Phase 0: Spike - Autonomous TDD Workflow ✅ COMPLETE

Objective

Validate feasibility and build foundational understanding before full implementation.

Status

COMPLETED - All deliverables implemented and validated.

See apps/cli/src/commands/autopilot.command.ts for implementation.

Scope

• Implement CLI skeleton tm autopilot with dry-run mode
• Show planned steps from a real task with subtasks
• Detect test runner from package.json
• Detect git state and render preflight report

Deliverables

1. CLI Command Skeleton

• Create apps/cli/src/commands/autopilot.command.ts
• Support tm autopilot <taskId> command
• Implement --dry-run flag
• Basic help text and usage information

2. Preflight Detection System

• Detect test runner from package.json (npm test, pnpm test, etc.)
• Check git working tree state (clean/dirty)
• Validate required tools are available (git, gh, node/npm)
• Detect default branch

3. Dry-Run Execution Plan Display

Display planned execution for a task including:

• Preflight checks status
• Branch name that would be created
• Tag that would be set
• List of subtasks in execution order
• For each subtask:
  • RED phase: test file that would be created
  • GREEN phase: implementation files that would be modified
  • COMMIT: commit message that would be used
• Finalization steps: test suite run, coverage check, push, PR creation

4. Task Loading & Validation

• Load task from TaskMaster state
• Validate task exists and has subtasks
• If no subtasks, show message about needing to expand first
• Show dependency order for subtasks

Example Output

$ tm autopilot 42 --dry-run

Autopilot Plan for Task #42 [analytics]: User metrics tracking
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Preflight Checks:
  ✓ Working tree is clean
  ✓ Test command detected: npm test
  ✓ Tools available: git, gh, node, npm
  ✓ Current branch: main (will create new branch)
  ✓ Task has 3 subtasks ready to execute

Branch & Tag:
  → Will create branch: analytics/task-42-user-metrics
  → Will set active tag: analytics

Execution Plan (3 subtasks):

  1. Subtask 42.1: Add metrics schema
     RED:    Generate tests → src/__tests__/schema.test.js
     GREEN:  Implement code → src/schema.js
     COMMIT: "feat(metrics): add metrics schema (task 42.1)"

  2. Subtask 42.2: Add collection endpoint [depends on 42.1]
     RED:    Generate tests → src/api/__tests__/metrics.test.js
     GREEN:  Implement code → src/api/metrics.js
     COMMIT: "feat(metrics): add collection endpoint (task 42.2)"

  3. Subtask 42.3: Add dashboard widget [depends on 42.2]
     RED:    Generate tests → src/components/__tests__/MetricsWidget.test.jsx
     GREEN:  Implement code → src/components/MetricsWidget.jsx
     COMMIT: "feat(metrics): add dashboard widget (task 42.3)"

Finalization:
  → Run full test suite with coverage (threshold: 80%)
  → Push branch to origin (will confirm)
  → Create PR targeting main

Estimated commits: 3
Estimated duration: ~20-30 minutes (depends on implementation complexity)

Run without --dry-run to execute.

Success Criteria

• Dry-run output is clear and matches expected workflow
• Preflight detection works correctly on the project repo
• Task loading integrates with existing TaskMaster state
• No actual git operations or file modifications occur in dry-run mode

Out of Scope

• Actual test generation
• Actual code implementation
• Git operations (branch creation, commits, push)
• PR creation
• Test execution

Implementation Notes

• Reuse existing TaskService from packages/tm-core
• Use existing git utilities from scripts/modules/utils/git-utils.js
• Load task/subtask data from .taskmaster/tasks/tasks.json
• Detect test command via package.json → scripts.test field

Dependencies

• Existing TaskMaster CLI structure
• Existing task storage format
• Git utilities

Estimated Effort

2-3 days

Validation

Test dry-run mode with:

• Task with 1 subtask
• Task with multiple subtasks
• Task with dependencies between subtasks
• Task without subtasks (should show warning)
• Dirty git working tree (should warn)
• Missing tools (should error with helpful message)