Verdent Docs

Multi-Step Task Examples

Handling complex multi-step tasks with Verdent

Verdent for VS Code excels at breaking down complex multi-step tasks autonomously. This guide provides step-by-step workflows for common multi-step scenarios, showing exactly how Verdent handles task decomposition, dependency management, and progressive execution.

Using Plan Mode for Complex Implementations

Suppose you want to review a detailed plan before Verdent makes any changes to your codebase.

Switch to Plan Mode

Click the "Switch Mode" button in the interface and select "Plan Mode".

Plan Mode is read-only: Verdent can analyze code, conduct research, and create plans without modifying files or executing commands.

Submit your complex request

Refactor this codebase to replace our custom authentication with OAuth 2.0

Verdent analyzes your current implementation thoroughly.

Answer clarifying questions

Verdent may ask questions to remove uncertainty:

  • Which OAuth provider should we use?
  • Should tokens be stored in localStorage or cookies?
  • Do we need to support multiple OAuth providers?

Answer these questions to refine the plan.

Review the detailed plan

Verdent presents a comprehensive plan showing:

  • Files to be created
  • Existing files to modify
  • Implementation steps in logical order
  • Dependencies between steps

Review this plan carefully before proceeding.

Choose Your Next Action

After reviewing the plan, Verdent presents two options:

  • Choose Edit to request modifications or ask clarifying questions
  • Choose Start Building to switch to Agent Mode and begin execution

You can iterate on the plan as many times as needed before building.

Tips:

  • Use Plan Mode for features affecting multiple files
  • Perform multiple rounds of plan review to refine the approach
  • Save the plan to a file for team discussion before execution
  • Plan Mode helps ensure alignment between your expectations and Verdent's proposed solution
  • Customize plan format: Access Settings → Rules → Plan Rules to control plan structure, detail level, and formatting preferences

Breaking Down Large Feature Requests

Suppose you're building a complex e-commerce checkout system with multiple integrated components.

Provide the high-level goal

Build a complete checkout system with cart management, payment processing, order confirmation, and inventory updates

Verdent analyzes what needs to be done.

Verdent creates logical subtasks

The system autonomously breaks this into:

  1. Create shopping cart data model and API
  2. Build cart UI with add/remove/update items
  3. Implement checkout page with shipping address form
  4. Integrate payment gateway (Stripe or configured provider)
  5. Create order confirmation page
  6. Add inventory update logic
  7. Implement email confirmation system
  8. Write integration tests

Each subtask is shown in the todo list with clear descriptions.

Verdent handles dependencies automatically

Verdent executes subtasks in the correct order:

  • Creates data models before API endpoints that use them
  • Builds backend endpoints before frontend components that call them
  • Implements core features before adding tests

Dependencies are managed automatically without manual intervention.

Monitor real-time progress

Watch the todo list update in real-time as Verdent works through each subtask. Todo items transition from pending → in progress → completed.

Tips:

  • Let Verdent handle the breakdown autonomously for most tasks
  • Use Plan Mode if you want to review the breakdown before execution
  • Verdent adjusts its approach when it encounters edge cases or new requirements
  • The visible todo list provides transparency into multi-step execution

Multi-Phase Refactoring Projects

Suppose you're refactoring a large codebase and want to approach it in manageable phases.

Define the multi-phase approach

In Plan Mode: Refactor this codebase to replace our custom authentication with OAuth 2.0. I want this done in phases so we can test incrementally.

Verdent proposes phase breakdown

Verdent suggests a multi-phase plan:

  • Phase 1: Add OAuth library and configure endpoints
  • Phase 2: Update user model and database schema
  • Phase 3: Migrate existing authentication logic
  • Phase 4: Remove deprecated authentication code
  • Phase 5: Update tests and documentation

Each phase is independently testable.

Execute phase by phase

Approve Phase 1, allow Verdent to execute it, then test:

npm test

Once Phase 1 is verified working, move to Phase 2.

Adjust subsequent phases if needed

Based on what you learn in Phase 1, you can adjust the approach for remaining phases:

For Phase 2, let's also add user role migration to the database schema changes

Complete all phases incrementally

Work through all phases with testing and verification between each, ensuring safety and allowing course correction.

