AI-DLC
AI-Driven Development Lifecycle
AI-DLC is how software teams use the H•AI•K•U Method. Structure your work with clear phases, switch contexts intentionally, and ship with confidence.
Why AI-DLC?
The way software gets built is changing fundamentally. AI-DLC is a methodology designed for this new reality.
From Assistance to Autonomy
AI has evolved from code completion to sustained autonomous reasoning. Development methods need to evolve with it — not retrofit AI into processes designed for a different era.
Phases Collapse Into Flow
Sequential phases — requirements, design, build, test — existed because iteration was expensive. With AI, iteration costs approach zero. AI-DLC embraces continuous flow.
Built From First Principles
Not a retrofit of Agile or Scrum. AI-DLC is designed for how development actually works when AI is a central collaborator, not just a tool.
Get Started
New to AI-DLC? Start with the guided onboarding. Want the full picture? Read the paper. Ready to go? Install and ship.
Start Here
Guided onboarding that walks you through concepts, tools, and your first implementation step by step.
Begin OnboardingRead the Paper
The full methodology — evolution of software development, core principles, and production lessons.
Read the PaperInstall Now
Already sold? Install the Claude Code plugin and start using AI-DLC in your projects today.
Install PluginHats Drive Every Phase
AI-DLC uses a hat-based approach to separate concerns. The default workflow uses three core hats, with specialized hats available for security, design, testing, and debugging workflows.
Planner
Design the approach with clear steps and dependencies.
Builder
Execute the plan, write code, and build the solution.
Reviewer
Validate quality and ensure work meets requirements.
Latest Updates
View all postsDark Factories and the Loop
The dark factory isn't a system you build. It's a knob you turn. AI-DLC treats full autonomy as a point-in-time decision, not an architectural commitment.
AI-DLC Meets Agent Teams
AI-DLC's construction loop now leverages Claude Code's Agent Teams, turning each unit of work into an independent teammate with its own context, worktree, and permission model.
Introducing AI-DLC
A methodology for iterative AI-driven development with hat-based workflows
Ready to get started?
Install the Claude Code plugin and start using AI-DLC in your projects today.
/plugin marketplace add thebushidocollective/ai-dlc/plugin install ai-dlc@thebushidocollective-ai-dlc --scope project