Max control; confirm every decision
Semi-auto /gsd-plan-phase N --auto GSD picks defaults; you validate result
Quick /gsd-quick Ad-hoc work with tracking but no roadmap
Fast /gsd-fast <description> Trivial task inline, no subagents, no planning
Autonomous /gsd-autonomous All remaining phases without intervention
Manager /gsd-manager Dashboard managing multiple phases in parallel
Ultraplan (BETA) /gsd-ultraplan-phase N Offload planning to Claude Code cloud; review in browser
MVP /gsd-mvp-phase N Plan phase as vertical MVP slice (user story + SPIDR)

4. Lifecycle Hierarchy

GSD splits work into nested scopes. Each has its own commands and artefacts.

PROJECT
└── MILESTONE (v1.0, v1.1, v2.0)
└── PHASE (1, 2, 3, ...)
└── PLAN (01, 02, 03, ...)
└── TASK (atomic commits)
Scope Create Audit Archive
Project /gsd-new-project /gsd-stats
Milestone /gsd-new-milestone /gsd-audit-milestone /gsd-complete-milestone
Phase /gsd-phase --insert /gsd-audit-uat /gsd-cleanup
Plan inside /gsd-plan-phase /gsd-plan-review-convergence
Task /gsd-execute-phase /gsd-verify-work one commit per task

Roadmap CRUD (was 3 separate commands; now one):

Terminal window
/gsd-phase --insert 3.1 # add phase between 3 and 4
/gsd-phase --remove 5 # remove and renumber
/gsd-phase --edit 2 # edit existing phase

5. Namespaces (Routers)

GSD ships 6 namespace skills (gsd-ns-*) that route to sub-skills by topic. Useful when you remember the area but not the exact command:

Namespace Topics Covers
/gsd-ns-workflow workflow discuss-phase, plan-phase, execute-phase, verify-work, phase, progress
/gsd-ns-review quality gates code-review, debug, audit-uat, secure-phase, eval-review, ui-review
/gsd-ns-project project lifecycle new-milestone, complete-milestone, audit-milestone, milestone-summary
/gsd-ns-context codebase intelligence map-codebase, graphify, docs-update, extract-learnings
/gsd-ns-ideate exploration explore, sketch, spike, spec-phase, capture
/gsd-ns-manage workspace config, workspace, workstreams, thread, update, ship, inbox

Use them when uncertain: each namespace prints a sub-menu. Power users skip them and call leaf skills directly.


6. Command Reference

6.1 Initialization

Terminal window
/gsd-new-project # vision → requirements → roadmap
/gsd-new-project --auto # fewer confirmations
/gsd-map-codebase # brownfield: parse existing code first
/gsd-ingest-docs # bootstrap from existing ADRs/PRDs/SPECs
/gsd-ingest-docs --mode merge --resolve auto # merge external docs into existing .planning/

6.2 Per-phase workflow

Terminal window
/gsd-spec-phase N # (optional) clarify WHAT + ambiguity scoring → SPEC.md
/gsd-discuss-phase N # capture decisions + gray areas → CONTEXT.md
/gsd-mvp-phase N # plan phase as vertical MVP slice (SPIDR splitting)
/gsd-ai-integration-phase N # phases involving AI systems → AI-SPEC.md
/gsd-plan-phase N # executable plan with goal-backward verification
/gsd-plan-phase N --research # research first via gsd-phase-researcher
/gsd-execute-phase N # wave-based parallelized execution
/gsd-verify-work N # conversational UAT
/gsd-ship N # PR + review + merge-ready

6.3 Navigation & inspection

Terminal window
/gsd-progress # situational: status + next step + dispatch
/gsd-stats # project metrics
/gsd-health # diagnose .planning/ + repair offer
/gsd-forensics # post-mortem on failed workflow

6.4 Roadmap & lifecycle

Terminal window
/gsd-phase --insert 3.1 # CRUD on ROADMAP.md
/gsd-new-milestone "v1.1" # start new milestone cycle
/gsd-complete-milestone v1.0 # archive completed milestone
/gsd-milestone-summary v1.0 # generate team-onboarding summary
/gsd-audit-milestone v1.0 # verify milestone vs original intent
/gsd-audit-uat # cross-phase UAT outstanding items
/gsd-cleanup # archive completed phase dirs

6.5 Quick / ad-hoc

Terminal window
/gsd-quick # tracked task, no roadmap
/gsd-quick --full # + research + plan-check + verification
/gsd-fast add email field to User entity # trivial task inline
/gsd-capture --note "kafka retry idea" # capture without acting
/gsd-capture --backlog "GraphQL support" # park in backlog
/gsd-capture --seed "MCP server" # save as long-term seed
/gsd-review-backlog # promote backlog items to active milestone

