AI 06: BMAD Method
BMAD Intro
Golden Rules:
Create new chats (clear context) as often as possible. Why? Less hallucinations, less tokens used, faster answers.
Do not trim down the files created by BMAD ??? they are tailored for the agents using them
BMM: BMad Method = BMad Managing → the default mode kind of thing BMB: BMad Builder
BMAD Favorites
document-project workflow: scans project w effort of your liking (quick/deep), creates docs
Workflows: Overview
This is for V6.
Added estimations of time required for any workflow needing over 30min.
Common/Core Workflows
brainstorming - Interactive brainstorming sessions using creative techniques
party-mode - Multi-agent group discussions
BMAD Builder (BMB) Workflows
agent - Create, edit, and validate BMAD Core compliant agents
module - Create BMAD modules (Brief + Create + Edit + Validate)
workflow - Create structured standalone workflows
BMAD Manager (BMM) Workflows
Phase 1: Analysis
create-product-brief - 1-2 hours - Create product briefs through collaborative discovery
research - 2-4 hours - Research across multiple domains (Market, Technical, Domain)
Phase 2: Planning
create-ux-design - 2-3 hours - Plan UX patterns, look and feel
prd - 3-5 hours - Create, validate, or edit PRDs
Phase 3: Solutioning
check-implementation-readiness - 1-2 hours - Validate PRD, Architecture, and Epics & Stories
create-architecture - 2-3 hours - Architectural decision facilitation
create-epics-and-stories - 2-3 hours - Transform PRD and Architecture into epics and user stories
Phase 4: Implementation
code-review - Adversarial senior developer code review
correct-course - Navigate significant changes during sprint execution
create-story - Create the next user story from epics
dev-story - Execute a story by implementing tasks/subtasks
retrospective - 1-2 hours - Review after epic completion
sprint-planning - Generate and manage sprint status tracking
sprint-status - Summarize sprint status and surface risks
Quick Flow
quick-dev - Flexible development with optional planning
quick-spec - 1-2 hours - Conversational spec engineering
Documentation & Diagrams
document-project - Document brownfield projects
create-excalidraw-dataflow - Create data flow diagrams
create-excalidraw-diagram - Create system architecture diagrams, ERDs, UML
create-excalidraw-flowchart - Create flowchart visualizations
create-excalidraw-wireframe - Create website/app wireframes
generate-project-context - Create project-context.md with critical rules
Testing Architecture (TestArch)
testarch-atdd - Generate failing acceptance tests
testarch-automate - Expand test automation coverage
testarch-ci - Scaffold CI/CD quality pipeline
testarch-framework - Initialize test framework architecture
testarch-nfr - Assess non-functional requirements
testarch-test-design - System-level testability review or epic-level test planning
testarch-test-review - Review test quality
testarch-trace - Generate requirements-to-tests traceability matrix
Workflow Management
workflow-init - Initialize a new BMM project
workflow-status - Lightweight status checker
Total: 38 workflows organized across 4 phases of development (Analysis → Planning → Solutioning → Implementation) plus supporting workflows for documentation, testing, and project management.
BMAD Workflows: Time Needed
This is for V6.
Analysis
2
6-7
12-18
1.5-3 hours
Planning
2
14-15
27-35
2.5-4 hours
Solutioning
3
6
15-20
1.5-2.5 hours
Implementation
7
7-10
2-5
Variable
Quick Flow
2
5
6-9
1-2 hours
Testing
8
8-15
2-4
20-60 min
Diagrams
4
~5
2-3
15-30 min
Documentation
2
3-var
4-6
30 min - 3 hours
Meta
1
Variable
1-2
5-10 min
BMAD Workflows: How To Use
BMAD workflows do NOT follow a "personas → steps → questions" structure.
BMAD workflows do follow a "workflow → steps/instructions → embedded questions" structure.
Workflows are persona-agnostic, they can be executed by any persona, or even without a persona (raw LLM execution).
When a workflow is executed with an agent persona:
BMAD: Prompts
Time Estimates For Workflows
For the all the BMAD workflows (installed in our project):
Indicate how many steps are involved For each step indicate how many questions are asked to the user (me) Given the 2 previous points, estimate the time necessary to go thru each entire workflow Indicate if other crucial parameter(s) is/are to take into account Create a matrix table to summarize the findings.
BMAD Polluting docs Directory
When using document-project workflow. It puts all the docs under docs directory. This directory is then used by subsequent workflow calls i.e. create-prd, tech-spec, create-architecture.
Is it a problem if I move these docs created by BMAD method into a docs_bmad directory instead? Or would the subsequent workflow calls work just fine ?
GPT says it breaks everything.
https://www.reddit.com/r/BMAD_Method/comments/1qq6n0x/custom_docs_bmad_directory_for_docs_created_by/
BMAD Meta Prompts
By far the best way to learn how to use BMAD.
BMAD Workflows Broken Down
BMAD workflows seem to always be broken down in steps, then questions. Is that correct ?
Can I use the workflows using “raw LLMs” or do I have to first load personas?
