> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/SynkraAI/aiox-core/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Checklists

> Reference for AIOX quality gate checklists and validation frameworks

## Overview

AIOX **checklists** are quality gate validation frameworks used by agents to ensure work meets standards before proceeding. Checklists are markdown files with structured validation criteria, organized by domain and purpose.

<ParamField path="Location" type="string">
  * `.aiox-core/development/checklists/` - Development checklists
  * `.aiox-core/product/checklists/` - Product/quality checklists
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="Format" type="string">
  Markdown with checkbox lists and validation instructions
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="Usage" type="string">
  Quality gates for tasks, stories, and releases
</ParamField>

## Checklist Categories

### Development Checklists

<ResponseField name="agent-quality-gate.md" type="checklist">
  **Location:** `.aiox-core/development/checklists/`

  **Purpose:** Validate agent definition quality before release

  **Categories:**

  * Agent metadata completeness
  * Persona profile validation
  * Command structure verification
  * Dependency integrity
  * Documentation quality
  * Voice DNA authenticity

  **Quality Gate:** SC\_AGT\_001 (must pass)
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="brownfield-compatibility-checklist.md" type="checklist">
  **Purpose:** Validate AIOX compatibility with existing (brownfield) projects

  **Validates:**

  * Existing project structure
  * Technology stack compatibility
  * Integration points
  * Migration path clarity
  * Risk assessment
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="memory-audit-checklist.md" type="checklist">
  **Purpose:** Audit agent memory file quality and completeness

  **Validates:**

  * Memory file structure
  * Entry completeness
  * Pattern validity
  * Gotcha accuracy
  * Decision log integrity
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="self-critique-checklist.md" type="checklist">
  **Purpose:** Mandatory self-review for Coder Agent (ADE workflow)

  **Used in:** Steps 5.5 & 6.5 of 13-step subtask execution

  **Validates:**

  * Code quality
  * Requirements alignment
  * Edge case handling
  * Error scenarios
  * Test coverage
  * Documentation updates
</ResponseField>

### Product Checklists

<ResponseField name="architect-checklist.md" type="checklist">
  **Location:** `.aiox-core/product/checklists/`

  **Purpose:** Comprehensive architecture validation framework

  **Sections:**

  1. Requirements Alignment
  2. Architecture Fundamentals
  3. Technical Stack & Decisions
  4. Frontend Design & Implementation (if applicable)
  5. Resilience & Operational Readiness
  6. Security & Compliance
  7. Implementation Guidance
  8. Dependency & Integration Management
  9. AI Agent Implementation Suitability
  10. Accessibility Implementation (frontend only)

  **Total Items:** 100+ validation criteria

  **Execution Modes:**

  * Section-by-section (interactive)
  * All-at-once (comprehensive)
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="component-quality-checklist.md" type="checklist">
  **Purpose:** Validate React/TypeScript component quality

  **Categories:**

  * Code Quality (TypeScript, props, types)
  * Styling (Tailwind, variants, dark mode)
  * Accessibility (WCAG AA, ARIA, keyboard)
  * Testing (unit, integration, coverage ≥85%)
  * Documentation (component docs, examples)
  * Storybook (if enabled)

  **Standard:** Production-ready components
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="database-design-checklist.md" type="checklist">
  **Purpose:** Database schema design validation

  **Validates:**

  * Schema design patterns
  * Normalization level
  * Index strategy
  * RLS (Row-Level Security) policies
  * Migration integrity
  * Performance considerations
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="accessibility-wcag-checklist.md" type="checklist">
  **Purpose:** WCAG 2.2 AA compliance validation

  **Validates:**

  * Semantic HTML
  * ARIA attributes
  * Keyboard navigation
  * Focus management
  * Color contrast (WCAG & APCA)
  * Screen reader compatibility

  **Target:** WCAG 2.2 Level AA
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="change-checklist.md" type="checklist">
  **Purpose:** Validate changes before commit/merge

