- Add markdownlint-cli2 as dev dependency
- Add lint:md script to package.json
- Add markdownlint job to CI workflow
- Configure 5 rules: heading-increment, no-duplicate-heading,
no-trailing-punctuation, no-bare-urls, no-space-in-emphasis
- Fix existing violations across 19 markdown files
- No auto-fix to prevent destructive changes
Closes#1034🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-authored-by: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
Co-authored-by: Brian <bmadcode@gmail.com>
* update 2024 to 2025
* fix(workflows): remove hardcoded years from WebSearch queries
Years in search queries (2024/2025) do not improve results - search
engines already prioritize current documentation. Tested all patterns
and confirmed identical quality results with/without years.
Removes years from:
- step-03-starter.md (5 queries)
- step-04-decisions.md (2 queries)
- game-architecture/instructions.md (2 queries)
Leaves file-utils.md unchanged (test fixture data, not a search query).
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
* fix(workflows): remove year placeholders from research WebSearch queries
Search engines return current results regardless of year - removes
{{current_year}} and hardcoded 2025 from step-05-technical-trends.md
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
* refactor(workflows): replace {{current_year}} with semantic alternatives
Replaces year placeholder with context-appropriate wording:
- 'current data' for up-to-date information
- 'web searches' without year qualifier
- Updated failure mode to focus on using web searches
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
* fix(workflows): clarify failure mode about stale training data
Rephrased to explicitly mention training data cutoff as the reason
to use web searches for current technology trends.
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
* refactor(workflows): make web search references platform-agnostic
- Remove hardcoded year references from WebSearch queries
- Replace `WebSearch` tool name with natural language "search the web"
- Soften "training data is stale" to "verify and supplement your knowledge"
- Add web search prerequisite check to research workflow
- Add platform-agnostic design note to CLAUDE.md
This framework targets 15+ agentic platforms, not just Claude Code.
Tool-specific syntax like `WebSearch:` won't work across all platforms.
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
* refactor(research): clean up prompts and routing
---------
Co-authored-by: Pomazan Bohdan <pomazan.bogdan@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Brian <bmadcode@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
- Remove validate-prd workflow references from all workflow path YAML files
- Update Excalidraw diagram: remove Validate PRD box and zombie JSON elements
- Re-export SVG at 1x scale
- Standardize implementation-readiness descriptions across all docs
- Add validation script (validate-svg-changes.sh) and README for SVG export process
- Correct Excalidraw timestamps
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-authored-by: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
Co-authored-by: Brian <bmadcode@gmail.com>
- Fix checklist to only accept 'review' status (not 'ready-for-review')
- Include MEDIUM issues in done/in-progress status determination
- Initialize and track fixed_count/action_count variables for summary
- Add sprint-status.yaml sync when story status changes
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-authored-by: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
Replace 'looks good' with `looks good` to avoid nested single quote
issues when IDEs generate command files from workflow YAML.
Co-authored-by: Brian <bmadcode@gmail.com>
* feat: add sprint-status command
* minor changes to reduce the change radius
---------
Co-authored-by: mq-bot <mq-bot@local>
Co-authored-by: Brian <bmadcode@gmail.com>
## Major Features Added
- **Step-file workflow architecture**: Transform monolithic workflows into granular step files for improved LLM adherence and consistency
- **Multi-menu handler system**: New `handler-multi.xml` enables grouped menu items with fuzzy matching
- **Workflow compliance checker**: Added automated compliance validation for all workflows
- **Create/edit agent workflows**: New structured workflows for agent creation and editing
## Workflow Enhancements
- **Create-workflow**: Expanded from 6 to 14 detailed steps covering tools, design, compliance
- **Granular step execution**: Each workflow step now has dedicated files for focused execution
- **New documentation**: Added CSV data standards, intent vs prescriptive spectrum, and common tools reference
## Complete Migration Status
- **4 workflows fully migrated**: `create-agent`, `edit-agent`, `create-workflow`, and `edit-workflow` now use the new granular step-file architecture
- **Legacy transformation**: `edit-workflow` includes built-in capability to transform legacy single-file workflows into the new improved granular format
- **Future cleanup**: Legacy versions will be removed in a future commit after validation
## Schema Updates
- **Multi-menu support**: Updated agent schema to support `triggers` array for grouped menu items
- **Legacy compatibility**: Maintains backward compatibility with single `trigger` field
- **Discussion enhancements**: Added conversational_knowledge recommendation for discussion agents
## File Structure Changes
- Added: `create-agent/`, `edit-agent/`, `edit-workflow/`, `workflow-compliance-check/` workflows
- Added: Documentation standards and CSV reference files
- Refactored: `create-workflow/steps/` with detailed granular step files
## Handler Improvements
- Enhanced `handler-exec.xml` with clearer execution instructions
- Improved data passing context for executed files
- Better error handling and user guidance
This architectural change significantly improves workflow execution consistency across all LLM models by breaking complex processes into manageable, focused steps. The edit-workflow transformation tool ensures smooth migration of existing workflows to the new format.
