6.5 KiB
description
| description |
|---|
| Generate single BMAD epic with user stories |
BMAD Epic - Generate Epic File
Use the product-manager subagent to create a single epic file with user stories following BMAD methodology. This command is used to add NEW epics to existing backlog or regenerate existing epics.
When to Use This Command
Add NEW Epic (change request, new feature):
# 6 months after launch, need mobile app
/bmad:epic "Mobile App"
# → Creates EPIC-012-mobile-app.md
Regenerate Existing Epic (refinement):
/bmad:epic 3
# → Regenerates EPIC-003 with updated content
NOT used during /bmad:start - guided workflow generates all epics automatically.
Task Delegation
First check prerequisites, determine which epic to generate, then launch the product-manager subagent to handle the complete epic generation workflow.
Process
Step 1: Check Prerequisites
Require PRD:
ls bmad-backlog/prd/prd.md 2>/dev/null || echo "No PRD found"
If not found:
❌ Error: PRD required for epic generation
Please run: /bmad:prd
(Or /bmad:start for complete workflow)
Stop here - do not launch product-manager without PRD.
Check for Architecture (recommended):
ls bmad-backlog/architecture/architecture.md 2>/dev/null || echo "No architecture found"
If not found:
⚠️ Architecture not found
Epic generation works best with architecture (for technical notes).
Would you like to:
1. Generate architecture first (recommended): /bmad:architecture
2. Continue without architecture (epics will have minimal technical notes)
3. Cancel
Choose:
If user chooses 1: Run /bmad:architecture first, then continue
If user chooses 2: Continue to Step 2
If user chooses 3: Exit gracefully
Step 2: Determine Epic to Generate
If user provided epic number:
# User ran: /bmad:epic 3
- Epic number = 3
- Store epic_identifier = "3"
If user provided epic name:
# User ran: /bmad:epic "Mobile App"
- Epic name = "Mobile App"
- Store epic_identifier = "Mobile App"
If user provided nothing:
- Ask: "Which epic would you like to generate?
- Provide epic number (e.g., 1, 2, 3)
- Or epic name for NEW epic (e.g., 'Mobile App')
- Or 'all' to generate all epics from PRD"
- Wait for response
- Store epic_identifier
Step 3: Launch Product-Manager Subagent
Use the Task tool to launch the product-manager subagent in its own context window:
Task(
description: "Generate BMAD epic with user stories",
prompt: "Create comprehensive epic file following BMAD methodology.
Epic to Generate: {{epic_identifier}}
Input:
- PRD: bmad-backlog/prd/prd.md
- Architecture: bmad-backlog/architecture/architecture.md (if exists)
Output:
- Epic file: bmad-backlog/epics/EPIC-{num:03d}-{slug}.md
- Updated index: bmad-backlog/STORY-INDEX.md
Your workflow:
1. **Read inputs** to understand context:
- Read bmad-backlog/prd/prd.md
- Read bmad-backlog/architecture/architecture.md (if exists)
- Extract epic definition and user stories
2. **Generate epic** using MCP tool:
mcp__plugin_titanium-toolkit_tt__bmad_generator( doc_type: "epic", input_path: "bmad-backlog/prd/prd.md bmad-backlog/architecture/architecture.md {{epic_identifier}}", project_path: "$(pwd)" )
3. **Review and present** epic summary:
- Read generated epic file
- Present title, priority, story count, story points
- Show story list
- Note if technical notes included/minimal
4. **Validate epic** using:
mcp__plugin_titanium-toolkit_tt__bmad_validator( doc_type: "epic", document_path: "bmad-backlog/epics/EPIC-{num}-{name}.md" )
5. **Update story index**:
mcp__plugin_titanium-toolkit_tt__bmad_generator( doc_type: "index", input_path: "bmad-backlog/epics/", project_path: "$(pwd)" )
6. **Run vibe-check** to validate epic quality
7. **Store in Pieces** for future reference
8. **Present summary** with next steps:
- If more epics in PRD: offer to generate next
- If this was last epic: show completion status
- If new epic not in PRD: suggest updating PRD
**IMPORTANT**: Keep your summary response VERY BRIEF (under 200 tokens). Just return:
- Confirmation epic is complete
- Epic title and number
- Story count
- Story points total
DO NOT include the full epic content in your response - it's already saved to the file.
Follow your complete epic workflow from the bmad-methodology skill.
Project path: $(pwd)",
subagent_type: "product-manager"
)
The product-manager subagent will handle:
- Reading PRD and Architecture
- Generating epic file (300-500 lines)
- Presenting epic summary
- Validation (structural and vibe-check)
- Updating story index
- Pieces storage
- Summary presentation with next steps
Step 4: Return Results
The product-manager will return a summary when complete. Present this to the user.
What the Product-Manager Creates
The product-manager subagent generates bmad-backlog/epics/EPIC-{num:03d}-{slug}.md containing:
- Epic Header: Owner, Priority, Sprint, Status, Effort
- Epic Description: What and why
- Business Value: Why this epic matters
- Success Criteria: Checkboxes for completion
- User Stories: STORY-{epic}-{num} format
- Each with "As a... I want... so that..."
- Acceptance criteria (checkboxes)
- Technical notes (code examples from architecture)
- Dependencies: Blocks/blocked by relationships
- Risks & Mitigation: Potential issues and solutions
- Related Epics: Cross-references
- Definition of Done: Completion checklist
Also updates bmad-backlog/STORY-INDEX.md with new epic totals.
Epic Numbering
If adding new epic:
- Determines next epic number by counting existing epics
- New epic becomes EPIC-{next_num}-{slug}.md
If regenerating:
- Uses existing epic number
- Overwrites file
- Preserves filename
Integration
Standalone:
/bmad:epic 1
/bmad:epic 2
/bmad:epic 3
Part of /bmad:start:
- Guided workflow generates all epics automatically
- Loops through epic list from PRD
- Generates each sequentially
After Initial Backlog:
# 6 months later, need new feature
/bmad:epic "Mobile App"
# → Adds EPIC-012
# → Updates index
# → Ready to implement
Voice Feedback
Voice announces:
- "Generating epic" (when starting)
- "Epic {{num}} complete: {{story count}} stories" (when done)
Cost
Typical cost: ~$0.01 per epic (Claude Haiku 4.5 API usage in bmad_generator tool)
This command delegates to the product-manager subagent who creates complete epic files with user stories!