  **Categories:**

  * Code review items
  * Test coverage
  * Breaking changes
  * Documentation updates
  * Backward compatibility
</ResponseField>

## Checklist Structure

Checklists follow a standard format:

```markdown theme={null}
# {Checklist Name}

**Purpose:** {one-line purpose}
**Agent:** {primary-agent}
**Standard:** {quality-standard}

---

## {CATEGORY 1}

- [ ] {validation-criterion-1}
- [ ] {validation-criterion-2}
- [ ] {validation-criterion-3}

---

## {CATEGORY 2}

- [ ] {validation-criterion-1}
  - Sub-criterion details
  - Validation method
- [ ] {validation-criterion-2}

---

**Reviewer:** ________ **Date:** ________
**Quality Gate:** [ ] PASS [ ] FAIL
```

## Checklist Metadata

<ParamField path="Purpose" type="string" required>
  One-line description of what the checklist validates

  Example: `"Validate component before marking complete"`
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="Agent" type="string">
  Primary agent responsible for checklist execution

  Example: `"Atlas (Design System Builder)"`, `"Quinn (QA Specialist)"`
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="Standard" type="string">
  Quality standard being enforced

  Example: `"Production-ready React/TypeScript components"`, `"WCAG 2.2 AA"`
</ParamField>

## Validation Criteria Format

### Basic Criteria

<ResponseField name="Simple Checkbox" type="format">
  ```markdown theme={null}
  - [ ] Criterion description
  ```

  Binary pass/fail validation
</ResponseField>

### Detailed Criteria

<ResponseField name="Checkbox with Details" type="format">
  ```markdown theme={null}
  - [ ] Main criterion
    - Additional detail 1
    - Additional detail 2
    - Validation method: {how-to-verify}
  ```

  Includes validation guidance
</ResponseField>

### Conditional Criteria

<ResponseField name="Conditional Validation" type="format">
  ```markdown theme={null}
  - [ ] Criterion (if applicable)
    - Only required when: {condition}
    - Skip if: {skip-condition}
  ```

  Context-dependent validation
</ResponseField>

### LLM Instructions

<ResponseField name="Agent Guidance" type="format">
  ```markdown theme={null}
  [[LLM: INSTRUCTION FOR AI AGENT

  Before evaluating this section:
  1. {guidance-step-1}
  2. {guidance-step-2}

  Look for specific evidence, not just mentions.]]
  ```

  Embedded instructions for AI agents
</ResponseField>

## Checklist Execution

### Manual Execution

Developers execute checklists manually:

1. Open checklist file
2. Work through each criterion
3. Check boxes as validated
4. Note any failures or concerns
5. Complete reviewer/date fields
6. Mark overall PASS/FAIL

### Agent Execution

Agents execute checklists programmatically:

```bash theme={null}
# Execute checklist via command
*execute-checklist component-quality-checklist

# Agent workflow:
# 1. Load checklist file
# 2. Read [[LLM: ...]] instructions
# 3. Validate each criterion
# 4. Generate validation report
# 5. Return PASS/FAIL with details
```

### Integration with Tasks

Checklists are invoked by tasks:

```yaml theme={null}
# From dev-develop-story.md
completion: |
  All Tasks marked [x] →
  Validations pass →
  Run task execute-checklist for story-dod-checklist →
  Set story status: 'Ready for Review' →
  HALT
```

## Quality Gates

<ParamField path="Quality Gate" type="concept">
  A **quality gate** is a checkpoint that must pass before proceeding

  **Implementation:**

  * Checklist defines criteria
  * Agent validates all items
  * Gate passes only if all criteria met
  * On failure: Block progression, provide report
</ParamField>

### Quality Gate Standards

<ResponseField name="SC_AGT_001" type="gate">
  **Agent Quality Gate** - All agents must pass before release

  **Validates:**

  * 300+ lines of content
  * Voice DNA authenticity
  * Output examples included
  * Command loader present
  * Task files exist
  * Maturity level ≥ Nivel 2
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="Story DoD" type="gate">
  **Story Definition of Done** - All stories must pass before review

