The execSync call for 'npx agentvibes@latest install' was failing with
'Permission denied' because the shell was trying to execute 'agentvibes@latest'
directly instead of passing it as an argument to npx.
Adding shell: true ensures the command runs in a proper shell context
where npx can correctly interpret the @latest version syntax.
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
Instead of showing manual installation instructions, the installer now:
- Prompts "Press Enter to start AgentVibes installer..."
- Automatically runs npx agentvibes@latest install
- Handles errors gracefully with fallback instructions
This provides a seamless installation flow matching the test script's
interactive approach.
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
## Overview
This commit represents a complete overhaul of the BMAD agent creation system, establishing clear standards for agent development, installation workflows, and persona design. The changes span documentation, tooling, reference implementations, and field-specific guidance.
## Key Components
### 1. Agent Installation Infrastructure
**New CLI Command: `agent-install`**
- Interactive agent installation with persona customization
- Supports Simple (single YAML), Expert (sidecar files), and Module agents
- Template variable processing with Handlebars-style syntax
- Automatic compilation from YAML to XML (.md) format
- Manifest tracking and IDE integration (Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, etc.)
- Source preservation in `_cfg/custom/agents/` for reinstallation
**Files Created:**
- `tools/cli/commands/agent-install.js` - Main CLI command
- `tools/cli/lib/agent/compiler.js` - YAML to XML compilation engine
- `tools/cli/lib/agent/installer.js` - Installation orchestration
- `tools/cli/lib/agent/template-engine.js` - Handlebars template processing
**Compiler Features:**
- Auto-injects frontmatter, activation, handlers, help/exit menu items
- Smart handler inclusion (only includes action/workflow/exec/tmpl handlers actually used)
- Proper XML escaping and formatting
- Persona name customization (e.g., "Fred the Commit Poet")
### 2. Documentation Overhaul
**Deleted Bloated/Outdated Docs (2,651 lines removed):**
- Old verbose architecture docs
- Redundant pattern files
- Outdated workflow guides
**Created Focused, Type-Specific Docs:**
- `src/modules/bmb/docs/understanding-agent-types.md` - Architecture vs capability distinction
- `src/modules/bmb/docs/simple-agent-architecture.md` - Self-contained agents
- `src/modules/bmb/docs/expert-agent-architecture.md` - Agents with sidecar files
- `src/modules/bmb/docs/module-agent-architecture.md` - Workflow-integrated agents
- `src/modules/bmb/docs/agent-compilation.md` - YAML → XML process
- `src/modules/bmb/docs/agent-menu-patterns.md` - Menu design patterns
- `src/modules/bmb/docs/index.md` - Documentation hub
**Net Result:** ~1,930 line reduction while adding MORE value through focused content
### 3. Create-Agent Workflow Enhancements
**Critical Persona Field Guidance Added to Step 4:**
Explains how the LLM interprets each persona field when the agent activates:
- **role** → "What knowledge, skills, and capabilities do I possess?"
- **identity** → "What background, experience, and context shape my responses?"
- **communication_style** → "What verbal patterns, word choice, quirks, and phrasing do I use?"
- **principles** → "What beliefs and operating philosophy drive my choices?"
**Key Insight:** `communication_style` should ONLY describe HOW the agent talks, not restate role/identity/principles. The `communication-presets.csv` provides 60 pure communication styles with NO role/identity/principles mixed in.
**Files Updated:**
- `src/modules/bmb/workflows/create-agent/instructions.md` - Added persona field interpretation guide
- `src/modules/bmb/workflows/create-agent/brainstorm-context.md` - Refined to 137 lines
- `src/modules/bmb/workflows/create-agent/communication-presets.csv` - 60 styles across 13 categories
### 4. Reference Agent Cleanup
**Removed install_config Personality Bloat:**
Understanding: Future installer will handle personality customization, so stripped all personality toggles from reference agents.
**commit-poet.agent.yaml** (Simple Agent):
- BEFORE: 36 personality combinations (3 enthusiasm × 3 depths × 4 styles) = decision fatigue
- AFTER: Single concise persona with pure communication style
- Changed from verbose conditionals to: "Poetic drama and flair with every turn of a phrase. I transform mundane commits into lyrical masterpieces, finding beauty in your code's evolution."
