claude-caliper-workflow

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The Problem

Many claude workflows are either improperly context engineered, overly complicated, or don't understand how to effectively use AI agents. This tool tries to be different. We don't lock Claude in a box, but we have fresh agents check work as it goes to ensure perfection.

The Fix

Install claude-caliper. Describe what you want to build. Walk away.

The plugin installs 11 skills that fire automatically at the right moment, enforcing a full development workflow: design before plan, plan before code, test before merge. You make three decisions — approve the design, review the PR, and confirm the merge — and everything between runs as a chain of fresh subagents with zero manual handoffs.

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What a Session Looks Like

You say:

"Add rate limiting middleware with per-route config and 429 responses with retry-after headers"

Then the pipeline runs:

Step	What happens	Who
1	Claude challenges your assumptions, proposes 2-3 approaches with trade-offs	You + Claude
2	You approve a design	You
3	Design review validates the doc against a 9-point checklist	Fresh subagent
4	Draft plan writes tasks with exact file paths, TDD steps, verification commands	Fresh subagent
5	Plan review catches vague steps, missing paths, design-plan drift	Fresh subagent
6	Orchestrator spawns one agent team teammate per task (parallel within phase), each running RED-GREEN-REFACTOR	Agent team teammates
7	Per-task reviewer checks each task; fixes sent back to the original implementer via messaging	Fresh subagents
8	Implementation review does a cross-task holistic pass	Fresh subagent
9	Create PR opens a PR	Automated
10	You review the PR and run /pr-review	You
11	PR reviewer reads the diff cold before any external feedback	Subagent
12	Fixes applied, feedback addressed	Automated
13	You run /pr-merge — squash merge, branch cleaned up	You

Steps 3-9 run without any input from you.

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How It Works

%%{init: {'flowchart': {'nodeSpacing': 15, 'rankSpacing': 25}}}%%
flowchart TD
    A([You: describe a feature]) --> B[design]
    B --> BR[design-review]
    BR --> C([You: approve design])
    C --> D[draft-plan]
    D --> DR[plan-review]

    DR --> T1[Task 1]
    DR --> T2[Task 2]
    DR --> TN[Task N]

    T1 --> R1[Review]
    T2 --> R2[Review]
    TN --> RN[Review]

    R1 & R2 & RN --> IR[implementation-review]
    IR --> S[pr-create]
    S --> M([You: review PR])
    M --> MR[pr-review]
    MR --> MP([You: merge])
    MP --> MG[pr-merge]

    style A    fill:#3b82f6,stroke:#2563eb,color:#fff
    style B    fill:#8b5cf6,stroke:#7c3aed,color:#fff
    style BR   fill:#eab308,stroke:#ca8a04,color:#000
    style C    fill:#3b82f6,stroke:#2563eb,color:#fff
    style D    fill:#8b5cf6,stroke:#7c3aed,color:#fff
    style DR   fill:#eab308,stroke:#ca8a04,color:#000
    style T1   fill:#f97316,stroke:#ea580c,color:#fff
    style T2   fill:#f97316,stroke:#ea580c,color:#fff
    style TN   fill:#f97316,stroke:#ea580c,color:#fff
    style R1   fill:#eab308,stroke:#ca8a04,color:#000
    style R2   fill:#eab308,stroke:#ca8a04,color:#000
    style RN   fill:#eab308,stroke:#ca8a04,color:#000
    style IR   fill:#eab308,stroke:#ca8a04,color:#000
    style S    fill:#22c55e,stroke:#16a34a,color:#fff
    style M    fill:#3b82f6,stroke:#2563eb,color:#fff
    style MR   fill:#eab308,stroke:#ca8a04,color:#000
    style MP   fill:#3b82f6,stroke:#2563eb,color:#fff
    style MG   fill:#22c55e,stroke:#16a34a,color:#fff

^{Blue = human decisions (3 total) · Purple = creative work · Orange = TDD implementation · Yellow = review gates · Green = shipping}

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Quick Start

1. Install

/plugin marketplace add nikhilsitaram/claude-caliper
/plugin install claude-caliper@claude-caliper

Restart Claude Code.

2. Use

Start a new session and describe something you want to build. The design skill fires automatically — no slash commands needed.

3. Verify

If Claude immediately starts discussing approaches and trade-offs instead of writing code, the plugin is working.