development-flow-loop

A stage-gated development workflow enforces explicit deliverables and review checkpoints at each transition, from planning to launch. This prevents requirements drift by ensuring each stage satisfies objectives before proceeding to the next phase.

To guide a feature from planning to launch, apply an iterative loop across planning, architecture, implementation, testing, and release stages. Ensure every stage gate is satisfied with explicit success criteria before moving to the next phase.

Yes, you can use this workflow for system refactors and automation integrations. It applies a deterministic path with incremental delivery and auditability across all coding tasks, including features and system work.

The best way to ensure quality and traceability is to codify stages with defined artifacts and ownership per phase. Iterative review checkpoints enforce accountability, requiring targeted tests to pass before a stable release.

If a stage gate review fails, the workflow enforces an iterative loop through Fix, Test, and Improve stages. The transition cannot proceed until the implementation satisfies the explicit success criteria for that gate.