# Task Orchestration Protocols (`tasks/path.md`)

This index maps out the standardized engineering workflow and action protocols
in the `tasks/` directory.

---

## 🔄 The 4-Step Engineering Lifecycle

The standard task pipeline follows a strict, sequential 4-step lifecycle:

```
[1. plan] ──► [2. audit-1] ──► [3. do] ──► [4. audit-2]
```

| Step  | Protocol File                      | Role           | Purpose                                        | Direct Command            | Prompt Prep Command                |
| :---: | :--------------------------------- | :------------- | :--------------------------------------------- | :------------------------ | :--------------------------------- |
| **1** | [`tasks/plan.md`](./plan.md)       | System Analyst | Research codebase & draft task in `tasks/new/` | _"tasks/plan XYZ"_        | _"tasks/plan a prompt for Jules"_  |
| **2** | [`tasks/audit-1.md`](./audit-1.md) | Plan Critic    | Audit, grade, and refine task plan             | _"tasks/audit-1 task #1"_ | _"tasks/audit-1 prompt for Jules"_ |
| **3** | [`tasks/do.md`](./do.md)           | Developer      | Execute task, run gates, move to `complete/`   | _"tasks/do task #1"_      | _"tasks/do a prompt for Jules"_    |
| **4** | [`tasks/audit-2.md`](./audit-2.md) | QA Auditor     | Audit code quality & verify zero regressions   | _"tasks/audit-2 branch"_  | _"tasks/audit-2 prompt for Jules"_ |

---

## 🔬 Standalone / On-Demand Protocol

Use this protocol out-of-band at any time to diagnose complex bugs or anomalies
without modifying production code.

| Protocol File                  | Role         | Purpose                                         | Direct Command        | Prompt Prep Command                |
| :----------------------------- | :----------- | :---------------------------------------------- | :-------------------- | :--------------------------------- |
| [`tasks/debug.md`](./debug.md) | Investigator | Root-cause analysis & experiments in `scratch/` | _"tasks/debug issue"_ | _"tasks/debug a prompt for Jules"_ |

---

## 📋 Task File Formatting & Naming Rules

For exact task file naming conventions, sequence numbering, and
`# TASK METADATA` header requirements, refer to
[`tasks/GUIDELINES.md`](./GUIDELINES.md).