Feature Design Skill

Purpose

This skill provides systematic guidance for designing software architecture, API contracts, data models, and workflows based on analyzed requirements.

When to Use

• After requirements analysis is complete
• Need to design technical architecture for a feature
• Defining API contracts and data structures
• Planning module interactions and data flows
• Before starting implementation

Design Workflow

1. Architecture Design

Choose Architectural Pattern: Review architecture-patterns.md for appropriate patterns:

• Layered Architecture: UI → Business Logic → Data Access
• Modular Architecture: Cohesive modules with clear interfaces
• Event-Driven: Message-based communication
• Microservices: Independent, deployable services (if applicable)

For This Project (Python):

• Follow existing structure: src/tools/, src/core/, src/utils/
• Use dependency injection for testability
• Keep files under 500 lines (split if needed)
• Maintain single responsibility principle

Define Components:

Component Name: <name>
Responsibility: <what it does>
Dependencies: <what it needs>
Interfaces: <public API>

Deliverable: Component diagram with responsibilities

2. Data Model Design

Define Entities:

• Identify domain entities from requirements
• Define attributes and types
• Specify relationships (one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many)
• Define validation rules
• Consider data lifecycle (CRUD operations)

For Python Projects:

from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
from typing import Optional, List
from datetime import datetime

class EntityModel(BaseModel):
    """Entity description."""
    id: Optional[int] = None
    name: str = Field(..., min_length=1, max_length=255)
    created_at: datetime = Field(default_factory=datetime.utcnow)

    class Config:
        """Pydantic configuration."""
        validate_assignment = True

Deliverable: Data models with Pydantic schemas

3. API Design

Design API Contracts: Refer to api-design-guide.md for best practices

REST API Pattern:

Resource: /api/v1/resources
Methods:
  GET    /resources        - List resources
  GET    /resources/{id}   - Get single resource
  POST   /resources        - Create resource
  PUT    /resources/{id}   - Update resource (full)
  PATCH  /resources/{id}   - Update resource (partial)
  DELETE /resources/{id}   - Delete resource

Request Body:
  {
    "field1": "value",
    "field2": 123
  }

Response Body:
  {
    "data": {...},
    "meta": {
      "timestamp": "2025-01-15T10:30:00Z",
      "version": "1.0"
    }
  }

Error Response:
  {
    "error": {
      "code": "VALIDATION_ERROR",
      "message": "Field validation failed",
      "details": [...]
    }
  }

For Internal APIs (Python Functions/Methods):

def process_feature(
    input_data: InputModel,
    options: Optional[ProcessOptions] = None
) -> ProcessResult:
    """
    Process feature with given input.

    Args:
        input_data: Input data model
        options: Optional processing options

    Returns:
        ProcessResult with outcome

    Raises:
        ValidationError: If input is invalid
        ProcessError: If processing fails
    """
    pass

Deliverable: API specification with request/response formats

4. Data Flow Design

Map Data Flows:

• Input sources (user input, API, database, file)
• Processing steps (validation, transformation, business logic)
• Output destinations (response, database, file, external service)
• Error paths and handling

Sequence Diagram Format:

User → API Endpoint → Validator → Business Logic → Repository → Database
                          ↓             ↓              ↓
                      ValidationError  BusinessError  DatabaseError
                          ↓             ↓              ↓
                      Error Handler → Error Response → User

Deliverable: Sequence diagrams for key workflows

5. Module Interaction Design

Define Module Boundaries:

• Interfaces: Public API contracts (abstract classes, protocols)
• Core Logic: Business logic implementation
• Utilities: Helper functions (pure, stateless)
• Data Access: Repository pattern for persistence

Python Module Structure:

src/tools/feature_name/
├── __init__.py           # Public exports
├── models.py             # Pydantic models
├── interfaces.py         # Abstract interfaces
├── core.py               # Core business logic
├── repository.py         # Data access layer
├── validators.py         # Input validation
├── utils.py              # Helper functions
└── tests/
    ├── test_core.py
    ├── test_validators.py
    └── fixtures.py

Dependency Injection Pattern:

class FeatureService:
    """Service with injected dependencies."""

    def __init__(
        self,
        repository: FeatureRepository,
        validator: FeatureValidator
    ):
        self.repository = repository
        self.validator = validator