- Removed all references to Phase 0 (should be Documentation prerequisite)
- Updated phase transitions from 'Phase 3→4' to 'Phase 3 to Phase 4'
- Ensured all phases are numbered 1-4 consistently
- Documentation for brownfield projects is now correctly referred to as 'Documentation prerequisite' rather than Phase 0
- Updated workflows-implementation.md: removed validate workflows, epic-tech-context, story-context
- Updated workflows-analysis.md: removed brainstorm-game, game-brief, added domain-research
- Updated workflows-planning.md: removed gdd, narrative, moved create-epics-and-stories to Phase 3
- Updated workflows-solutioning.md: already correct with create-epics-and-stories in Phase 3
- Removed all Mermaid diagrams and replaced with text descriptions
- Updated quick reference tables to reflect actual workflows
- Fixed flow examples to match current implementation
- Add deployment-aware handler generation (filters web-only/ide-only commands)
- Remove unused run-workflow handler type (ghost handler cleanup)
- Implement missing validate-workflow and data handler generation
- Update schema validation to support exactly 6 active handler types
- Clean up activation templates and web bundler logic
- Prevent generation of unused handler instructions for better performance
- All 62 tests pass with backward compatibility maintained
MAJOR BREAKING CHANGES: Phase 4 completely reengineered for developer efficiency and quality
🚀 **Phase 4 Streamlined & Supercharged:**
- **Reduced from 11 to 5 essential workflows** (55% reduction in complexity)
- **Eliminated redundant steps** that created token waste and confusion
- **Created single source of truth** story files with comprehensive implementation context
- **Achieved more reliable results** with fewer steps and better developer guidance
💡 **Revolutionary Dev Agent Behavior Fixes:**
- **Story file is now LAW:** Tasks/subtasks sequence is absolutely binding
- **Red-green-refactor enforcement:** Tests written first, validated, then implementation
- **Zero tolerance for cheating:** Tests must ACTUALLY exist and pass before marking complete
- **Sequential execution only:** No more "doing whatever you want" - follow the story exactly
- **Continuous execution:** No premature pausing until all tasks complete
🎯 **Quality Competition System:**
- **Enhanced story context engine** prevents common LLM development mistakes
- **Quality competition between LLMs** ensures optimal story preparation
- **Comprehensive anti-pattern prevention** stops wheel reinvention and wrong approaches
- **Developer optimization focus** for maximum clarity with minimum verbosity
📋 **Enhanced Definition of Done:**
- **27-point validation checklist** covers all implementation aspects
- **Multiple validation gates** prevent claiming work that isn't actually done
- **Comprehensive test requirements** ensure no functionality goes untested
- **File tracking and documentation** for complete project visibility
🔧 **Technical Improvements:**
- **Variable consistency** throughout all workflow files
- **XML instruction format** for better workflow engine compatibility
- **Proper ask tag handling** for user interaction clarity
- **Project context integration** without blocking implementation
- **Fixed all agent schema compliance** for proper array formatting
**Result:** Phase 4 now delivers superior development outcomes with:
- ✅ **55% fewer workflows** to learn and maintain
- ✅ **Dramatically reduced token usage** and context switching
- ✅ **Eliminated dev agent behavioral issues** that caused quality problems
- ✅ **Faster time-to-completion** with more reliable, predictable results
- ✅ **Better developer experience** with clearer guidance and validation
This represents the most significant Phase 4 improvement since BMAD Method inception - fundamentally fixing developer workflow quality while drastically simplifying the implementation process.
Major Changes:
- Add sample custom agents demonstrating installable agent system
- commit-poet: Generates semantic commit messages (BMAD Method repo sample)
- toolsmith: Development tooling expert with knowledge base covering bundlers, deployment, docs, installers, modules, and tests (BMAD Method repo sample)
- Both agents demonstrate custom agent architecture and are installable to projects via BMAD installer system
- Include comprehensive installation guides and sidecar knowledge bases
- Add bmad-quick-flow methodology for rapid development
- create-tech-spec: Direct technical specification workflow
- quick-dev: Flexible execution workflow supporting both tech-spec-driven and direct instruction development
- quick-flow-solo-dev (Barry): 1 man show agent specialized in bmad-quick-flow methodology
- Comprehensive documentation for quick-flow approach and solo development
- Remove deprecated tech-spec workflow track
- Delete entire tech-spec workflow directory and templates
- Remove quick-spec-flow.md documentation (replaced by quick-flow docs)
- Clean up unused epic and story templates
- Fix custom agent installation across IDE installers
- Repair antigravity and multiple IDE installers to properly support custom agents
- Enable custom agent installation via quick installer, agent installer, regular installer, and special agent installer
- All installation methods now accessible via npx with full documentation
Infrastructure:
- Update BMM module configurations and team setups
- Modify workflow status paths to support quick-flow integration
- Reorganize documentation with new agent and workflow guides
- Add custom/ directory for user customizations
- Update platform codes and installer configurations
- Remove verbose explanations and marketing language
- Keep only essential commands and process steps
- Reduce from verbose guide to concise reference
- Focus on what users need to know, not explanations
- Change --path → --source (much clearer purpose)
- Change --target → --destination (more intuitive)
- Update all code references and documentation
- Add advanced parameter examples to installation guide
- Keep short aliases: -s for --source, -t for --destination
Parameters are now much more self-explanatory:
- --source: where to find the agent YAML
- --destination: where to install the compiled agent
- Fix npx bmad → npx bmad-method in documentation
- Only bmad-method is registered in npm registry, not bmad
- Clarify that bmad command works locally when BMAD is installed
- Update installation guides to use correct package name
Ensures users don't get 'package not found' errors when trying npx bmad
- Add npx bmad-method agent-install option for users without cloned repo
- Show both local and npx commands side by side
- Clarify when to use each installation option
- Update automatic updates section with npx option
- Add prominent note about npx capability
Users can now install custom agents without needing to clone the BMAD repository.