- Reduction: 248 lines → 153 lines (38% reduction)
**journal-keeper.agent.yaml** (Expert Agent):
- Stripped install_config, simplified communication_style
- Shows proper Expert agent structure with sidecar files
**security-engineer.agent.yaml & trend-analyst.agent.yaml** (Module Agents):
- Added header comments explaining WHY Module Agent (design intent, not just location)
- Clarified: Module agents are designed FOR ecosystem integration, not capability-limited
**Files Updated:**
- `src/modules/bmb/reference/agents/simple-examples/commit-poet.agent.yaml`
- `src/modules/bmb/reference/agents/expert-examples/journal-keeper/journal-keeper.agent.yaml`
- `src/modules/bmb/reference/agents/module-examples/security-engineer.agent.yaml`
- `src/modules/bmb/reference/agents/module-examples/trend-analyst.agent.yaml`
### 5. BMM Agent Voice Enhancement
**Gave all 9 BMM agents distinct, memorable communication voices:**
**Mary (analyst)** - The favorite! Changed from generic "systematic and probing" to:
"Treats analysis like a treasure hunt - excited by every clue, thrilled when patterns emerge. Asks questions that spark 'aha!' moments while structuring insights with precision."
**Other Notable Voices:**
- **John (pm):** "Asks 'WHY?' relentlessly like a detective on a case. Direct and data-sharp, cuts through fluff to what actually matters."
- **Winston (architect):** "Speaks in calm, pragmatic tones, balancing 'what could be' with 'what should be.' Champions boring technology that actually works."
- **Amelia (dev):** "Ultra-succinct. Speaks in file paths and AC IDs - every statement citable. No fluff, all precision."
- **Bob (sm):** "Crisp and checklist-driven. Every word has a purpose, every requirement crystal clear. Zero tolerance for ambiguity."
- **Sally (ux-designer):** "Paints pictures with words, telling user stories that make you FEEL the problem. Empathetic advocate with creative storytelling flair."
**Pattern Applied:** Moved behaviors from communication_style to principles, keeping communication_style as PURE verbal patterns.
**Files Updated:**
- `src/modules/bmm/agents/analyst.agent.yaml`
- `src/modules/bmm/agents/pm.agent.yaml`
- `src/modules/bmm/agents/architect.agent.yaml`
- `src/modules/bmm/agents/dev.agent.yaml`
- `src/modules/bmm/agents/sm.agent.yaml`
- `src/modules/bmm/agents/tea.agent.yaml`
- `src/modules/bmm/agents/tech-writer.agent.yaml`
- `src/modules/bmm/agents/ux-designer.agent.yaml`
- `src/modules/bmm/agents/frame-expert.agent.yaml`
### 6. Linting Fixes
**ESLint Compliance:**
- Replaced all `'utf-8'` with `'utf8'` (unicorn/text-encoding-identifier-case)
- Changed `variables.hasOwnProperty(varName)` to `Object.hasOwn(variables, varName)` (unicorn/prefer-object-has-own)
- Replaced `JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(...))` with `structuredClone(...)` (unicorn/prefer-structured-clone)
- Fixed empty YAML mapping values in sample files
**Files Fixed:**
- 7 JavaScript files across agent tooling (compiler, installer, commands, IDE integration)
- 1 YAML sample file
## Architecture Decisions
### Agent Types Are About Architecture, Not Capability
- **Simple:** Self-contained in single YAML (NOT limited in capability)
- **Expert:** Includes sidecar files (templates, docs, etc.)
- **Module:** Designed for BMAD ecosystem integration (workflows, cross-agent coordination)
### Persona Field Separation Critical for LLM Interpretation
The LLM needs distinct fields to understand its role:
- Mixing role/identity/principles into communication_style confuses the persona
- Pure communication styles (from communication-presets.csv) have ZERO role/identity/principles content
- Example DON'T: "Experienced analyst who uses systematic approaches..." (mixing identity + style)
- Example DO: "Systematic and probing. Structures findings hierarchically." (pure style)
### Install-Time vs Runtime Configuration
- Template variables ({{var}}) resolve at compile-time
- Runtime variables ({user_name}, {bmad_folder}) resolve when agent activates
- Future installer will handle personality customization, so agents should ship with single default persona
## Testing
- All linting passes (ESLint with max-warnings=0)
- Agent compilation tested with commit-poet, journal-keeper examples
- Install workflow validated with Simple and Expert agent types
- Manifest tracking and IDE integration verified
## Impact
This establishes BMAD as having a complete, production-ready agent creation and installation system with:
- Clear documentation for all agent types
- Automated compilation and installation
- Strong persona design guidance
- Reference implementations showing best practices
- Distinct, memorable agent voices throughout BMM module
Co-Authored-By: BMad Builder <builder@bmad.dev>
Co-Authored-By: Mary the Analyst <analyst@bmad.dev>
Co-Authored-By: Paige the Tech Writer <tech-writer@bmad.dev>
Implements comprehensive Text-to-Speech integration for BMAD agents using a generic
TTS_INJECTION marker system. When AgentVibes (or any compatible TTS provider) is
installed, all BMAD agents can speak their responses with unique AI voices.
