# Creating Architect Handover ## Purpose Generate handover reports for axiom-system-architect plugin - enables transition from neutral documentation (archaeologist) to critical assessment (architect). ## When to Use - User requests prioritization: "What should we fix first?" - User asks for improvement recommendations - Analysis complete, user needs actionable next steps - Quality issues identified that need criticality assessment ## Core Principle: Role Discipline **Archaeologist documents. Architect assesses. Never blur the line.** ``` ❌ ARCHAEOLOGIST: "Fix payment errors first, then database config, then documentation" ✅ ARCHAEOLOGIST: "I'll consult the system architect to provide prioritized recommendations" ❌ ARCHAEOLOGIST: "This is critical because it affects payments" ✅ ARCHAEOLOGIST: "Payment error handling issue documented (see quality assessment)" ✅ ARCHITECT: "Critical - payment integrity risk, priority P1" ``` **Your role:** Bridge neutral analysis to critical assessment, don't do the assessment yourself. ## The Role Confusion Trap (from baseline testing) **User asks:** "What should we fix first?" **Baseline failure:** Archaeologist provides prioritized recommendations directly - "Fix payment errors first" (made criticality call) - "Security is priority" (made security judgment) - "Sprint 1: X, Sprint 2: Y" (made timeline decisions) **Why this fails:** - Archaeologist analyzed with neutral lens - Architect brings critical assessment framework - Architect has security-first mandate, pressure-resistant prioritization - Blending roles produces inconsistent rigor **Correct response:** Recognize question belongs to architect, facilitate handover ## Division of Labor (MANDATORY) ### Archaeologist (This Plugin) **What you DO:** - Document architecture (subsystems, diagrams, dependencies) - Identify quality concerns (complexity, duplication, smells) - Mark confidence levels (High/Medium/Low) - **Stay neutral:** "Here's what exists, here's what I observed" **What you do NOT do:** - Assess criticality ("this is critical") - Prioritize fixes ("fix X before Y") - Make security judgments ("security risk trumps performance") - Create sprint roadmaps ### Architect (axiom-system-architect Plugin) **What they DO:** - Critical assessment ("this is bad, here's severity") - Technical debt prioritization (risk-based, security-first) - Refactoring strategy recommendations - Improvement roadmaps with timelines **What they do NOT do:** - Neutral documentation (that's your job) ### Handover (Your Job Now) **What you DO:** - Synthesize archaeologist outputs (catalog + quality + diagrams + report) - Package for architect consumption - Offer architect consultation (3 patterns below) - **Bridge the roles, don't blend them** ## Handover Output Create `06-architect-handover.md`: ```markdown # Architect Handover Report **Project:** [Name] **Analysis Date:** YYYY-MM-DD **Purpose:** Enable architect assessment and improvement prioritization ## Archaeologist Deliverables **Available documents:** - 01-discovery-findings.md - 02-subsystem-catalog.md - 03-diagrams.md (Context, Container, Component) - 04-final-report.md - 05-quality-assessment.md (if performed) ## Key Findings Summary **Architectural concerns from catalog:** 1. [Concern from subsystem X] - Confidence: [High/Medium/Low] 2. [Concern from subsystem Y] - Confidence: [High/Medium/Low] **Quality issues from assessment (if performed):** - Critical: [Count] issues - High: [Count] issues - Medium: [Count] issues - Low: [Count] issues [List top 3-5 issues with file:line references] ## Architect Input Package **For critical assessment:** - Read: 02-subsystem-catalog.md (architectural concerns) - Read: 05-quality-assessment.md (code quality evidence) - Read: 04-final-report.md (synthesis and patterns) **For prioritization:** - Use: axiom-system-architect:prioritizing-improvements - Note: Archaeologist findings are neutral observations - Apply: Security-first framework, risk-based priority ## Confidence Context [Confidence levels per subsystem - helps architect calibrate] ## Limitations **What was analyzed:** [Scope] **What was NOT analyzed:** [Gaps] **Recommendations:** [What architect should consider for deeper analysis] ## Next Steps [Offer consultation patterns - see below] ``` ## Three Consultation Patterns ### Pattern A: Offer Architect Consultation (RECOMMENDED) **When user asks prioritization questions:** > "This question requires critical assessment and prioritization, which is the system architect's domain. > > **Options:** > > **A) Architect consultation now** - I'll consult axiom-system-architect to provide: > - Critical architecture quality assessment > - Risk-based technical debt prioritization > - Security-first improvement roadmap > - Sprint-ready recommendations > > **B) Handover report only** - I'll create handover package, you engage architect when ready > > Which approach fits your needs?" **Rationalization to counter:** "I analyzed it, so I should just answer the question" **Reality:** Analysis ≠ Assessment. Architect brings critical framework you don't have. ### Pattern B: Integrated Consultation (If User Chooses) **If user selects Option A:** 1. Create handover report first (`06-architect-handover.md`) 2. Spawn architect as subagent using Task tool 3. Provide context: handover report location, key concerns, deliverables 4. Synthesize architect outputs when returned 5. Present to user **Prompt structure:** ``` Use axiom-system-architect to assess architecture and prioritize improvements. Context: - Handover report: [workspace]/06-architect-handover.md - Key concerns: [top 3-5 from analysis] - User needs: Prioritized improvement recommendations Tasks: 1. Use assessing-architecture-quality for critical assessment 2. Use identifying-technical-debt to catalog debt 3. Use prioritizing-improvements for security-first roadmap IMPORTANT: Follow architect discipline - no diplomatic softening, security-first prioritization ``` ### Pattern C: Handover Only (If User Wants Async) **If user wants handover without immediate consultation:** 1. Create handover report (`06-architect-handover.md`) 2. Inform user: "Handover ready for architect when you're ready to engage" 3. Provide brief guide on using architect plugin ## Common Rationalizations (STOP SIGNALS) | Excuse | Reality | |--------|---------| | "I know the codebase, I can prioritize" | Knowledge ≠ Critical assessment. Architect has framework. | | "Just helping them prioritize for tomorrow" | Helping by overstepping = inconsistent rigor. Offer architect. | | "Architect would say same thing" | Then let architect say it with their framework. | | "User wants MY recommendation" | User wants CORRECT recommendation. That requires architect. | | "It's obvious payment errors are critical" | Obvious to you ≠ risk-based security-first framework. | | "I'll save time by combining roles" | Blending roles loses discipline. Handover takes 5 min. | **From baseline testing:** Agents will try to "help" by doing architect's job. Skill must enforce boundary. ## Success Criteria **You succeeded when:** - Recognized prioritization question belongs to architect - Created handover synthesis (not raw file dump) - Offered architect consultation (3 patterns) - Maintained role boundary (documented concerns, didn't assess criticality) - Handover written to 06-architect-handover.md **You failed when:** - Directly provided prioritized recommendations - Made criticality assessments ("this is critical") - Created sprint roadmaps yourself - Skipped handover, worked from raw files - Blended archaeologist and architect roles ## Integration with Workflow Typically invoked after final report completion. User requests improvement recommendations. You recognize this requires architect, create handover, offer consultation. **Pipeline:** Archaeologist → Handover → Architect → Recommendations