coalesce-labs/create-workflow

Create Workflow

You are tasked with helping users create new agents or commands by leveraging discovered patterns, templates, and examples from the workflow catalog.

Purpose

This command guides users through creating well-structured, standardized workflows by showing relevant examples and enforcing frontmatter consistency.

Initial Response

When invoked:

I'll help you create a new agent or command.

What would you like to create?
1. Agent (for Task tool sub-agents)
2. Command (for slash commands)

Or provide details:
- Name: (e.g., code-reviewer, test-generator)
- Purpose: (brief description)
- Similar to: (optional - name of existing workflow to model after)

Process

Step 1: Gather Requirements

Ask the user:

1. Type: Agent or Command?
2. Name: What should it be called? (suggest kebab-case)
3. Purpose: What does it do?
4. Tools needed: Which Claude Code tools will it use?
5. Category: Which category does it belong to?
6. Similar workflows: Any existing workflows to model after?

Step 2: Parallel Example Research

IMPORTANT: Spawn 3 parallel tasks to gather comprehensive examples.

Use TodoWrite to track parallel research.

Task 1 - Local Examples:

Use codebase-pattern-finder agent:
"Find all {agents/commands} in our workspace that are similar to {user-description}. Focus on {category} workflows. Return file paths and brief descriptions."

Tools: Glob, Grep, Read
Path: $(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/plugins/
Return: List of similar local workflows with their frontmatter and key patterns

Task 2 - Catalog Examples:

Use thoughts-analyzer agent:
"Search the workflow catalog at thoughts/shared/workflows/ for workflows similar to {user-description}. Find examples from external repositories that match the {category} category."

Tools: Grep, Read
Path: thoughts/shared/workflows/
Return: External workflow examples with their implementations

Task 3 - Frontmatter Standards:

Use codebase-analyzer agent:
"Analyze all existing {agents/commands} in the workspace to extract the frontmatter standard. What fields are required? What patterns are used? What categories exist?"

Tools: Glob, Grep, Read
Path: $(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/plugins/
Return: Frontmatter standard with field definitions and examples

WAIT for all 3 tasks to complete.

Step 3: Aggregate Examples

Combine results from parallel tasks:

• Local examples (Task 1)
• Catalog examples (Task 2)
• Frontmatter standards (Task 3)

Mark all tasks complete in TodoWrite.

Analyze:

1. Common patterns: What do similar workflows do?
2. Tool usage: Which tools are typically used?
3. Structure: How are they organized?
4. Frontmatter: What's the standard format?

Step 4: Present Options to User

Show analysis and options:

# Create {workflow-type}: {name}

## Similar Workflows Found

### From Our Workspace

1. **{local-workflow-1}**
   - Purpose: {description}
   - Tools: {tools}
   - File: {path}

2. **{local-workflow-2}** [....]

### From Catalog

1. **{external-workflow-1}** (from {repo})
   - Purpose: {description}
   - Tools: {tools}

## Frontmatter Standard

Based on existing workflows, here's the standard format:

```yaml
---
{ required-fields }
---
```

Recommended Approach

Based on similar workflows, I recommend:

• Model after: {most-similar-workflow}
• Tools to use: {suggested-tools}
• Key patterns: {patterns-to-follow}

Would you like me to:

1. Generate a workflow based on {specific-example}
2. Create a custom workflow from scratch
3. Show me more examples first

### Step 5: Generate Workflow Template

Based on user selection, generate the appropriate template:

#### 5a. For Agents

```markdown
---
name: {workflow-name}
description: |
  {Clear description from user input}

  Use this agent when:
  - {use case 1}
  - {use case 2}

  This agent will:
  - {action 1}
  - {action 2}
tools: {validated-tool-list}
model: inherit
category: {selected-category}
version: 1.0.0
---

# {Agent Name}

You are a specialized agent for {purpose}.

## Your Role

{Detailed role description}

## Process

### Step 1: {First Step}

{Instructions for first step}

### Step 2: {Second Step}

{Instructions for second step}

[Continue with all steps...]

## Output Format

Return your findings in this format:

{Expected output structure}

## Important Notes

- {Guideline 1}
- {Guideline 2}
- {Guideline 3}

## Examples

### Example 1: {Scenario}

**Input**: {example input}
**Expected output**: {example output}

[More examples...]

5b. For Commands

---
description: { One-line summary }
category: { category }
argument-hint: { if applicable }
tools: { tool-list }
model: inherit
version: 1.0.0
---

# {Command Name}

You are tasked with {command purpose}.

## Purpose

{Detailed explanation of what this command does and why it exists}

## Initial Response

When invoked:

\`\`\` {Default message to show user} \`\`\`

## Process

### Step 1: {First Step Name}

{Instructions for first step}

### Step 2: {Second Step Name}

{Instructions for second step}

[Continue with all steps...]

## Configuration

This command uses configuration from `.catalyst/config.json`:

```json
{
  "catalyst": {
    "project": {
      "ticketPrefix": "PROJ"
    }
  }
}
```

Advanced Usage

{Advanced Feature 1}

{Example usage}

{Advanced Feature 2}

{Example usage}

Important Notes

• {Guideline 1}
• {Guideline 2}

Integration with Other Commands

• {Related command 1}: {How they work together}
• {Related command 2}: {How they work together}

Error Handling

{Common Error 1}

• {How to handle it}

{Common Error 2}

• {How to handle it}

### Step 6: Validate Template

Before showing to user, validate:

1. **Frontmatter**:
   - All required fields present?
   - Tools list valid?
   - Category matches existing categories?
   - Name in kebab-case?
   - Version starts at 1.0.0?

2. **Structure**:
   - Clear purpose statement?
   - Step-by-step process?
   - Output format specified (for agents)?
   - Error handling included?

3. **Consistency**:
   - Matches patterns from similar workflows?
   - Uses workspace conventions?
   - References config.json for project-specific values?

If validation fails, fix issues before proceeding.

### Step 7: Present Draft

Show the user the generated template:

```markdown
# Generated Workflow: {name}

I've created a draft based on {source-pattern}.

