---
artifact_schema_version: 1
artifact_type: workflow
workflow_id: slice-agent-lifecycle-guide
---

# Slice Agent Lifecycle Guide

Use this guide when the user wants an agent to work at slice scope across multiple phases.

This file is intentionally a stub. Slice-level lifecycle rules should be documented after lower-layer lifecycle contracts are stable.

## Agent Orientation Command

`<day-shift-cli> agent` is the read-only agent orientation command. Use it at the start of an automation-agent session to show the repository contract, entrypoint guidance, and command envelope before the agent chooses workflow-specific commands.

`agent orient` is the full-orientation alias, and `agent remind` is the shorter correction-focused reminder for sessions that have drifted from the repository contract.

## Intended Scope

- slice startup and source-spec selection
- phase ordering and dependency review
- cross-phase execution boundaries
- slice-level reporting and handoff

## Inputs

Expected inputs will include:

- slice overview artifact path (`slice-overview.md` for new canonical artifacts, or supported legacy `overview.md`)
- source spec references
- run mode such as `plan`, `readiness-only`, `implement`, or `review`

## Prompts

- `.day-shift/prompts/user/slice.next.md`: canonical slice-to-phase handoff prompt
- `.day-shift/prompts/user/slice.review.md`: canonical slice-layer review prompt
- `.day-shift/prompts/user/slice.recertify.md`: canonical slice-layer lifecycle hygiene prompt
- `.day-shift/prompts/user/phase.next.md`: canonical phase-to-milestone handoff prompt
- `.day-shift/prompts/user/phase.review.md`: canonical phase-layer review prompt
- `.day-shift/prompts/user/phase.recertify.md`: canonical phase-layer lifecycle hygiene prompt

The slice lifecycle should use slice-layer prompts first, phase-layer prompts for active phase work, and lower-layer prompts only through delegated phase or milestone lifecycles. Use recertify prompts when an existing artifact may be stale before advancing, reviewing, executing, or relying on it; recertification remains read-only unless a separate explicit write request follows.

## Planned Lifecycle Shape

The eventual guide should cover:

- before: slice setup, spec validation, phase inventory, dependency checks
- during: phase prioritization, escalation rules, cross-phase drift handling
- after: slice-level review, remaining work classification, next-step reporting

## Current Status

Not yet documented beyond stub level. Use lower-layer workflow files for concrete execution until slice-level lifecycle guidance is documented.