6.6 Session continuity

Terminal window
/gsd-pause-work # save context for resume
/gsd-resume-work # restore prior session context
/gsd-thread list # persistent cross-session threads
/gsd-thread close <slug> # close a thread

6.7 Workspace & branching

Terminal window
/gsd-workspace --new <name> # isolated workspace
/gsd-workspace --list
/gsd-workstreams create "api-refactor" # parallel workstream
/gsd-workstreams switch "api-refactor"
/gsd-workstreams status
/gsd-pr-branch # clean PR branch filtering out .planning/ commits

6.8 Configuration

Terminal window
/gsd-settings # interactive workflow toggles
/gsd-config --advanced # advanced knobs
/gsd-config --integrations # cross-AI + external integrations
/gsd-config --profile <name> # apply model profile
/gsd-surface list # which skills are surfaced
/gsd-surface profile backend # apply a surface profile
/gsd-update # update GSD to latest version
/gsd-update --sync # re-sync local patches
/gsd-profile-user # generate developer behavioral profile
/gsd-help # discover commands

6.9 Debug & undo

Terminal window
/gsd-debug # scientific-method debugging; persists across resets
/gsd-undo --last 1 # safe revert of last N commits
/gsd-undo --phase 03 # roll back a whole phase with dep checks
/gsd-undo --plan 03-02 # roll back a single plan

7. .planning/ Structure

After /gsd-new-project, the directory looks like this:

.planning/
├── PROJECT.md # vision, requirements (v1 / v2 / out-of-scope)
├── USER-STORIES.md # stories with hexagonal sizing
├── REQUIREMENTS.md # traceable REQ-IDs
├── ROADMAP.md # phases with dependencies + success criteria
├── STATE.md # live memory: progress, velocity, decisions
├── config.json # workflow config
├── research/ # domain research (optional)
│ ├── STACK.md
│ ├── FEATURES.md
│ ├── ARCHITECTURE.md
│ └── PITFALLS.md
├── codebase/ # parallel mapper outputs (gsd-map-codebase)
│ ├── TECH.md
│ ├── ARCH.md
│ ├── QUALITY.md
│ └── CONCERNS.md
├── intel/ # codebase intel updates (gsd-intel-updater)
├── graphs/ # project knowledge graph (gsd-graphify)
├── threads/ # cross-session threads (gsd-thread)
├── backlog/ # captured ideas pending promotion
├── milestones/
│ ├── v1.0/ # archived milestones
│ └── current → v1.1/
└── phases/
├── 01-setup-base/
│ ├── 01-SPEC.md # WHAT (optional, from spec-phase)
│ ├── 01-CONTEXT.md # locked decisions (from discuss-phase)
│ ├── 01-AI-SPEC.md # AI design contract (if AI phase)
│ ├── 01-RESEARCH.md # phase-level research
│ ├── 01-PATTERNS.md # patterns mapped pre-plan
│ ├── 01-01-PLAN.md # executable plan 1
│ ├── 01-02-PLAN.md # executable plan 2 (parallel-safe)
│ ├── 01-SUMMARY.md # execution result
│ ├── 01-UAT.md # acceptance tests
│ ├── 01-VERIFICATION.md # gap analysis
│ ├── 01-REVIEW.md # code-review findings
│ ├── 01-SECURITY.md # threat mitigation evidence
│ ├── 01-EVAL-REVIEW.md # AI evaluation audit
│ ├── 01-UI-REVIEW.md # frontend visual audit
│ └── 01-LEARNINGS.md # extracted decisions + patterns
└── 02-core-feature/
└── ...

Not every file is mandatory per phase — only those produced by the commands run.


8. Agents (33)

GSD spawns specialized subagents in isolated contexts. Each returns a structured artefact.

8.1 Core pipeline (4)

Agent Role Triggered by
gsd-planner Builds PLAN.md from CONTEXT + RESEARCH + PATTERNS /gsd-plan-phase
gsd-plan-checker Verifies plan delivers phase goal post-planner
gsd-executor Wave-parallelized execution with atomic commits /gsd-execute-phase
gsd-verifier Goal-backward verification of code post-execute

8.2 Discuss + research (5)

Agent Role
gsd-assumptions-analyzer Detects assumptions in approach via codebase analysis
gsd-advisor-researcher Researches single gray area, returns comparison table
gsd-phase-researcher Researches HOW to implement a phase
gsd-research-synthesizer Synthesizes parallel researcher outputs
gsd-pattern-mapper Maps new files to existing codebase patterns