## Key Features
**Provider-Agnostic Architecture**
- Uses generic `TTS_INJECTION` markers instead of vendor-specific naming
- Future-proof for multiple TTS providers beyond AgentVibes
- Clean separation - BMAD stays TTS-agnostic, providers handle injection
**Installation Flow**
- BMAD → AgentVibes: TTS instructions injected when AgentVibes detects existing BMAD installation
- AgentVibes → BMAD: TTS instructions injected during BMAD installation when AgentVibes detected
- User must manually create voice assignment file when AgentVibes installs first (documented limitation)
**Party Mode Voice Support**
- Each agent speaks with unique assigned voice in multi-agent discussions
- PM, Architect, Developer, Analyst, UX Designer, etc. - all with distinct voices
**Zero Breaking Changes**
- Fully backward compatible - works without any TTS provider
- `TTS_INJECTION` markers are benign HTML comments if not processed
- No changes to existing agent behavior or non-TTS workflows
## Implementation Details
**Files Modified:**
- `tools/cli/installers/lib/core/installer.js` - TTS injection processing logic
- `tools/cli/lib/ui.js` - AgentVibes detection and installation prompts
- `tools/cli/commands/install.js` - Post-install guidance for AgentVibes setup
- `src/utility/models/fragments/activation-rules.xml` - TTS_INJECTION marker for agents
- `src/core/workflows/party-mode/instructions.md` - TTS_INJECTION marker for party mode
**Injection Point System:**
```xml
<rules>
- ALWAYS communicate in {communication_language}
<!-- TTS_INJECTION:agent-tts -->
- Stay in character until exit selected
</rules>
```
When AgentVibes is detected, the installer replaces this marker with:
```
- When responding to user messages, speak your responses using TTS:
Call: `.claude/hooks/bmad-speak.sh '{agent-id}' '{response-text}'` after each response
IMPORTANT: Use single quotes - do NOT escape special characters like ! or $
```
**Special Character Handling:**
- Explicit guidance to use single quotes without escaping
- Prevents "backslash exclamation" artifacts in speech
**User Experience:**
```
User: "How should we architect this feature?"
Architect: [Text response] + 🔊 [Professional voice explains architecture]
```
Party Mode:
```
PM (John): "I'll focus on user value..." 🔊 [Male professional voice]
UX Designer (Sara): "From a user perspective..." 🔊 [Female voice]
Architect (Marcus): "The technical approach..." 🔊 [Male technical voice]
```
## Testing
**Unit Tests:** ✅ 62/62 passing
- 49/49 schema validation tests
- 13/13 installation component tests
**Integration Testing:**
- ✅ BMAD → AgentVibes (automatic injection)
- ✅ AgentVibes → BMAD (automatic injection)
- ✅ No TTS provider (markers remain as comments)
## Documentation
Comprehensive testing guide created with:
- Both installation scenario walkthroughs
- Verification commands and expected outputs
- Troubleshooting guidance
## Known Limitations
**AgentVibes → BMAD Installation Order:**
When AgentVibes installs first, voice assignment file must be created manually:
```bash
mkdir -p .bmad/_cfg
cat > .bmad/_cfg/agent-voice-map.csv << 'EOF'
agent_id,voice_name
pm,en_US-ryan-high
architect,en_US-danny-low
dev,en_US-joe-medium
EOF
```
This limitation exists to prevent false legacy v4 detection warnings from BMAD installer.
**Recommended:** Install BMAD first, then AgentVibes for automatic voice assignment.
## Related Work
**Companion Implementation:**
- Repository: paulpreibisch/AgentVibes
- Commits: 6 commits implementing injection processing and voice routing
- Features: Retroactive injection, file path extraction, escape stripping
**GitHub Issues:**
- paulpreibisch/AgentVibes#36 - BMAD agent ID support
## Breaking Changes
None. Feature is opt-in and requires separate TTS provider installation.
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
- Fix manifest reading to use manifest.yaml instead of manifest.csv
- Show previously configured IDEs as selected by default in UI
- Skip configuration prompts for already configured IDEs during updates
- Properly collect IDE configurations during full reinstall
- Handle installation cancellation without throwing errors
Paul Preibisch
Claude Code
Brian Madison