## The Tale of the Frame Expert
Once upon a time, BMad Method had a specialized agent called Frame Expert.
This agent was the master of all visual artifacts - flowcharts, diagrams,
wireframes, data flows. Whenever anyone needed a diagram, they called upon
Frame Expert. The agent lived in its own isolated domain with four dedicated
workflows and a library of shared templates.
## The Awakening
But something felt wrong. Teams using BMad Method were meant to mirror real
agile teams - Product Managers, Architects, UX Designers, Tech Writers,
Developers. Each agent represented an authentic role you'd find in any
software team.
Except Frame Expert.
No real agile team has a "Frame Expert" or "Diagram Specialist" who creates
all visual artifacts. In real teams, Architects diagram system architecture.
PMs flowchart processes. UX Designers wireframe interfaces. Tech Writers
create documentation diagrams. The visuals emerge from the domain experts
who need them, not from a centralized diagram factory.
Frame Expert was an abstraction that made technical sense but violated the
very soul of BMad Method - authentic agile role modeling.
## The Transformation
And so Frame Expert was dissolved, its knowledge distributed to those who
truly needed it:
**The Architect** inherited system architecture diagrams and data flows -
the blueprints of technical systems they design.
**The Product Manager** received process flowcharts - the visual maps of
features and workflows they orchestrate.
**The UX Designer** claimed wireframes - the interface sketches that bring
their vision to life.
**The Tech Writer** gained all diagram types - the visual aids that clarify
their documentation.
Each agent now creates diagrams in their domain, using their expertise,
serving their purpose.
## The Shared Knowledge
But the wisdom of diagram creation itself - the Excalidraw templates, the
component libraries, the validation patterns - this knowledge was too
valuable to scatter. It was elevated to core resources, where both BMM
agents AND the new CIS presentation-master agent could draw upon it.
Shared infrastructure for common needs. Distributed execution for domain
expertise.
## The Ripple Effects
With diagrams now properly distributed, other misalignments became visible:
Epic creation was happening in Phase 2 (Planning), before Architecture
existed. But epics need architectural context - API contracts, data models,
technical decisions. So epic creation migrated to Phase 3 (Solutioning),
after Architecture provides that foundation.
Workflow paths were updated. Documentation gained visual flowcharts showing
the complete journey. Agent naming standards were clarified - filenames are
stable roles, persona names are user dreams.
## What Changed
**Removed:**
- frame-expert.agent.yaml (the centralized specialist)
- All frame-expert workflows and shared resources
- Phase 2 epic creation workflow (wrong timing)
- game-design workflow path (consolidated to method track)
- v6-open-items.md (planning doc, now complete)
**Distributed Diagram Capabilities:**
- Architect: create-excalidraw-diagram, create-excalidraw-dataflow
- PM: create-excalidraw-flowchart
- Tech Writer: create-excalidraw-{diagram,dataflow,flowchart}, generate-mermaid
- UX Designer: create-excalidraw-wireframe
**Created:**
- src/core/resources/ (shared diagram context for all modules)
- src/modules/cis/agents/presentation-master.agent.yaml (visual comms specialist)
- src/modules/bmm/workflows/3-solutioning/create-epics-and-stories/ (epic creation's new home)
- src/modules/bmm/workflows/diagrams/ (distributed diagram implementations)
- src/modules/bmm/docs/images/ (workflow visualization assets)
**Enhanced:**
- All agent definitions with domain-appropriate diagram workflows
- Documentation with embedded workflow diagrams and visual guides
- Agent compilation docs with critical naming convention rules
- All 4 workflow paths (enterprise/method × brownfield/greenfield)
**Fixed:**
- Epic creation now in Phase 3 after Architecture
- Story context path variables in BMGD module
- PRD workflow descriptions (epics moved to Phase 3)
## For Users
The Frame Expert commands are gone. In their place:
- Need architecture diagrams? Ask `/architect`
- Need process flows? Ask `/pm`
- Need wireframes? Ask `/ux-designer`
- Need documentation visuals? Ask `/tech-writer`
Each expert creates diagrams in their domain, with their context, using
their judgment.
This is how real teams work.
Alex Verkhovsky
Hang
Nguyen Quang Huy
Murat K Ozcan
Brian Madison
Dicky Moore