Dominion Flow Quick Start Guide

Dominion Flow gives Claude a structured way to build your software — with built-in memory, parallel execution, and automatic quality checks. This guide walks you through your first project, one step at a time.

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Why Use This?

Without Dominion Flow, Claude starts fresh every session with no memory of what you were building. Dominion Flow fixes that — and adds a lot more:

• Claude remembers your project between sessions
• Work is verified before moving on (no silent failures)
• Faster execution by running independent tasks at the same time
• A library of proven patterns Claude can use instead of guessing

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What You Need Before Starting

• Claude Code CLI installed and working
• A project directory (new or existing)
• A terminal window open

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The 6-Command Workflow

Dominion Flow uses 6 numbered commands that take your project from start to finish. Each command has one clear job.

1-new --> 2-plan --> 3-execute --> 4-verify --> 5-handoff --> 6-resume
                                                    |
                                              fire-autonomous
                                           (full autopilot alternative)

Option A — Step by step: Run each command yourself and review between steps. Good when you want to stay in control.

Option B — Full autopilot: After step 1, run /fire-autonomous and Claude handles everything automatically.

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Step 1: Start a New Project

/fire-1a-new

This command:

• Creates the .planning/ directory structure
• Initializes CONSCIENCE.md with project context
• Creates VISION.md with phases
• Sets up skills library integration
• Asks you about project goals, tech stack, and constraints

What you'll see:

[Dominion Flow] Initializing new project...

What is the project name?
> My Awesome App

Brief description (1-2 sentences)?
> A task management app with calendar integration

Primary tech stack?
> MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js)

Creating .planning/ structure...
  - CONSCIENCE.md (living project memory)
  - VISION.md (phase overview)
  - phases/ (detailed plans)

Project initialized! Run /fire-2-plan 1 to plan your first phase.

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Step 2: Plan Your First Phase

/fire-2-plan 1

This command:

• Searches the skills library for relevant patterns
• Creates a detailed BLUEPRINT.md for phase 1
• Defines must-have deliverables
• Estimates complexity and time
• Identifies potential blockers

What you'll see:

[Dominion Flow] Planning Phase 1...

Searching skills library for: authentication, user management...
Found 12 relevant skills:
  - integrations/oauth-patterns.md
  - database-solutions/user-schema.md
  - deployment-security/jwt-auth.md

Creating .planning/phases/01-authentication/BLUEPRINT.md...

Phase 1 Plan Ready:
  - 5 tasks identified
  - 3 must-haves defined
  - Estimated: 2-3 hours
  - Skills referenced: 3

Ready to execute? Run /fire-3-execute 1

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Step 3: Execute the Phase

/fire-3-execute 1

This command:

• Reads the BLUEPRINT.md for phase 1
• Groups tasks into parallel breaths
• Executes tasks with progress tracking
• Updates CONSCIENCE.md in real-time
• Applies honesty protocols (no false completion claims)

What you'll see:

[Dominion Flow] Executing Phase 1...

Reading plan from .planning/phases/01-authentication/BLUEPRINT.md

Breath 1 (Parallel):
  [x] Create user schema
  [x] Set up JWT middleware
  [ ] Configure OAuth providers  <-- In Progress

Breath 2 (Depends on Breath 1):
  [ ] Build login endpoint
  [ ] Build registration endpoint

Progress: 2/5 tasks (40%)
CONSCIENCE.md updated.

Continue? (y/n)

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Step 4: Verify Completion

/fire-4-verify 1

This command:

• Checks all must-haves from the plan
• Runs the 70-point validation checklist
• Verifies code actually works (not just "looks done")
• Flags any gaps or issues
• Updates phase status in CONSCIENCE.md

What you'll see:

[Dominion Flow] Verifying Phase 1...

Must-Haves Check:
  [x] User can register with email/password
  [x] User can log in and receive JWT
  [x] Protected routes require valid token

Validation Checklist (subset):
  [x] No hardcoded credentials
  [x] Error handling in place
  [x] Input validation present
  [!] Missing: Rate limiting on auth endpoints

Result: PARTIAL PASS
  - 3/3 must-haves complete
  - 1 recommendation flagged

Phase 1 marked as COMPLETE with notes.
Ready for /fire-2-plan 2 or /fire-5-handoff

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Step 5: Create a Handoff

/fire-5-handoff

Before ending your session, always create a handoff. This command:

• Captures current CONSCIENCE.md
• Documents what was accomplished
• Lists what's in progress
• Notes any blockers or decisions needed
• Creates a POWER-HANDOFF.md file

What you'll see:

[Dominion Flow] Creating session handoff...

