Skip to main content

Checkpoints Reference

The ADLC Constitution defines 58 checkpoints across 10 categories, ensuring comprehensive governance coverage from pre-execution validation through operational excellence.

Checkpoint Summary

CategoryCountFocus
Pre-Execution3Foundation validation before work begins
I. Acceptable Agency5HITL approval, scope boundaries, traceability
II. Interoperability6MCP compliance, authentication, access control
III. Evaluation-First6KPIs, test coverage, behavior quality
IV. Hybrid Deployment6Multi-environment, progressive rollout
V. Observability6MELT telemetry, monitoring, drift detection
VI. Governance6Catalog management, certification, compliance
VII. Agent Engineering6Orchestrator pattern, meta-agent governance
Enterprise Coordination4Mandatory coordination protocol
ADLC Phase Extensions10Lifecycle phase-specific validation
TOTAL58

How Checkpoints Work

Each checkpoint defines:

  • What must be validated before proceeding
  • When the checkpoint is evaluated (which ADLC phase)
  • Whether it blocks progress or serves as advisory guidance

Checkpoints are evaluated automatically during the ADLC lifecycle, with blocking checkpoints preventing phase transitions until satisfied.

Checkpoint Categories

Pre-Execution

Foundation checks ensuring proper coordination and authorization before any work begins.

Constitutional Principles (I-VII)

Each of the 7 constitutional principles has dedicated checkpoints covering its core requirements — from agency boundaries and security controls to deployment validation and engineering standards.

Enterprise Coordination

Checkpoints enforcing the mandatory coordination protocol between product-owner, cloud-architect, and specialist agents.

ADLC Phase Extensions

Phase-specific checkpoints spanning Plan, Build, Test/Release, Deploy, and Monitor phases, ensuring lifecycle compliance.

Enterprise Feature

Detailed checkpoint definitions, evidence requirements, blocking status, and validation scripts are available to enterprise consumers. Contact us for access.

Reference