  **Validates:**

  * All tasks completed
  * Tests passing
  * Documentation updated
  * File list complete
  * No regression failures
</ResponseField>

## Advanced Checklist Features

### Project Type Detection

```markdown theme={null}
[[LLM: PROJECT TYPE DETECTION

First, determine the project type:
- Does architecture include frontend/UI?
- Is there a frontend-architecture.md?

If backend-only:
- Skip sections marked [[FRONTEND ONLY]]
- Focus on API design, service architecture
- Note in final report]]

## Frontend Architecture [[FRONTEND ONLY]]

[[LLM: Skip this entire section for backend-only projects]]

- [ ] UI framework selected
- [ ] State management defined
```

### Evidence-Based Validation

```markdown theme={null}
[[LLM: VALIDATION APPROACH

For each section:
1. Deep Analysis - Don't just check boxes
2. Evidence-Based - Cite specific sections
3. Critical Thinking - Question assumptions
4. Risk Assessment - Consider what could go wrong]]
```

### Execution Modes

```markdown theme={null}
[[LLM: EXECUTION MODE

Ask user preference:
- Section by section (interactive) - Review each, get confirmation
- All at once (comprehensive) - Complete full analysis, present report]]
```

### Final Report Generation

```markdown theme={null}
[[LLM: FINAL VALIDATION REPORT

Generate comprehensive report:

1. Executive Summary
   - Overall readiness (High/Medium/Low)
   - Critical risks
   - Key strengths

2. Section Analysis
   - Pass rate per section
   - Most concerning failures
   - Sections needing attention

3. Risk Assessment
   - Top 5 risks by severity
   - Mitigation recommendations

4. Recommendations
   - Must-fix before development
   - Should-fix for quality
   - Nice-to-have improvements]]
```

## Checklist Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Checklist Design">
    * Keep criteria clear and actionable
    * Provide validation methods
    * Group related items into sections
    * Include LLM instructions for AI agents
    * Support conditional validation
    * Define clear pass/fail criteria
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Validation Criteria">
    * Make criteria measurable
    * Avoid subjective judgments
    * Provide examples where helpful
    * Include specific thresholds (e.g., "≥85% coverage")
    * Reference standards (e.g., "WCAG 2.2 AA")
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Agent Integration">
    * Use \[\[LLM: ...]] blocks for agent guidance
    * Provide context and reasoning
    * Include validation examples
    * Define report format expectations
    * Support both manual and automated execution
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Maintenance">
    * Review checklists after each usage
    * Update based on team feedback
    * Add new criteria as standards evolve
    * Remove obsolete criteria
    * Version checklists when making changes
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Creating Custom Checklists

1. **Choose location:**
   ```bash theme={null}
   # Development checklist
   touch .aiox-core/development/checklists/my-checklist.md

   # Product checklist
   touch .aiox-core/product/checklists/my-checklist.md
   ```

2. **Define structure:**
   ```markdown theme={null}
   # My Quality Checklist

   **Purpose:** Validate {what}
   **Agent:** {agent-name}
   **Standard:** {quality-level}

   ---

   ## Category 1

   - [ ] Criterion 1
   - [ ] Criterion 2

   ---

   **Quality Gate:** [ ] PASS [ ] FAIL
   ```

3. **Register with agent:**
   ```yaml theme={null}
   dependencies:
     checklists:
       - my-checklist.md
   ```

4. **Integrate with task:**
   ```markdown theme={null}
   ## Quality Gate

   Execute checklist: `my-checklist.md`

   Must pass before proceeding to next phase.
   ```

## Related Documentation

* [Tasks Reference](/api/tasks)
* [Agent Commands](/api/agent-commands)
* [Quality Gates Guide](/guides/quality-gates)
* [Definition of Done](/guides/definition-of-done)

***

*Reference: `.aiox-core/development/checklists/` and `.aiox-core/product/checklists/`*