Structured 5-step engineering process for coding agents: Requirements Discovery → Architecture Design → TDD Implementation → Integration → Verification.
End-to-End Feature Implementation Workflow
This workflow guides an AI coding agent through delivering a production-ready feature with minimal regressions.
graph TD
A[Step 1: Requirements Discovery] --> B[Step 2: Architecture & Schema Design]
B --> C[Step 3: Test-Driven Implementation]
C --> D[Step 4: Integration & Edge Case Handling]
D --> E[Step 5: Verification & Quality Gate]
Step 1: Requirements Discovery & Context Mapping
- Read the user request or ticket.
- Search the codebase for existing related functions, types, and UI components.
- Confirm external dependencies, API contracts, and user interactions.
Step 2: Architecture & Schema Design
- Update or create shared types in
shared/schema.ts.
- Write Zod validation schemas for all inputs.
- Formulate database migration steps if schema changes are required.
Step 3: Test-Driven Implementation (TDD)
- Create a test file in
tests/ covering the core business rules.
- Run tests and confirm failure (
Red).
- Implement the minimal working code in the service/component layers.
- Re-run tests and confirm passing (
Green).
Step 4: UI & Edge Case Handling
- Connect the business logic to the UI component.
- Implement loading states (skeletons/spinners), error boundaries, and empty states.
- Ensure accessibility (keyboard navigation, ARIA attributes).
Step 5: Verification & Quality Gate
- Run full type-check:
npm run check.
- Run linter:
npm run lint.
- Run automated tests:
npm test.
- Provide a clear summary with manual verification steps for the user.