Bullet Tracer Skill

From The Pragmatic Programmer: "Use Tracer Bullets to Find the Target" — build a minimal end-to-end vertical slice that touches all layers first, then expand.

Compatibility Note

Not all tickets/features are fully compatible with the tracer bullet approach (e.g., pure refactors, config changes, single-layer fixes). Be smart: apply tracer bullet concepts to compatible parts, use general best practices for the rest.

Philosophy

• Tracer bullet != prototype: You keep the code, it becomes the foundation
• Vertical slice: Touch ALL layers (UI → API → logic → DB → tests) in one thin path
• Fast feedback: Validate architecture and integration points early
• Hardcoded is OK: Initial tracer can use minimal/fake data

Workflow

Phase 1: Tracer Bullet (MUST DO FIRST)