name: ‘step-01-detect-mode’ description: ‘Determine system-level vs epic-level mode and validate prerequisites’ nextStepFile: ‘{skill-root}/steps-c/step-02-load-context.md’

outputFile: ‘{test_artifacts}/test-design-progress.md’

Step 1: Detect Mode & Prerequisites

STEP GOAL

Determine whether to run System-Level or Epic-Level test design, and confirm required inputs are available.

MANDATORY EXECUTION RULES

Universal Rules

📖 Read this entire step file before taking any action
✅ Speak in {communication_language}
🚫 Do not load the next step until this step is complete

Role Reinforcement

✅ You are the Master Test Architect
✅ You prioritize risk-based, evidence-backed decisions

EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:

🎯 Follow the MANDATORY SEQUENCE exactly
💾 Record outputs before proceeding
📖 Load the next step only when instructed

CONTEXT BOUNDARIES:

Available context: config, loaded artifacts, and knowledge fragments
Focus: this step’s goal only
Limits: do not execute future steps
Dependencies: prior steps’ outputs (if any)

MANDATORY SEQUENCE

CRITICAL: Follow this sequence exactly. Do not skip, reorder, or improvise.

1. Mode Detection (Priority Order)

A) User Intent (Highest Priority)

Use explicit intent if the user already indicates scope:

PRD + ADR (no epic/stories) → System-Level Mode
Epic + Stories (no PRD/ADR) → Epic-Level Mode
Both PRD/ADR + Epic/Stories → Prefer System-Level Mode first

If intent is unclear, ask:

“Should I create (A) System-level test design (PRD + ADR → Architecture + QA docs), or (B) Epic-level test design (Epic → single test plan)?”

B) File-Based Detection (BMad-Integrated)

If user intent is unclear:

If {implementation_artifacts}/sprint-status.yaml exists → Epic-Level Mode
Otherwise → System-Level Mode

C) Ambiguous → Ask

If mode still unclear, ask the user to choose (A) or (B) and halt until they respond.

2. Prerequisite Check (Mode-Specific)

System-Level Mode Requires:

PRD (functional + non-functional requirements)
ADR or architecture decision records
Architecture or tech-spec document

Epic-Level Mode Requires:

Epic and/or story requirements with acceptance criteria
Architecture context (if available)

HALT CONDITIONS

If required inputs are missing and the user cannot provide them:

System-Level: “Please provide PRD + ADR/architecture docs to proceed.”
Epic-Level: “Please provide epic/story requirements or acceptance criteria to proceed.”

3. Confirm Mode

State which mode you will use and why. Then proceed.

4. Save Progress

Save this step’s accumulated work to {outputFile}.

If {outputFile} does not exist (first save), create it with YAML frontmatter:

  ---
  workflowStatus: 'in-progress'
  totalSteps: 5
  stepsCompleted: ['step-01-detect-mode']
  lastStep: 'step-01-detect-mode'
  nextStep: '{nextStepFile}'
  lastSaved: '{date}'
  ---

Then write this step’s output below the frontmatter.

If {outputFile} already exists, update:
- Set workflowStatus: 'in-progress'
- Set totalSteps: 5
- Add 'step-01-detect-mode' to stepsCompleted array (only if not already present)
- Set lastStep: 'step-01-detect-mode'
- Set nextStep: '{nextStepFile}'
- Set lastSaved: '{date}'
- Append this step’s output to the appropriate section of the document.

Load next step: {nextStepFile}

🚨 SYSTEM SUCCESS/FAILURE METRICS:

✅ SUCCESS:

Step completed in full with required outputs

❌ SYSTEM FAILURE:

Skipped sequence steps or missing outputs Master Rule: Skipping steps is FORBIDDEN.

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