8.3 Project intake (4)

Agent Role
gsd-project-researcher Domain ecosystem research before roadmap
gsd-roadmapper Requirements → phases with dep mapping
gsd-codebase-mapper Parallel codebase analysis (tech/arch/quality/concerns)
gsd-user-profiler Behavioral profile of the developer

8.4 Quality gates (8)

Agent Role Trigger
gsd-code-reviewer REVIEW.md with severity-classified findings /gsd-code-review
gsd-code-fixer Applies fixes from REVIEW.md atomically /gsd-code-review --fix
gsd-security-auditor Verifies PLAN.md threat mitigations exist /gsd-secure-phase
gsd-eval-auditor Audits AI phase evaluation coverage /gsd-eval-review
gsd-ui-auditor 6-pillar visual audit of frontend code /gsd-ui-review
gsd-ui-checker Validates UI-SPEC against quality dimensions /gsd-ui-phase
gsd-nyquist-auditor Generates tests for coverage gaps /gsd-validate-phase
gsd-integration-checker Cross-phase E2E integration post multi-phase

8.5 Debug (2)

Agent Role
gsd-debug-session-manager Multi-cycle checkpoint orchestration
gsd-debugger Scientific-method bug investigation

8.6 AI integration (4)

Agent Role
gsd-ai-researcher Framework docs research → AI-SPEC.md
gsd-domain-researcher Domain expert criteria for AI evals
gsd-eval-planner Designs eval strategy + rubrics + dataset spec
gsd-framework-selector Decision matrix for AI framework picking

8.7 Docs ingestion (4)

Agent Role
gsd-doc-classifier Classifies external doc as ADR/PRD/SPEC/DOC
gsd-doc-synthesizer Consolidates classified docs + detects conflicts
gsd-doc-writer Writes/updates project docs
gsd-doc-verifier Verifies factual claims vs codebase

8.8 Intel + UI (2)

Agent Role
gsd-intel-updater Writes structured intel to .planning/intel/
gsd-ui-researcher UI-SPEC.md design contract for frontend phases

8.9 Removed since 1.30

The older guide referenced gsd-story-writer and gsd-epic-writer. Those were rolled into gsd-roadmapper + intake workflow.


9. Quality Gates

GSD ships post-execution audits per concern. Each produces a scored artefact.

Command Audits Output When
/gsd-code-review N Bugs, security, code quality REVIEW.md After execute
/gsd-code-review N --fix + applies fixes REVIEW + commits After review
/gsd-secure-phase N Threat mitigations vs PLAN SECURITY.md After execute, before ship
/gsd-eval-review N AI evaluation coverage EVAL-REVIEW.md After AI phase execute
/gsd-ui-review N 6-pillar frontend audit UI-REVIEW.md After frontend phase
/gsd-validate-phase N Nyquist gap detection + test fill tests + verification After verify
/gsd-audit-uat Cross-phase UAT outstanding report Pre-milestone close
/gsd-audit-milestone vN Milestone vs original intent report Pre-archive
/gsd-audit-fix --source <audit> Autonomous classify → fix → test → commit commits After any audit
/gsd-add-tests N Generate tests from UAT criteria tests + commits Coverage backfill

10. Codebase Intelligence

For brownfield and ongoing intel:

Terminal window
/gsd-map-codebase # parallel mapper: tech, arch, quality, concerns
/gsd-graphify build # build .planning/graphs/ knowledge graph
/gsd-graphify query <term> # query the graph
/gsd-graphify diff # diff vs last build
/gsd-graphify status # show graph stats
/gsd-docs-update # generate/refresh project docs, verify vs code
/gsd-docs-update --verify-only # check existing docs for drift
/gsd-extract-learnings N # mine completed phase for decisions + patterns

Outputs land under .planning/codebase/, .planning/graphs/, .planning/intel/, docs/.


11. Ideation Track

For pre-commit exploration:

Terminal window
/gsd-explore # Socratic ideation routing
/gsd-sketch <design idea> # throwaway HTML mockup
/gsd-sketch frontier # propose next sketch
/gsd-spike <idea to validate> # experiential exploration
/gsd-spike frontier # propose next spike
/gsd-spec-phase N # crystallize WHAT with ambiguity scoring
/gsd-capture --note "<text>"
/gsd-capture --backlog "<text>"
/gsd-capture --seed "<text>"
/gsd-capture --list
/gsd-review-backlog # promote backlog into active milestone

Ideation outputs feed back into discuss-phase and plan-phase.


