Pipeline State

Type: State management

Definition

Pipeline state is the single source of truth file that tracks everything about a project in the Kelly software factory: current stage, timestamps, gate scores, checkpoints, and status. It lives at /clawd/projects/{project-id}/state.md and is updated after each stage transition.

What Gets Tracked

  • Current stage (Intake / Research / Planning / Implementation / Testing / Release)
  • Stage entry and exit timestamps
  • Gate decisions and scores (READY/NOT-READY, PASS/FAIL, TEA outcome)
  • Checkpoints for resume-after-failure
  • Last completed action

Why It Matters

Pipeline state serves three purposes simultaneously:
1. Resume after failure: lastCheckpoint enables exact resumption without rework
2. Observability: operator can see exactly where a project is at any time
3. Transparency: stakeholders have a clear view of progress and blockers