---
type: quick
task: 001
subsystem: documentation
tags: [gsd-patterns, reference, planning, context-engineering]

# Dependency graph
requires:
  - .claude directory (GSD framework files)
  - PROJECT.md, ROADMAP.md, REQUIREMENTS.md
provides:
  - gsd_reference/ directory (reference copy of .claude)
  - GSD_PATTERNS.md (pattern analysis and integration roadmap)
affects: [Phase 2 - Session Handoff, Phase 3 - Context Engineering, Phase 4 - Educational Integration]

# Tech tracking
tech-stack:
  added: []
  patterns:
    - "XML-structured instructions for semantic clarity"
    - "Context layering (stable → ephemeral)"
    - "Fresh context windows via export/import"
    - "Token budget management (50% rule)"
    - "Checkpoint patterns (human-verify, decision, human-action)"

key-files:
  created:
    - gsd_reference/ (89 files, reference copy of .claude)
    - .planning/GSD_PATTERNS.md (647 lines)
  modified: []

key-decisions:
  - "Adopt XML structure for LOOPS.md and CONTEXT.md (semantic clarity)"
  - "Use conservative token budgets for data engineering (20/40/50% vs 30/50/70%)"
  - "Apply checkpoint thinking to loop capture and session summary workflows"
  - "Organize session artifacts in .project/sessions/ with dated subdirectories"

patterns-established:
  - "Context layering: PROJECT_CONTEXT → LOOPS → CONTEXT → SESSION_SUMMARY"
  - "Progressive loading: start narrow (20%), expand deliberately (40%), stop at warning (50%)"
  - "Context decision audit trail: document 'why this scope?' in CONTEXT_DECISIONS.md"

# Metrics
duration: 12min
completed: 2026-01-19
---

# Quick Task 001: GSD Pattern Analysis and Reference Setup

**Comprehensive GSD pattern analysis (8 patterns) with phase-specific integration roadmap for session handoff and context engineering work**

## Performance

- **Duration:** 12 min
- **Started:** 2026-01-19T22:33:18Z
- **Completed:** 2026-01-19T22:45:00Z
- **Tasks:** 3
- **Files created:** 2 (gsd_reference dir, GSD_PATTERNS.md)

## Accomplishments

- Created gsd_reference/ directory with complete copy of .claude (89 files)
- Analyzed 8 core GSD patterns from glittercowboy/get-shit-done framework
- Documented pattern rationale and benefits for each pattern
- Created phase-specific integration roadmap for Phases 2, 3, and 4
- Provided concrete suggestions for template structure and context engineering

## Task Commits

1. **Task 1: Duplicate .claude to gsd_reference** - Already complete (3d20311, previous session)
2. **Tasks 2-3: GSD pattern analysis and integration roadmap** - `47478ea` (docs)

Note: Task 1 was completed in a previous session (commit 3d20311). This session completed Tasks 2 and 3.

## Files Created/Modified

- `gsd_reference/` - Complete reference copy of .claude directory (89 files)
  - agents/ (11 agent definitions)
  - commands/ (orchestrator commands)
  - get-shit-done/ (workflows, templates, references)
  - hooks/ (Claude Desktop integration)
  - settings.json
- `.planning/GSD_PATTERNS.md` - Comprehensive pattern analysis (647 lines)
  - 8 pattern analyses with rationale
  - Integration roadmap for Phases 2, 3, 4
  - Concrete suggestions for templates and workflows

## Decisions Made

**1. Adopt XML structure for semantic clarity**
- **Rationale:** LOOPS.md and CONTEXT.md will use XML elements (`<loop status="...">`, `<budget total="...">`) for agent parsing clarity
- **Impact:** Templates become more explicit, easier for agents to extract structured information
- **Alternative considered:** Pure markdown - rejected due to ambiguous parsing

**2. Use conservative token budgets for data engineering**
- **Rationale:** Data engineering reasoning (model dependencies, SQL semantics, impact analysis) requires more cognitive overhead than typical coding
- **Thresholds:** 20% (comfortable), 40% (deliberate), 50% (warning/stop) vs GSD's 30/50/70%
- **Impact:** Phase 3 context engineering patterns will enforce stricter budget management

**3. Apply checkpoint thinking to loop capture**
- **Rationale:** Agent proposes loop → user approves (preserves ownership, prevents passive consumption)
- **Pattern:** checkpoint:decision for loop capture, checkpoint:human-verify for session summary
- **Impact:** Phase 2 templates will formalize these interaction points

**4. Organize session artifacts in dated subdirectories**
- **Rationale:** Prevents context rot, preserves historical sessions for learning
- **Structure:** `.project/sessions/YYYY-MM-DD-description/` contains LOOPS.md, CONTEXT.md, SUMMARY.md
- **Impact:** Can review past context decisions: "How did we scope the refactor last time?"

## Deviations from Plan

None - plan executed exactly as written.

## Issues Encountered

None - straightforward analysis and documentation work.

## Pattern Analysis Summary

**8 GSD patterns analyzed:**

1. **XML-Structured Instructions** - Semantic clarity via explicit element tags
2. **Context Layering** - Stable base (PROJECT.md) → ephemeral working memory (LOOPS.md)
3. **Fresh Context Windows** - Export/import pattern, no within-session accumulation
4. **Wave-Based Parallel Execution** - Dependency graphs for concurrent work (noted as N/A for v1)
5. **Artifact Organization** - `.planning/` structure prevents context rot
6. **Goal-Backward Methodology** - must_haves with verifiable outcomes (truths → artifacts → key_links)
7. **Task Sizing & Context Budgets** - 50% rule adapted to 20/40/50% for data engineering
8. **Checkpoint Patterns** - human-verify (90%), decision (9%), human-action (1%)

**Integration roadmap created for:**
- Phase 1: XML vs markdown tradeoffs, artifact organization, goal-backward in templates
- Phase 2: Context layering for LOOPS/CONTEXT/SUMMARY, checkpoint thinking in workflows
- Phase 3: Token budget management (50% rule), progressive loading, context decision audit trail
- Phase 4: Inline GSD mechanics explanations, heavily-commented templates, worked examples

## Next Phase Readiness

**Ready for Phase 1 planning:**
- GSD patterns understood and documented
- Integration suggestions concrete and actionable
- Template structure decisions made (XML for semantic elements)
- Artifact organization pattern established

**Recommendations for Phase 1:**
- Reference GSD_PATTERNS.md when designing LOOPS.md and CONTEXT.md templates
- Include "Why this pattern?" sections in templates (educational focus)
- Show both XML and markdown versions where appropriate (teach flexibility)
- Use must_haves frontmatter for template success criteria

**No blockers or concerns.**

---
*Quick task: 001*
*Completed: 2026-01-19*
*Reference: github.com/glittercowboy/get-shit-done*