12. AI Integration Phases

When the phase builds AI systems:

Terminal window
/gsd-ai-integration-phase N # generate AI-SPEC.md
/gsd-eval-review N # audit eval coverage post-execute

Pipeline:

  1. gsd-domain-researcher — what does “good” look like in this domain?
  2. gsd-framework-selector — pick AI framework via decision matrix.
  3. gsd-ai-researcher — framework docs → implementation guidance.
  4. gsd-eval-planner — eval strategy, rubrics, reference dataset spec.
  5. Output: AI-SPEC.md with all of the above + production monitoring plan.
  6. Post-execute: gsd-eval-auditor verifies coverage vs AI-SPEC.

13. Cross-AI Peer Review

External AI peer review of phase plans:

Terminal window
/gsd-review --phase N --gemini --claude --codex
/gsd-plan-review-convergence N --codex --gemini # loop until no HIGH concerns
/gsd-import --from <file> # ingest external plan with conflict detection
/gsd-import --from-gsd2 # ingest from another GSD instance

Useful when you want a second opinion before executing a costly phase.


14. Parallelization

14.1 Waves

Plans group by dependencies; independent plans execute concurrently.

Wave 1: [Plan A, Plan B] ← independent, parallel
Wave 2: [Plan C] ← depends on A + B
Wave 3: [Plan D, Plan E] ← independent, parallel

14.2 Config

.planning/config.json
{
"parallelization": {
"enabled": true,
"max_concurrent_agents": 3,
"min_plans_for_parallel": 2,
"plan_level": true,
"task_level": false
}
}

14.3 Workstreams (cross-phase parallelism)

Isolated streams for parallel feature work:

Terminal window
/gsd-workstreams create "api-refactor"
/gsd-workstreams list
/gsd-workstreams switch "api-refactor"
/gsd-workstreams status
/gsd-workstreams progress
/gsd-workstreams complete
/gsd-workstreams resume

14.4 Workspaces (isolated environments)

For multi-repo / multi-project scenarios:

Terminal window
/gsd-workspace --new project-a
/gsd-workspace --list
/gsd-workspace --remove project-a

15. Configuration & Gates

15.1 Interactive

Terminal window
/gsd-settings # quick toggles
/gsd-config # full menu
/gsd-config --advanced
/gsd-config --integrations
/gsd-config --profile <name>

15.2 Key options in config.json

Option Default Effect
workflow.research true Research before planning
workflow.plan_check true Verify plan before execute
workflow.verifier true Verify result post-execute
workflow.discuss_mode "discuss" discuss = ask user; assumptions = analyze code
git.branching_strategy "none" none / phase / milestone
parallelization.enabled true Wave-parallel execution
parallelization.max_concurrent_agents 3 Concurrent agents
gates.confirm_project true Confirm project intake
gates.confirm_phases true Confirm phase breakdown
gates.confirm_roadmap true Confirm ROADMAP.md
gates.confirm_plan true Confirm plan before execute
gates.execute_next_plan true Confirm before each plan in execute-phase
gates.confirm_transition true Confirm phase → phase transition
model_profile (n/a) Per-task model selection (haiku/sonnet/opus)

15.3 Max autonomy preset

{
"gates": {
"confirm_project": false,
"confirm_phases": false,
"confirm_roadmap": false,
"confirm_plan": false,
"execute_next_plan": false,
"confirm_transition": false
}
}

Pair with /gsd-autonomous for end-to-end execution without prompts.

15.4 Surface profiles

Toggle which skills are surfaced without reinstalling:

Terminal window
/gsd-surface list
/gsd-surface status
/gsd-surface profile backend # apply backend-focused profile
/gsd-surface disable ui # hide UI-related skills
/gsd-surface enable ai # surface AI-integration skills
/gsd-surface reset # revert to default

16. Recipes

16.1 Greenfield, max autonomy

Terminal window
/gsd-new-project --auto
/gsd-autonomous

16.2 From an existing PRD/spec

Terminal window
/gsd-ingest-docs --mode new # bootstrap from PRDs/ADRs in repo
/gsd-plan-phase 1

16.3 Brownfield (existing codebase)

Terminal window
/gsd-map-codebase
/gsd-graphify build
/gsd-new-project # vision over existing code
/gsd-plan-phase 1

16.4 Quick feature (no ceremony)

Terminal window
/gsd-quick # plan + execute + tracking
# or trivial:
/gsd-fast add email field to UserEntity

16.5 Persistent debugging

Terminal window
/gsd-debug # scientific method; persists across resets
# context reset later:
/gsd-debug # auto-resumes

