Task Decomposition

Dependency Resolution

TaskB → TaskA = B depends on A (must finish first).

Topological sort: No-dep tasks → Phase 1. Tasks depending only on Phase N → Phase N+1. Same-phase tasks with no mutual deps run in parallel.

Cycle detection: If A → B → C → A, split one task into independent part + dependent part.

Graph:        Plan:
E → C → A    Phase 1: A, B (parallel)
D → B        Phase 2: C, D (parallel)
F → C, D     Phase 3: E, F (parallel)

Delegation Spec

For score 1-3, objective + files + criteria is sufficient. Full template:

## Delegation Spec: [Task Title]
**Tracker Issue:** TAS-XX — [Title]
**Complexity:** [score]/13 → [tier] tier
**Agent:** [Agent Name]

### Objective
1-3 sentences: what to build/change and why.

### Context
- Key files: [list]
- Related patterns: [file:line references]
- Prior phase output: [compacted summary if applicable]
- Relevant lessons: [LES-XXX from LESSONS-LEARNED.md]

### Constraints
- File partition: Only modify files under [paths]
- Do NOT modify: [explicit exclusions]
- Dependencies: Requires [TAS-XX] Done first

### Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] Criterion 1

### Expected Output
Files changed · Verification (lint/test/build) · AC status (✅/❌) · Discovered issues · Lessons applied

Read .opencastle/LESSONS-LEARNED.md before starting. Add lesson if you retry any approach.

Prompt Quality

Delegation Mechanism

Need result immediately?
 YES → Is dependency for next step?
         YES → Sub-Agent (inline)
         NO  → Sub-Agent or Background (if large)
 NO  → Expected > 5 min?
         YES → Background Agent
         NO  → Sub-Agent (sequential)

Mixed Delegation

Foundation-First Pattern

Apply when: 2+ pages/views/UI sections · multiple agents produce visual output · no existing design system.

Phase 1: foundation-setup
├── Creates: design tokens, layout, UI component library, style guide brief
└── All visual tasks → depends_on: [foundation-setup]

Phase 2+: page tasks (parallel)
├── Each prompt includes 5 Foundation References
└── Consume tokens — never create new values

Partition rules:

• Foundation owns: src/styles/, src/components/Layout.*, src/components/ui/
• Page tasks own: their page file + page-specific components only
• No page task may list a foundation-owned path in its files[]

Common mistake: Decomposing pages as independent Phase 1 tasks → each agent invents its own design.

Distinctive note (AI delegation): This skill focuses on decomposition producing machine-actionable delegation prompts: file partitions, explicit acceptance criteria, machine-friendly constraints (exact paths, line ranges, forbidden files). Output should be ready to paste into sub-agent prompt without additional human translation.

Load project-consistency skill for full Foundation Phase pattern, prompt templates, anti-patterns.