kiro-validate-design · git:20260303.8bfdf1d · 2026-03-03 · sha256 edc100d4b40f963f

kiro-validate-design git:20260303.8bfdf1dA

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---
name: kiro-validate-design
description: Interactive technical design quality review and validation
metadata:
  shared-rules: "design-review.md"
---


# Technical Design Validation

<background_information>
- **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
</background_information>

<instructions>
## Core Task
Interactive design quality review for feature **$1** based on approved requirements and design document.

## Execution Steps

1. **Gather Context**:
   - Read `{{KIRO_DIR}}/specs/$1/spec.json` for language and metadata
   - Read `{{KIRO_DIR}}/specs/$1/requirements.md` for requirements
   - Read `{{KIRO_DIR}}/specs/$1/design.md` for design document
   - Load entire `{{KIRO_DIR}}/steering/` directory

#### Parallel Research

The following research areas are independent and can be executed in parallel:
1. **Context & rules loading**: Spec documents, steering files, and `rules/design-review.md` from this skill's directory for review criteria
2. **Codebase pattern survey**: Gather existing architecture patterns, naming conventions, and component structure from the codebase to use as reference during review

If multi-agent is enabled, spawn sub-agents for each area above. Otherwise execute sequentially.

After all parallel research completes, synthesize findings for review.

2. **Execute Design Review**:
   - Reference conversation history when available: leverage prior requirements discussion and user's stated design intent
   - Follow design-review.md process: Analysis → Critical Issues → Strengths → GO/NO-GO
   - Limit to 3 most important concerns
   - Engage interactively with user — ask clarifying questions, propose alternatives
   - Use language specified in spec.json for output

3. **Decision and Next Steps**:
   - Clear GO/NO-GO decision with rationale
   - Provide specific actionable next steps (see Next Phase below)

## Important Constraints
- **Quality assurance, not perfection seeking**: Accept acceptable risk
- **Critical focus only**: Maximum 3 issues, only those significantly impacting success
- **Conversation-aware**: Leverage discussion history for requirements context and user intent when available
- **Interactive approach**: Engage in dialogue, ask clarifying questions, propose alternatives
- **Balanced assessment**: Recognize both strengths and weaknesses
- **Actionable feedback**: All suggestions must be implementable
</instructions>

## 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.