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Moira Documentation

Step Verification Pattern

Purpose

Section titled “Purpose”

Ensure each workflow step is truly complete before moving to the next. Prevents skipping incomplete work and requires evidence of completion.

Structure

Section titled “Structure”
[execute-step] → [verify-step] → verified=yes → [next-step]
                              → verified=no  → [retry-or-escalate]

Implementation

Section titled “Implementation”

Execute Node

Section titled “Execute Node”
{
  "type": "agent-directive",
  "id": "execute-step",
  "directive": "Implement {{current_step_name}}:\n{{current_step_action}}",
  "completionCondition": "Step implementation complete",
  "inputSchema": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "implementation_summary": { "type": "string" }
    },
    "required": ["implementation_summary"]
  },
  "connections": { "success": "verify-step" }
}

Verify Node

Section titled “Verify Node”
{
  "type": "agent-directive",
  "id": "verify-step",
  "directive": "Verify step {{current_step_name}} completed:\n- Expected: {{expected_output}}\n- Check actual result matches expected\n- Provide evidence",
  "inputSchema": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "step_verified": { "type": "string", "enum": ["yes", "no"] },
      "verification_evidence": { "type": "string" }
    },
    "required": ["step_verified", "verification_evidence"]
  },
  "connections": { "success": "check-verification" }
}

Check Node

Section titled “Check Node”
{
  "type": "condition",
  "id": "check-verification",
  "condition": {
    "operator": "eq",
    "left": { "contextPath": "step_verified" },
    "right": "yes"
  },
  "connections": {
    "true": "proceed-to-next",
    "false": "handle-failure"
  }
}

Evidence Requirements

Section titled “Evidence Requirements”

Specify what counts as evidence:

{
  "directive": "Verify implementation. Evidence must include:\n- Test command output (npm test results)\n- API response (curl output)\n- File diff (git diff)\n- Screenshot (for UI changes)"
}

Step Context Variables

Section titled “Step Context Variables”

Store step metadata in context:

{
  "initialData": {
    "current_step_index": 1,
    "current_step_name": "Step 1",
    "current_step_action": "Implement feature X",
    "expected_output": "Feature X works with tests passing"
  }
}

Use expression nodes to update:

{
  "type": "expression",
  "id": "increment-step",
  "expressions": ["current_step_index = current_step_index + 1"]
}

Real Example

Section titled “Real Example”

From development-flow.json:

{
  "id": "verify-step-implementation",
  "directive": "Verify step {{current_step_index}} ({{current_step_name}}) implementation.\n\nExpected outcome: {{expected_outcome}}\n\nVerification checklist:\n- Functionality works as expected\n- Tests pass (if applicable)\n- No regressions introduced\n\nProvide concrete evidence for each claim.",
  "inputSchema": {
    "properties": {
      "step_verified": { "type": "string", "enum": ["yes", "no"] },
      "verification_evidence": { "type": "string" },
      "issues_found": { "type": "string" }
    },
    "required": ["step_verified", "verification_evidence"]
  }
}

Handling Verification Failure

Section titled “Handling Verification Failure”

On failure, either retry or escalate:

{
  "type": "condition",
  "id": "check-retry-limit",
  "condition": {
    "operator": "lt",
    "left": { "contextPath": "current_iteration" },
    "right": 3
  },
  "connections": {
    "true": "fix-and-retry",
    "false": "escalate-to-user"
  }
}
Section titled “Related Patterns”