Cycle

What is a Cycle?

A structured workflow optimized for a specific goal. Examples:

• code — Request → Plan → Execute → Verify → Deliver
• research — Question → Search → Synthesize → Report
• content — Idea → Draft → Critique → Refine → Publish

When to Propose

• User repeats similar multi-step processes
• Current workflow has inefficiencies or skipped steps
• User asks "how should I approach X every time?"

Design Process

1. Goal — What does this cycle produce? Be specific.
2. Map — How does user currently do it? Where do they get stuck?
3. Phases — 3-6 sequential steps with clear input/output each
4. Handoffs — Automatic, gated (needs user), or conditional
5. Memory — Preferences, patterns, things to avoid

Check discovery.md for questions to ask users when designing.

Phase Structure

Each phase needs: clear input → output, validation before proceeding, can delegate to sub-agent.

Check implementation.md for how to structure cycle skills.

Cycle vs Loop

They combine: cycles can use loops within phases. Check examples.md for cycle patterns.

Related: For iterating until success criteria are met (same action repeated), see the loop skill.