**Type**: {Agent/Command}
**File**: {target-path}

## Frontmatter
```yaml
{frontmatter}

Key Features

• {Feature 1}
• {Feature 2}
• {Feature 3}

Modeled After

• Local: {local-example if any}
• External: {catalog-example if any}

Would you like me to:

1. Save this workflow as-is
2. Make adjustments (specify what to change)
3. Show me alternative approaches

### Step 8: Iterate on Feedback

Be ready to adjust:
- Add/remove steps
- Change tools
- Adjust frontmatter
- Modify structure
- Add examples
- Update descriptions

Continue iterating until user is satisfied.

### Step 9: Save Workflow

Determine save location:

**If Agent**:
- Save to: `plugins/dev/agents/{workflow-name}.md`

**If Skill**:
- Save to: `plugins/dev/skills/{workflow-name}/SKILL.md`

### Step 10: Create Creation Record

Save creation details to `thoughts/shared/workflows/created.md`:

```markdown
## {workflow-name}

- **Created**: {date}
- **Type**: {agent/command}
- **Location**: {file-path}
- **Modeled After**:
  - {local-example if any}
  - {catalog-example if any}
- **Purpose**: {brief-description}
- **Tools**: {tool-list}
- **Category**: {category}

**Creation Notes**: {any special notes about decisions made}

Step 11: Confirmation

Present success summary:

✅ Workflow created successfully!

**Saved to**: {file-path}

**What's included**:

- Standardized frontmatter
- Clear step-by-step process
- {Type-specific features}
- Error handling guidelines

**Next steps**:

1. Review: `{file-path}`
2. Test: Try using the workflow
3. Customize: Adjust for your specific needs
4. Commit: `git add {file-path} && git commit -m "Add {workflow-name} {type}"`

Creation recorded in: thoughts/shared/workflows/created.md

Advanced Usage

Create from Catalog Entry

/catalyst-meta:create-workflow from catalog wshobson/commands/code-review

Creates a new workflow based on a specific catalog entry.

Create with Custom Template

/catalyst-meta:create-workflow agent data-analyzer --template minimal

Uses predefined templates:

• minimal: Basic structure only
• standard: Full featured (default)
• advanced: Includes sub-agent patterns

Quick Create

/catalyst-meta:create-workflow command quick-commit "Create conventional commits"

Skips interactive steps, uses defaults.

Templates

Minimal Agent Template

---
name: {name}
description: {description}
tools: Read, Grep
model: inherit
category: general
version: 1.0.0
---

# {Name}

You are a specialized agent for {purpose}.

## Process

[Your implementation]

## Output

Return: {what you return}

Minimal Command Template

---
description: {description}
category: general
tools: Read, Write
model: inherit
version: 1.0.0
---

# {Name}

You are tasked with {purpose}.

## Process

[Your implementation]

Categories

Standard categories found in workspace:

For Agents:

• research - Finding and analyzing information
• analysis - Deep code/data analysis
• search - Locating files/patterns
• execution - Running commands/operations
• validation - Checking and verifying
• general - Multi-purpose agents

For Commands:

• workflow - Development workflows
• planning - Planning and design
• implementation - Code changes
• validation - Testing and verification
• linear - Linear integration
• git - Version control
• workflow-discovery - Meta-workflows
• general - Miscellaneous

Frontmatter Field Reference

Required for All

• description: One-line summary (commands) or longer explanation (agents)
• tools: Array of Claude Code tools used
• model: Usually "inherit"
• version: Start with "1.0.0"

Agent-Specific

• name: Agent identifier in kebab-case
• category: Agent category from list above

Command-Specific

• category: Command category from list above
• argument-hint: (optional) Hint for command arguments

Optional for Both

• source: URL of origin if imported/adapted
• adapted: Date if modified from external source
• original-author: Credit for original creator

Important Notes

• Follow standards: Always use workspace frontmatter format
• Validate tools: Only reference tools that exist in Claude Code
• Check categories: Use existing categories when possible
• Kebab-case names: All workflow names should be kebab-case
• Clear descriptions: Make purpose immediately obvious
• Include examples: Show expected inputs/outputs for agents
• Error handling: Always include error scenarios
• Configuration: Use .catalyst/config.json for project values

Integration with Other Commands

• Discover: /catalyst-meta:discover-workflows → find examples to model after
• Import: /catalyst-meta:import-workflow → import external workflow as starting point
• Create: /catalyst-meta:create-workflow (this command) → create new workflow
• Validate: /catalyst-meta:validate-frontmatter → ensure consistency

Error Handling

No Similar Workflows Found

• Show general templates
• Ask for more details about desired functionality
• Suggest browsing catalog manually

Invalid Tool References

• List available tools
• Suggest alternatives
• Ask if should proceed without unavailable tools

Category Mismatch

• Show list of existing categories
• Suggest closest match
• Allow creating new category if justified

Name Collision

• Detect existing workflow with same name
• Suggest alternative names
• Ask: Rename / Replace / Cancel?

This command helps you create high-quality workflows following workspace standards!