Workflow State Patterns Skill

Workflow State Patterns

Multi-phase workflows need phase enforcement, session continuity, and quality gates. This pattern uses file-based state + hooks.

Quick Start

Define phases: analyze → plan → execute → verify
Create state files on phase completion: .workflow-phase-done
Add PreToolUse hooks to check required state files
Add PostToolUse hooks to create state files

Core Concept

Phase 1 → [POST HOOK] → .analysis-done
Phase 2 → [POST HOOK] → .plan-approved
Phase 3 → [PRE HOOK checks] → [POST HOOK] → .execution-done
Phase 4 → PASS: cleanup all / FAIL: preserve for retry

State Files

| File | Purpose | |------|---------| | .{workflow}-analysis-done | Unlocks planning | | .{workflow}-plan-approved | Unlocks execution | | .{workflow}-execution-done | Marks modification complete | | .{workflow}-audit-passed | Final success marker |

Hook Template (Claude Code 1.0.40+)

{
  "hooks": {
    "PreToolUse": [{
      "matcher": "Task",
      "hooks": [{
        "type": "command",
        "command": "python3 scripts/workflow-gate.py",
        "timeout": 5
      }]
    }]
  }
}

Gate script checks tool_input.subagent_type and state files.

Best Practices

Prefix state files - .refactor-*, .migration-*
gitignore state files - Don't commit workflow state
Clean up on success - Remove all state files on completion
Preserve on failure - Keep state for retry capability

References

Complete Workflow Example - Full 4-phase implementation
Hook Details - Detailed hook configurations

Agent Skills: Workflow State Patterns

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