validate-design.md 3.7 KB


description: Interactive technical design quality review and validation allowed-tools: Read, Glob, Grep

argument-hint:

Technical Design Validation

  • Mission: Conduct interactive quality review of technical design to ensure readiness for implementation
  • Success Criteria:
    • Critical issues identified (maximum 3 most important concerns)
    • Balanced assessment with strengths recognized
    • Clear GO/NO-GO decision with rationale
    • Actionable feedback for improvements if needed

Core Task

Interactive design quality review for feature $1 based on approved requirements and design document.

Execution Steps

  1. Load Context:

    • Read .kiro/specs/$1/spec.json for language and metadata
    • Read .kiro/specs/$1/requirements.md for requirements
    • Read .kiro/specs/$1/design.md for design document
    • Load ALL steering context: Read entire .kiro/steering/ directory including:
      • Default files: structure.md, tech.md, product.md
      • All custom steering files (regardless of mode settings)
      • This provides complete project memory and context
  2. Read Review Guidelines:

    • Read .kiro/settings/rules/design-review.md for review criteria and process
  3. Execute Design Review:

    • Follow design-review.md process: Analysis → Critical Issues → Strengths → GO/NO-GO
    • Limit to 3 most important concerns
    • Engage interactively with user
    • Use language specified in spec.json for output
  4. Provide Decision and Next Steps:

    • Clear GO/NO-GO decision with rationale
    • Guide user on proceeding based on decision

Important Constraints

  • Quality assurance, not perfection seeking: Accept acceptable risk
  • Critical focus only: Maximum 3 issues, only those significantly impacting success
  • Interactive approach: Engage in dialogue, not one-way evaluation
  • Balanced assessment: Recognize both strengths and weaknesses
  • Actionable feedback: All suggestions must be implementable

Tool Guidance

  • Read first: Load all context (spec, steering, rules) before review
  • Grep if needed: Search codebase for pattern validation or integration checks
  • Interactive: Engage with user throughout the review process

Output Description

Provide output in the language specified in spec.json with:

  1. Review Summary: Brief overview (2-3 sentences) of design quality and readiness
  2. Critical Issues: Maximum 3, following design-review.md format
  3. Design Strengths: 1-2 positive aspects
  4. Final Assessment: GO/NO-GO decision with rationale and next steps

Format Requirements:

  • Use Markdown headings for clarity
  • Follow design-review.md output format
  • Keep summary concise

Safety & Fallback

Error Scenarios

  • Missing Design: If design.md doesn't exist, stop with message: "Run /kiro:spec-design $1 first to generate design document"
  • Design Not Generated: If design phase not marked as generated in spec.json, warn but proceed with review
  • Empty Steering Directory: Warn user that project context is missing and may affect review quality
  • Language Undefined: Default to English (en) if spec.json doesn't specify language

Next Phase: Task Generation

If Design Passes Validation (GO Decision):

  • Review feedback and apply changes if needed
  • Run /kiro:spec-tasks $1 to generate implementation tasks
  • Or /kiro:spec-tasks $1 -y to auto-approve and proceed directly

If Design Needs Revision (NO-GO Decision):

  • Address critical issues identified
  • Re-run /kiro:spec-design $1 with improvements
  • Re-validate with /kiro:validate-design $1

Note: Design validation is recommended but optional. Quality review helps catch issues early.