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

Cycle	Loop
Different phases in sequence	Same action repeated
Produces complete output	Refines until criteria
Design once, use many times	Created per task

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

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