AI-DLC Rules Reference

This directory contains the reusable AI-DLC rule set that informs how AI-assisted work should be performed.

Purpose

Use aidlc-rules/ to understand the methodology itself.

Use aidlc-docs/ to understand how that methodology was applied to this specific project.

Structure

• aws-aidlc-rules/core-workflow.md

  • Top-level workflow contract
  • Phase order, mandatory stages, and execution rules

• aws-aidlc-rule-details/common/

  • Shared concepts and behavioral rules
  • Process overview, terminology, question formatting, validation, session continuity

• aws-aidlc-rule-details/inception/

  • Rules for requirements gathering, planning, reverse engineering, and design initiation

• aws-aidlc-rule-details/construction/

  • Rules for design execution, code generation, and build/test guidance

• aws-aidlc-rule-details/operations/

  • Operations-stage guidance and placeholder material

Recommended Reading Order

If you want to understand the AI-DLC methodology from the rules first, read:

1. aws-aidlc-rules/core-workflow.md
2. aws-aidlc-rule-details/common/process-overview.md
3. aws-aidlc-rule-details/common/welcome-message.md
4. aws-aidlc-rule-details/common/terminology.md
5. aws-aidlc-rule-details/inception/workflow-planning.md
6. aws-aidlc-rule-details/construction/code-generation.md
7. aws-aidlc-rule-details/operations/operations.md

Key Concepts

Adaptive execution

AI-DLC does not force every project through the exact same path. It decides which stages should run based on scope, risk, codebase state, and clarity of requirements.

Three-phase lifecycle

• Inception

  • What to build and why

• Construction

  • How to build it

• Operations

  • How to deploy and run it

Strict traceability

The rules emphasize:

• explicit planning
• documented approvals
• audit logging
• state tracking
• content validation
• reusable stage structure

How This Repository Uses These Rules

In this app repository:

• aidlc-rules/ provides the reusable rule pack snapshot
• aidlc-docs/ contains the project’s generated artifacts and project-specific guidance
• README.md and /ai-dlc/ surface the methodology to general readers

Practical Interpretation

If you are maintaining this app:

• read aidlc-docs/README.md to understand the project history and artifact map
• read aidlc-docs/how-aidlc-works.md to understand how the methodology is applied in this app
• read aidlc-docs/operations/deployment-guide.md to understand how the AI-DLC artifacts are published and made visible
• read this directory when you want to understand why the AI-DLC workflow behaves the way it does