Deliverable: Module dependency graph

6. Error Handling Design

Define Error Hierarchy:

class FeatureError(Exception):
    """Base exception for feature."""
    pass

class ValidationError(FeatureError):
    """Input validation failed."""
    pass

class ProcessingError(FeatureError):
    """Processing failed."""
    pass

class NotFoundError(FeatureError):
    """Resource not found."""
    pass

Error Handling Strategy:

• Validate early (fail fast)
• Catch specific exceptions
• Log errors with context
• Return meaningful error messages
• Don't expose internal details

Deliverable: Error handling specification

7. Configuration Design

Externalize Configuration:

from pydantic_settings import BaseSettings

class FeatureConfig(BaseSettings):
    """Feature configuration from environment."""

    api_key: str
    timeout: int = 30
    max_retries: int = 3
    debug: bool = False

    class Config:
        env_prefix = "FEATURE_"
        case_sensitive = False

Configuration Sources:

1. Environment variables (highest priority)
2. .env files
3. Configuration files (JSON/YAML)
4. Default values (lowest priority)

Deliverable: Configuration specification

Output Format

Use the templates/architecture-doc.md template to generate:

# Architecture Design: [Feature Name]

## Overview
Brief description of the feature and design approach.

## Architecture Pattern
[Chosen pattern] with rationale.

## Component Design
### Component 1: [Name]
- **Responsibility**: [What it does]
- **Dependencies**: [What it needs]
- **Interface**: [Public API]

## Data Model
### Entity: [Name]
```python
class EntityModel(BaseModel):
    field: str

API Specification

Endpoint: [Method] [Path]

• Request: [Schema]
• Response: [Schema]
• Errors: [Error codes]

Data Flows

[Sequence diagrams or descriptions]

Module Structure

src/tools/feature/
├── ...

Error Handling

[Exception hierarchy and strategy]

Configuration

[Required configuration with defaults]

Testing Strategy

• Unit tests: [What to test]
• Integration tests: [What to test]
• Mocking strategy: [What to mock]

Security Considerations

[From security-checklist.md in analysis phase]

Performance Considerations

• Expected throughput: [N req/s]
• Response time: [< N ms]
• Resource usage: [Memory, CPU]

Implementation Notes

[Any specific guidance for implementation]

Open Questions

• Question 1
• Question 2

## Best Practices

**Architecture:**
- Prefer composition over inheritance
- Design for testability (dependency injection)
- Keep modules loosely coupled
- Follow SOLID principles
- Keep files under 500 lines

**Data Models:**
- Use Pydantic for validation
- Type hint everything
- Provide sensible defaults
- Document field constraints
- Consider backward compatibility

**APIs:**
- RESTful for external APIs
- Clear function signatures for internal APIs
- Consistent naming conventions
- Version APIs from the start
- Document all parameters and return values

**Error Handling:**
- Create specific exception types
- Log errors with sufficient context
- Don't catch exceptions you can't handle
- Provide actionable error messages
- Consider retry strategies

## Supporting Resources

- **architecture-patterns.md**: Common architectural patterns
- **api-design-guide.md**: API design best practices
- **templates/architecture-doc.md**: Output template

## Example Usage

```bash
# 1. Review analysis report from previous phase
Read docs/implementation/feature-name-analysis.md

# 2. Choose architecture pattern
Review architecture-patterns.md

# 3. Design data models
Create models.py with Pydantic schemas

# 4. Design API contracts
Use api-design-guide.md for REST/function APIs

# 5. Design module structure
Follow project conventions (src/tools/...)

# 6. Generate architecture document
Use templates/architecture-doc.md template

# 7. Review and validate
Check design meets requirements from analysis phase

Integration with Feature Implementation Flow

Input: Requirements analysis report Process: Systematic design using patterns and guidelines Output: Architecture document with specs Next Step: Implementation skill for coding

Design Review Checklist

Before proceeding to implementation:

• Architecture pattern chosen and justified
• All components identified with clear responsibilities
• Data models defined with Pydantic schemas
• API contracts specified (endpoints or function signatures)
• Data flows documented (sequence diagrams)
• Module structure follows project conventions
• Error handling strategy defined
• Configuration externalized
• Testing strategy outlined
• Security considerations addressed
• Performance requirements documented
• Design reviewed by peer (if applicable)
• Stakeholder sign-off (if required)