BMAD Workflows Time Estimates
This is a very insightful prompt, you will like to read the detailed answer if you try it (in short, that BMAD workflow takes ~3H to go thru):
*For the all the BMAD workflows (installed in our project):
Indicate how many steps are involved
For each step indicate how many questions are asked to the user (me)
Given the 2 previous points, estimate the time necessary to go thru each entire workflow
Indicate if other crucial parameter(s) is/are to take into account Create a matrix table to summarize the findings.*
BMAD Cheatsheet
PRD = product-level planning = product vision, functional requirements, non-functional requirements Architecture = system-level design = system design Epics+Stories = created AFTER architecture is complete
*workflow-init
Analyst
Initialize a new project
*workflow-status
Any
Check progress and next steps
*prd
PM
Create Product Requirements Document
*create-architecture
Architect
Create architecture document
*create-epics-and-stories
PM
Break down PRD into epics
*implementation-readiness
Architect
Validate planning cohesion
*sprint-planning
SM
Initialize sprint tracking
*create-story
SM
Create a story file
*dev-story
DEV
Implement a story
*code-review
DEV
Review implemented code
Agent
Specialized AI persona with specific expertise (PM, Architect, SM, DEV, TEA) that guides users through workflows and creates deliverables.
Workflow
Multi-step guided process that orchestrates AI agent activities to produce specific deliverables. Workflows are interactive and adapt to user context.
Scale-Adaptive System
Intelligent workflow orchestration that adjusts planning depth and documentation requirements based on project needs through three planning tracks.
BMM
BMad Method Module — core orchestration system providing comprehensive lifecycle management through specialized agents and workflows.
BMad Method
Complete methodology for AI-assisted software development, encompassing planning, architecture, implementation, and quality assurance workflows that adapt to project complexity.
BMad
Breakthrough Method of Agile AI Driven Development — AI-driven agile framework with specialized agents, guided workflows, and scale-adaptive intelligence.
| TRACKS - Scale and Complexity | |-------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Quick Flow Track | Lightweight planning using a tech spec only. Intended for small changes, fixes, or clearly scoped work (about 1–15 stories). | | BMad Method Track | Full planning with PRD, architecture, and UX. Used for products or complex features that need system-level design (about 10–50+ stories). | | Enterprise Method Track | Extended planning for enterprise needs, adding security, DevOps, and test strategy. Used for large or regulated systems (30+ stories). | | Planning Track | The planning approach selected based on complexity and requirements, not just story count. |
| Planning Docs | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | PRD | Product Requirements Document for BMad Method/Enterprise tracks containing vision, goals, functional and non‑functional requirements, and success criteria. | | Product Brief | Optional strategic document created in Phase 1 to capture product vision, market context, user needs, and high‑level requirements before detailed planning. |
| Planning Docs | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Tech‑Spec | Quick Flow planning document containing the technical plan with problem statement, solution approach, file‑level changes, and testing strategy. | | Architecture Doc | System‑wide design document for BMad Method/Enterprise tracks defining structure, components, data models, integration patterns, security, and deployment. | | Epics | High‑level feature groupings containing multiple related stories. Typically 5–15 stories each and representing cohesive functionality. |
| Workflow and Phases | |------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Phase 0: Documentation | Conditional prerequisite phase creating codebase documentation before planning if existing docs are insufficient. | | Phase 1: Analysis | Discovery phase including brainstorming, research, and product brief creation. Optional for Quick Flow and recommended for other tracks. | | Phase 2: Planning | Required phase creating formal requirements. Routes to tech‑spec (Quick Flow) or PRD (BMad Method/Enterprise) based on track. | | Phase 3: Solutioning | Architecture design phase including creation, validation, and gate checks. Required for BMad Method and Enterprise tracks. | | Phase 4: Implementation| Required sprint‑based development through story‑by‑story iteration using sprint‑planning, create‑story, dev‑story, and code‑review workflows. | | Quick Spec Flow | Fast‑track workflow for Quick Flow projects going straight from idea to tech‑spec to implementation. | | Workflow Init | Initialization workflow that creates bmm‑workflow‑status.yaml, detects project type, and determines planning track. | | Workflow Status | Universal entry point checking for existing status file, displaying current progress, and recommending next action. |
More on https://docs.bmad-method.org/reference/glossary/
BMAD Install Annex
? JohnDoe directory: /Users/JohnDoe/workspaceJohnDoe/myapp-monorepo/
Resolved installation path: /Users/JohnDoe/workspaceJohnDoe/myapp-monorepo/ Directory exists and contains 12 item(s) ? Install to this directory? Yes ? Select tools to configure: GitHub Copilot ⭐ ? Will you be installing any official BMad modules (BMad Method, BMad Builder, Creative Innovation Suite)? Yes ? Select modules to install: BMB: BMad Builder - Agent, Workflow and Module Builder, BMM: BMad Method Agile-AI Driven-Development ? Would you like to install a local custom module (this includes custom agents and workflows also)? No
? BMad™ Core Configuration ? What shall the agents call you (TIP: Use a team name if using with a group)? JohnDoe ? Preferred chat language/style? (English, Mandarin, English Pirate, etc...) English ? Preferred document output language? English ? Where should default output files be saved unless specified in other modules? _bmad-output
? BMad Optimized Builder (BoMB) Module Configuration ? Accept Defaults (no to customize)? Yes
? BMad Method™: Breakthrough Method of Agile-Ai Driven-Dev ? Accept Defaults (no to customize)? Yes
✔ Core installed ✔ Dependencies resolved ✔ Module installed: bmb ✔ Module installed: bmm ✔ Module configurations generated ✔ Manifests generated: 37 workflows, 13 agents, 4 tasks, 0 tools, 54 files ✔ Configured: github-copilot ✔ Module-specific installers completed
✨ BMAD is ready to use! Installed to: /Users/JohnDoe/workspaceJohnDoe/workspaceJohnDoe/myapp-monorepo/_bmad Modules: bmb, bmm
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