Current Session Summary:
  - Phase 1: Authentication (COMPLETE)
  - Phase 2: User Dashboard (IN PROGRESS - 40%)
  - Skills used: 5
  - Time spent: ~3 hours

In Progress:
  - Dashboard layout component
  - Task list API endpoint

Blockers:
  - Need to decide on state management (Redux vs Context)

Handoff created: .planning/POWER-HANDOFF-2025-01-22.md

Next session: Run /fire-6-resume to continue.

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Step 6: Resume Next Session

/fire-6-resume

When you start a new session, this command:

• Reads the latest POWER-HANDOFF.md
• Loads CONSCIENCE.md context
• Displays what was in progress
• Suggests next actions
• Restores full project context

What you'll see:

[Dominion Flow] Resuming from handoff...

Last session: 2025-01-22 (3 hours ago)

Project: My Awesome App
Current Phase: 2 - User Dashboard (40% complete)

In Progress Tasks:
  1. Dashboard layout component
  2. Task list API endpoint

Pending Decision:
  - State management: Redux vs Context

Suggested Actions:
  1. Continue /fire-3-execute 2
  2. Run /fire-dashboard for overview
  3. Use /fire-search "state management" for guidance

Context restored. Ready to continue!

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What Happens Automatically

Dominion Flow runs several systems behind the scenes without manual intervention:

• Confidence Scoring -- Before each task, the agent estimates confidence (0-100) based on skill matches, test availability, and tech familiarity. LOW confidence (<50) triggers extra research or user escalation.
• Episodic Memory Injection -- Each iteration automatically searches vector memory (Qdrant) for past experiences relevant to the current task. Falls back to file-based search if Qdrant is unreachable.
• Parallel Review Gate -- After execution, a code reviewer runs in parallel with the verifier. Both must agree before work is marked complete. The stricter verdict always wins.
• Circuit Breaker -- During /fire-loop, the system monitors for stalling (no progress), spinning (same error repeating), and degradation (output quality declining). It forces approach rotation or Sabbath Rest when thresholds are hit.
• Auto-Skill Extraction -- During phase transitions (/fire-transition), reusable patterns discovered during work are automatically proposed as new skills for the library.

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Command Tiers

Dominion Flow has 51 commands organized into 8 tiers. The 6-command workflow above is Tier 1. For the complete list including autonomous mode, debugging, security scanning, skills management, analytics, and milestone commands, see COMMAND-REFERENCE.md.

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Tips for Success

1. Always Create Handoffs

Before ending any session, run /fire-5-handoff. Future you (or another AI) will thank you.

2. Use the Skills Library

Before implementing anything, search for existing patterns:

/fire-search "payment integration"
/fire-search "file upload"
/fire-search "authentication"

3. Trust the Verification

Don't skip /fire-4-verify. It catches issues before they become problems.

4. Keep CONSCIENCE.md Updated

The CONSCIENCE.md file is your living project memory. Review it with /fire-dashboard.

5. Contribute Back

When you solve a new problem, add it to the library:

/fire-add-new-skill

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Common Workflows

Starting Fresh

/fire-1a-new
/fire-2-plan 1
/fire-3-execute 1
/fire-4-verify 1
/fire-5-handoff

Full Autopilot (after project init)

/fire-1a-new
/fire-autonomous

Continuing Work

/fire-6-resume
/fire-3-execute 2    # Continue current phase
/fire-5-handoff

Research Mode

/fire-search "caching strategies"
/fire-discover       # AI suggests relevant patterns
/fire-analytics      # See what skills are most used

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Next Steps

• Read COMMAND-REFERENCE.md for all 51 commands
• Check TROUBLESHOOTING.md for common issues and fixes
• Explore ARCHITECTURE-DIAGRAM.md for system overview

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You're ready to go!