16.6 Resume after pause

Terminal window
/gsd-resume-work
/gsd-progress # auto-advance

16.7 Status sweep

Terminal window
/gsd-progress
/gsd-stats
/gsd-health

16.8 Pre-PR cleanup

Terminal window
/gsd-audit-uat # outstanding UAT items
/gsd-audit-fix --source audit-uat # autonomous classify + fix
/gsd-pr-branch # filter out .planning/ commits
/gsd-ship N

16.9 Milestone close

Terminal window
/gsd-audit-milestone v1.0 # vs original intent
/gsd-milestone-summary v1.0 # team-onboarding summary
/gsd-complete-milestone v1.0 # archive
/gsd-new-milestone "v1.1" # next cycle

16.10 AI-system phase

Terminal window
/gsd-ai-integration-phase N # AI-SPEC.md
/gsd-plan-phase N
/gsd-execute-phase N
/gsd-eval-review N # audit eval coverage

16.11 Cross-AI second opinion

Terminal window
/gsd-plan-phase N
/gsd-plan-review-convergence N --codex --gemini
/gsd-execute-phase N

16.12 Failed workflow forensics

Terminal window
/gsd-forensics # diagnose what went wrong
/gsd-undo --last 1 # roll back if needed

17. Core Concepts

Goal-Backward Thinking

GSD plans from the goal back. The planner agent asks “what must this phase deliver?” then derives tasks — not the reverse. Stops over-engineering.

Gray Areas → CONTEXT.md

Ambiguous decisions get captured by discuss-phase and locked in CONTEXT.md. Downstream agents (planner, executor) cannot reinterpret locked decisions — they branch off the CONTEXT, not the discussion.

Atomic Commits

Each executed task = one commit. Failed task rolls back cleanly. /gsd-undo walks the manifest with dependency checks.

STATE.md as Live Memory

Persists across sessions: progress, velocity, decisions, blockers. Every GSD command reads it on entry, writes it on exit.

Nyquist Validation

Post-execute audit that detects gaps between “what the phase promised” (per PLAN.md goal-backward) and “what exists in the code”. Auto-generates tests for uncovered behaviour.

Manifest-Backed Undo

Every phase + plan tracked in a manifest. /gsd-undo --phase NN reverts the manifest tail with dependency checks — safer than raw git reset.

Workstreams ≠ Workspaces

  • Workstream: parallel feature stream within one project (/gsd-workstreams).
  • Workspace: isolated environment (a project, a separate repo, a sandbox) (/gsd-workspace).

Surfaces vs Installation

/gsd-surface toggles which skills appear in Claude’s discovery without uninstalling. Lets a single install serve different roles (backend, frontend, AI).


18. Backend JVM Tips

  • /gsd-discuss-phase --auto lets GSD make hexagonal-architecture decisions based on your guidelines without prompting.
  • gsd-executor honours your hexagonal-java / hexagonal-kotlin skills — places generated code in the correct layer.
  • Combine with /tdd skill during execution to force Red-Green-Refactor.
  • /gsd-quick --research is the right scope when exploring a library before integrating it.
  • Set git.branching_strategy: "phase" to auto-create a branch per phase.
  • For DB phases, the executor will trigger arch-liquibase-migrator if you have /arch-migrate available — pair with /gsd-secure-phase post-execute.
  • For event-publishing phases, gsd-executor + arch-outbox-pattern skill generate the canonical outbox shape; verify with /arch-outbox.
  • For API phases, pair /gsd-plan-phase with /arch-api post-execute to catch breaking changes.

19. Common Pitfalls

Symptom Cause Fix
Planner re-asks decisions you already made discuss-phase not run; or CONTEXT not locked Run /gsd-discuss-phase first; verify CONTEXT.md exists
Executor diverges from intent Plan was approved without plan-check Enable workflow.plan_check; re-run plan
Phase loops on verify-work UAT criteria unclear in PLAN Tighten plan acceptance criteria; rerun verify
Multiple agents collide on same file parallelization.task_level = true Disable task-level; keep plan-level only
.planning/ polluted with stale phases Old milestones never archived /gsd-cleanup after /gsd-complete-milestone
PR includes .planning/ commits Branched off without filter /gsd-pr-branch strips .planning/ commits
gsd-debugger loses context after reset Not a problem — /gsd-debug reuses session state Just rerun /gsd-debug
“Command not found” for old names Renamed: add/insert/remove-phase/gsd-phase; add-todo/backlog/gsd-capture; next/gsd-progress Use new names
Re-asks gray areas every session discuss_mode set wrong Use discuss for first run; switch to assumptions for automated subsequent runs
Coverage report empty verifier disabled or jacocoTestReport not wired Enable workflow.verifier; see gradle.md §4.3
Plan rejected by plan-checker Plan lacks goal-backward justification Re-plan with --research or split into smaller phases