/launch-checklist

name: launch-checklist
type: workflow
description: "Generates a comprehensive software launch checklist covering technical readiness, customer communications, support, and go-live steps. Use when preparing for a product launch or when the user mentions launch checklist or go-live readiness."
argument-hint: "[launch-date or 'dry-run']"
user-invocable: true
allowed-tools: Read, Glob, Grep, Write
effort: 3
when_to_use: "When preparing for a software product or feature launch and needing to validate all departments are ready"

When this skill is invoked:

> **Explicit invocation only**: This skill should only run when the user explicitly requests it with `/launch-checklist`. Do not auto-invoke based on context matching.

1. **Read the argument** for the launch date or `dry-run` mode. Dry-run mode generates the checklist without creating sign-off entries.

2. **Gather project context**:

• Read `CLAUDE.md` for tech stack, release surfaces, and team structure
• Read the latest milestone in `production/milestones/`
• Read any existing release checklist in `production/releases/`
• Read any launch, support, or communications notes in `docs/launch/`,

`docs/runbooks/`, or `production/releases/` if they exist

3. **Scan codebase health**:

• Count `TODO`, `FIXME`, `HACK` comments and their locations
• Check for any `console.log`, `print()`, or debug output left in production code
• Check for placeholder assets or copy (search for `placeholder`, `temp_`, `WIP_`)
• Check for hardcoded test/dev values (localhost, test credentials, debug flags)

4. **Generate the launch checklist**:

# Launch Checklist: [Product Title]
Target Launch: [Date or DRY RUN]
Generated: [Date]

---

## 1. Code Readiness

### Build Health
- [ ] Clean build or release artifact generated for all target surfaces
- [ ] Zero release-blocking compiler or linter errors
- [ ] All unit tests passing
- [ ] All integration tests passing
- [ ] End-to-end or smoke tests passing for critical user journeys
- [ ] Schema migrations tested with rollback or recovery plan
- [ ] Release version correctly set and tagged in source control
- [ ] Performance and reliability benchmarks within agreed targets

### Code Quality
- [ ] TODO count: [N] (zero required for launch, or documented exceptions)
- [ ] FIXME count: [N] (zero required)
- [ ] HACK count: [N] (each must have documented justification)
- [ ] No unintended debug output in production code
- [ ] No hardcoded dev/test values
- [ ] All feature flags reviewed for launch defaults
- [ ] Error handling covers all critical paths
- [ ] Crash reporting and structured logging integrated and verified
- [ ] Dependency vulnerabilities triaged and accepted risk documented

### Security and Privacy
- [ ] No exposed API keys or credentials in source or build artifacts
- [ ] Authentication, authorization, and input validation verified on public endpoints
- [ ] Network communication secured (TLS, signed webhooks, secret rotation as applicable)
- [ ] Abuse protection, rate limiting, or bot controls enabled where required
- [ ] Privacy policy and data handling compliance verified
- [ ] Backup and restore path validated for stateful systems

---

## 2. Product Readiness

### Functional Scope
- [ ] All launch-scope features implemented or explicitly deferred
- [ ] Critical user journeys tested end-to-end
- [ ] Admin, support, and internal operational workflows verified
- [ ] Billing, notifications, integrations, and webhooks tested if applicable
- [ ] Data import/export, retention, or deletion flows verified if applicable
- [ ] Release notes and known issues drafted

### UX, Content, and Localization
- [ ] All placeholder copy and visuals replaced
- [ ] All user-facing text proofread
- [ ] No hardcoded strings (all externalized for localization)
- [ ] All supported languages translated and verified
- [ ] Text fits UI in all supported languages
- [ ] Help content, onboarding, and empty states reviewed
- [ ] Customer-facing documentation links are current

---

## 3. Quality Assurance

### Testing
- [ ] Full regression test suite passed
- [ ] Zero Sev1 (Critical) bugs open
- [ ] Zero Sev2 (High/Major) bugs open, or documented exceptions with owner approval
- [ ] Smoke test passed in staging or release candidate environment
- [ ] User acceptance or stakeholder sign-off captured
- [ ] Edge cases tested (no network, expired session, low storage, rate limits, retries)
- [ ] Backup/restore or disaster recovery drill completed if applicable

### Accessibility and Compliance
- [ ] Accessibility basics covered for target surfaces
- [ ] Consent, privacy, and legal notices reviewed
- [ ] Audit logging or regulated workflow checks verified if required
- [ ] App store or platform policy requirements met, if applicable

### Performance and Reliability
- [ ] Response time or startup time within budget
- [ ] Memory and CPU usage within budget
- [ ] Queue lag, background jobs, and async workflows within targets
- [ ] No sustained error-rate spikes during release candidate soak window
- [ ] Capacity and scaling assumptions reviewed for launch traffic

---

## 4. Distribution and Customer-Facing Assets

### Release Assets
- [ ] Changelog complete and proofread
- [ ] Release notes complete and customer-appropriate
- [ ] Version numbers aligned across app, API, docs, and packaging
- [ ] Download links, package names, or deployment targets finalized

### Launch Communications
- [ ] Status page messaging prepared
- [ ] Customer announcement drafted
- [ ] In-app banner, modal, or changelog entry prepared if needed
- [ ] Support macros / FAQ updated
- [ ] Sales, customer success, and internal stakeholders briefed

### Public Metadata
- [ ] Marketing site or product page copy updated
- [ ] Screenshots or release visuals current
- [ ] Pricing, packaging, and plan entitlements verified
- [ ] App store listing metadata current, if applicable

---

## 5. Infrastructure

### Production Readiness
-