Apex methodology

Current Task: $ARGUMENTS

APEX Methodology Skill

Analyze → Plan → Execute → eLicit → eXamine

Complete development workflow for features, fixes, and refactoring.

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Step 0: Initialize Tracking (MANDATORY FIRST ACTION)

BEFORE anything else, initialize APEX tracking — see references/init-tracking.md for the exact command.

This creates .claude/apex/task.json (documentation consultation status) and .claude/apex/docs/ (consulted documentation summaries). The PreToolUse hooks will BLOCK Write/Edit until documentation is consulted.

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Workflow Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     APEX WORKFLOW                               │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  00-init-branch     → Create feature branch                     │
│  00.5-brainstorm    → Design-first questioning (B) ← NEW        │
│  01-analyze-code    → Understand codebase (A)                   │
│  02-features-plan   → Plan implementation (P)                   │
│  03-execution       → Write code with TDD (E) ← UPDATED        │
│  03.5-elicit        → Expert self-review (L)                    │
│  03.7-verification  → Functional resolution check (V) ← NEW    │
│  04-validation      → Verify quality (X)                        │
│  05-review          → Self-review                               │
│  06-fix-issue       → Handle issues                             │
│  07-add-test        → Write tests (TDD cycle)                   │
│  08-check-test      → Run tests                                 │
│  09-create-pr       → Create Pull Request                       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Skills Integration

Phase	Skill	Invocation
00.5	brainstorming	Questions → alternatives → design doc → approval
03	tdd	RED (test) → GREEN (code) → REFACTOR cycle
03.7	verification	Re-read request → check criteria → confirm resolution

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Phase References

Phase	File	Purpose
00	references/00-init-branch.md	Create feature branch
01	references/01-analyze-code.md	Explore + Research (APEX A)
02	references/02-features-plan.md	TaskCreate planning (APEX P)
03	references/03-execution.md	Implementation (APEX E)
03.5	references/03.5-elicit.md	Expert self-review (APEX L) ← NEW
04	references/04-validation.md	sniper validation (APEX X)
05	references/05-review.md	Self-review checklist
06	references/06-fix-issue.md	Fix validation/review issues
07	references/07-add-test.md	Write unit/integration tests
08	references/08-check-test.md	Run and verify tests
09	references/09-create-pr.md	Create and merge PR

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Core Rules

File Size (ABSOLUTE)

🚨 STOP at 90 lines → Split immediately
❌ NEVER exceed 100 lines
📊 Target: 50-80 lines per file

Interface Location

✅ src/interfaces/     (global)
✅ src/types/          (type definitions)
✅ Contracts/          (PHP/Laravel)
❌ NEVER in component files

Agent Usage

01-analyze:  explore-codebase + research-expert (PARALLEL)
04-validate: sniper (MANDATORY after ANY change)

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NEVER

❌ Skip explore-codebase or research-expert
❌ Assume API syntax without verification
❌ Create files >100 lines
❌ Put interfaces in component files
❌ Skip sniper after changes
❌ Merge without tests
❌ Large PRs (>400 lines)

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Detailed References (Load on Demand)

• references/init-tracking.md — Load when running Step 0 (the exact tracking-init command)
• references/phases-explained.md — Load when you need the full explanation of each APEX phase (A/P/E/V/X)
• references/branching-strategy.md — Load when creating or naming branches
• references/commit-conventions.md — Load when writing commit messages
• references/quick-start-flows.md — Load when you need the full step-by-step Standard Feature / Bug Fix / Hotfix flows
• references/flow-diagram.md — Load when you want the full ASCII flow diagram of the workflow
• references/validation-requirements.md — Load when running the pre-PR / code-quality checklist
• references/pr-guidelines.md — Load when writing a PR title or description
• references/language-detection.md — Load when auto-detecting project type or navigating framework-specific reference directories