Tips:

  • Multi-phase refactoring reduces risk by enabling incremental testing
  • Each phase should leave the codebase in a working state
  • Commit after each phase for easy rollback if needed
  • Adjust later phases based on learnings from earlier phases

Coordinating Backend and Frontend Changes

Suppose you're adding a feature that requires synchronized updates to both backend APIs and frontend components.

Describe the full-stack feature

Add a commenting system where users can add comments to blog posts. Include backend API, database schema, and frontend UI

Verdent coordinates backend-first approach

Verdent typically works backend-first for full-stack features:

  1. Create database migration for comments table
  2. Add API endpoint for creating comments
  3. Add API endpoint for retrieving comments
  4. Define TypeScript interfaces for comment data
  5. Build frontend comment form component
  6. Create comment display component
  7. Connect frontend to API endpoints

Verdent ensures consistency

Verdent ensures:

  • Frontend TypeScript interfaces match backend data structures
  • API endpoint URLs are correctly referenced in frontend code
  • Request/response formats align between backend and frontend
  • Error handling is consistent across stack

Integration testing

Write integration tests for the commenting system covering the full stack

Verdent creates tests that verify backend and frontend work together correctly.

Tips:

  • Backend-first approach ensures frontend has working APIs to integrate with
  • Verdent maintains consistency between backend and frontend code automatically
  • TypeScript interfaces help catch integration issues at compile time
  • Integration tests verify the complete feature works end-to-end

Using Subagents for Parallel Execution

Suppose you have multiple independent tasks that could be done simultaneously.

Identify parallelizable tasks

Generate unit tests for all service classes in the src/services directory

These test files are independent and can be created in parallel.

Verdent delegates to multiple subagents

Verdent automatically uses multiple subagents to work on independent tasks concurrently:

  • Subagent 1: Creates tests for UserService
  • Subagent 2: Creates tests for PaymentService
  • Subagent 3: Creates tests for NotificationService
  • Subagent 4: Creates tests for AuthService

All work happens in parallel, saving time.

Results are integrated

Each subagent returns its results. Verdent integrates all test files into the project with proper naming and structure.

Sequential verification

After parallel creation, run tests sequentially to verify they all work:

npm test

Tips:

  • Verdent automatically parallelizes independent tasks using subagents
  • Loosely coupled work (separate test files, independent components) benefits from parallelization
  • Tightly coupled work (files with dependencies) is done sequentially for correctness
  • Parallel execution significantly speeds up large-scale changes

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stop Verdent in the middle of a multi-step task?

Yes. You can interrupt execution at any time. Verdent will complete the current step it's working on, then stop. Progress up to that point is preserved. You can review what's been done, make adjustments, and either continue or take a different approach.

How do I know what Verdent is doing right now in a long task?

Watch the todo list. It shows real-time status with one item marked "in progress" at any time. The active item shows exactly what Verdent is currently working on. Completed items are marked done, and pending items show what's remaining.

What if I disagree with how Verdent broke down my task?

Use Plan Mode to review and adjust the breakdown before execution. In Plan Mode, you can provide feedback like "Split the frontend work into separate components" or "Combine those two steps." Verdent will revise the plan based on your input before any code is written.

Should I use Plan Mode for every multi-step task?

Not necessarily. Use Plan Mode for complex features affecting many files, large refactorings, or when you want to review the approach first. For familiar, straightforward tasks, Verdent can execute directly with real-time todo list visibility. Plan Mode adds a review step for higher-risk changes.

Can I modify Verdent's plan after execution has started?

You can provide corrective guidance as Verdent works. Say "Actually, use a different approach for the API integration" and Verdent will adjust remaining steps. For major plan changes, it's better to stop, commit what's done, and start a new session with the revised approach.

See Also

Writing New Code

Creating new features and components with Verdent

Best Practices

Effective prompting and workflow strategies

View source

Testing & Debugging

Testing and debugging workflows with Verdent

Working with Large Codebases

Strategies for navigating and working with large codebases

On this page

Using Plan Mode for Complex ImplementationsBreaking Down Large Feature RequestsMulti-Phase Refactoring ProjectsCoordinating Backend and Frontend ChangesUsing Subagents for Parallel ExecutionFrequently Asked QuestionsSee Also