Work
Execute an implementation plan systematically, phase by phase. The core contract is simple: completed work must be reflected truthfully in the plan file before the run is considered successful.
/act-workflow-work <plan-file> [type] [--single-phase] [--do-not-commit] [--create-pr]Arguments:
plan-file(required): path to the plan filetype(optional, default:lite): knowledge level to load before execution--single-phase: execute exactly the first incomplete phase, then stop--do-not-commit: skip git side effects but still update the plan on disk--create-pr: after all phases are complete and validation passes, push and open a PR
--create-pr and --do-not-commit are mutually exclusive.
Knowledge levels
Section titled “Knowledge levels”official— load official Flutter rules onlylite— load essential patterns, principles, and breaking changesfull— load broader setup and implementation guidance
For advanced workflows outside work, see Knowledge Loading.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”/act-workflow-work ai_specs/feature-plan.md/act-workflow-work ai_specs/feature-plan.md --single-phase/act-workflow-work ai_specs/feature-plan.md --do-not-commit/act-workflow-work ai_specs/feature-plan.md full/act-workflow-work ai_specs/feature-plan.md lite --create-prWhat it does
Section titled “What it does”1. Reads the plan and spec
Section titled “1. Reads the plan and spec”Loads the plan file, any referenced spec, and the files needed for the first in-scope phase.
2. Prepares the project
Section titled “2. Prepares the project”Infers whether this is a Flutter or Dart CLI project, creates the project if needed, and loads the right ACT knowledge and testing skills.
3. Determines scope
Section titled “3. Determines scope”Runs either all remaining incomplete phases, or just the first incomplete phase when --single-phase is used.
4. Executes the current phase
Section titled “4. Executes the current phase”For each phase in scope, ACT:
- reads the files referenced by that phase and checks existing patterns first
- implements only the tasks in that phase
- follows strict RED -> GREEN -> REFACTOR cycles for
TDD:tasks - validates the current slice while working instead of deferring everything to the end
5. Reconciles the plan
Section titled “5. Reconciles the plan”After each completed phase, ACT re-reads the plan and updates the matching checklist items from - [ ] to - [x].
This stage is mandatory. If work was completed but the plan was not updated to match, the run should fail rather than report success.
6. Validates the phase
Section titled “6. Validates the phase”After reconciliation, ACT runs the correct validation commands for the project type:
- Flutter:
flutter analyzeandflutter test - Dart CLI:
dart analyzeanddart test
7. Commits or ships
Section titled “7. Commits or ships”- By default, each successful completed phase that changed files ends with a local commit
- With
--do-not-commit, ACT leaves changes in the working tree - With
--create-pr, ACT pushes and opens a PR only after all phases are complete and final validation passes
Hard invariants
Section titled “Hard invariants”Before work can report success:
- every completed in-scope checklist item is marked
[x]in the plan - blocked items stay unchecked and are documented
- the correct analysis and test commands pass
--single-phaseruns do not spill into the next phase- normal runs do not leave successful completed phase work uncommitted
--do-not-commitruns have no git side effects
Key principles
Section titled “Key principles”Start with a thin end-to-end slice
Section titled “Start with a thin end-to-end slice”Phase 1 proves the critical path across all layers. Do not build broad horizontal layers in isolation.
Test-first with vertical slices
Section titled “Test-first with vertical slices”For TDD: tasks: write one failing test, add the minimum implementation, refactor, then repeat.
Keep the plan truthful
Section titled “Keep the plan truthful”A phase is not complete until the plan has been reconciled to match what was actually finished, what is still blocked, and what remains next.
Commit only validated slices
Section titled “Commit only validated slices”Every commit must be in a working state: no analysis failures, no failing tests, and no knowingly partial WIP slices.
Error handling
Section titled “Error handling”- Validation failures — the phase does not succeed until the root cause is fixed
- Plan mismatch — if finished work is not reflected in the plan, the run fails
- Blocked progress — blocked items stay unchecked and get a brief blocker note in the plan
- Missing requirements or manual decisions — ACT stops and asks before continuing
Related
Section titled “Related”/act-workflow-plan— create the plan/act-workflow-compound— capture insights after work/act-git-push-make-pr— manually create a PR