sar/_bmad/tea/workflows/testarch/README.md

TEA Workflow Step Files

This folder contains the Test Architect (TEA) workflows converted to skill-driven step-file architecture for strict LLM compliance. Each workflow is tri-modal (create, edit, validate) and uses small, ordered step files routed from SKILL.md instead of a single monolithic instruction file.

Why Step Files

• Enforces sequential execution and prevents improvisation
• Keeps context small and focused per step
• Makes validation and edits deterministic

Standard Layout (per workflow)

<workflow>/
├── SKILL.md                # Canonical entrypoint and mode routing
├── customize.toml          # Workflow customization surface
├── workflow-plan.md        # Design reference for step order and intent
├── workflow.yaml           # Installer metadata
├── instructions.md         # Short entrypoint / summary
├── checklist.md            # Validation criteria for outputs
├── steps-c/                # Create mode steps
├── steps-e/                # Edit mode steps
├── steps-v/                # Validate mode steps
├── templates/              # Output templates (if applicable)
└── validation-report-*.md  # Validator outputs (latest run)

Modes

• Create (steps-c/): Primary execution flow to generate outputs
• Edit (steps-e/): Structured edits to existing outputs
• Validate (steps-v/): Checklist-based validation of outputs

Execution Rules (Summary)

• Load one step at a time. Do not preload future steps.
• Follow the MANDATORY SEQUENCE exactly in each step.
• Do not skip steps, reorder, or improvise.
• If a step writes outputs, do so before loading the next step.

Step Naming Conventions

• step-01-*.md is the init step (no menus unless explicitly required).
• step-01b-*.md is a continuation/resume step if the workflow is continuable.
• step-0X-*.md are sequential create-mode steps.
• steps-v/step-01-validate.md is the validate mode entrypoint.
• steps-e/step-01-assess.md is the edit mode entrypoint.

Validation

• Each workflow has a latest validation-report-*.md in its folder.
• Validation uses the BMad Builder workflow validator (workflow-builder).
• The goal is 100% compliance with no warnings.

References

• Step-file architecture: docs/explanation/step-file-architecture.md
• Subagent patterns: docs/explanation/subagent-architecture.md

TEA Workflows

• teach-me-testing
• test-design
• framework
• ci
• atdd
• automate
• test-review
• nfr-assess
• trace

Notes

• SKILL.md is the canonical entrypoint. instructions.md is a short summary for quick context.
• customize.toml defines activation hooks, persistent facts, and the optional on_complete hook.
• Output files typically use {test_artifacts} or {project-root} variables.
• If a workflow produces multiple artifacts (e.g., system-level vs epic-level), the step file will specify which templates and output paths to use.