Adds support for delegating adversarial code reviews to external CLI agents
(Codex, Gemini, or Claude) when available. This provides independent, unbiased
code reviews from a different AI model.
Changes:
- Add invoke-bash and set-var tags to workflow.xml execution engine
- Add external_review_agents configuration to install-config.yaml
- Rewrite code-review workflow to detect and invoke external agents
- Cache agent detection in config.yaml to avoid repeated CLI checks
- Add fallback to built-in review if external agents unavailable/fail
- Update checklist to reflect new external agent workflow
External agent invocation:
- Codex: codex exec --full-auto "prompt"
- Gemini: gemini -p "prompt" --yolo
- Claude: claude -p "prompt" --dangerously-skip-permissions
- 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 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
## 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.
* feat: add frame-expert agent definition
- Add frame-expert.agent.yaml with persona and workflow menu
- Agent specializes in Excalidraw visual representations
- Supports flowcharts, diagrams, dataflows, and wireframes
Closes#890
* feat: add frame-expert workflows and shared resources
- Add 4 workflows: create-flowchart, create-diagram, create-dataflow, create-wireframe
- Include shared Excalidraw helpers, library, templates, and validation
- Each workflow has instructions, checklist, and workflow.yaml
Related to #890
* feat: register frame-expert workflows in manifest
- Add create-flowchart workflow entry
- Add create-diagram workflow entry
- Add create-dataflow workflow entry
- Add create-wireframe workflow entry
Related to #890
* feat: integrate frame-expert into team configurations
- Add frame-expert to default-party.csv with full agent details
- Add frame-expert to team-fullstack.yaml agent list
- Frame-expert now available in fullstack team workflows
Related to #890
- Installation path is now fully configurable, allowing users to specify custom installation directories during setup
- Default installation location changed to .bmad (hidden directory) for cleaner project root organization
Web Bundle Improvements:
- All web bundles (single agent and team) now include party mode support for multi-agent collaboration!
- Advanced elicitation capabilities integrated into standalone agents
- All bundles enhanced with party mode agent manifests
- Added default-party.csv files to bmm, bmgd, and cis module teams
- The default party file is what will be used with single agent bundles. teams can customize for different party configurations before web bundling through a setting in the team yaml file
- New web bundle outputs for all agents (analyst, architect, dev, pm, sm, tea, tech-writer, ux-designer, game-*, creative-squad)
Phase 4 Workflow Updates (In Progress):
- Initiated shift to separate phase 4 implementation artifacts from documentation
- Phase 4 implementation artifacts (stories, code review, sprint plan, context files) will move to dedicated location outside docs folder
- Installer questions and configuration added for artifact path selection
- Updated workflow.yaml files for code-review, sprint-planning, story-context, epic-tech-context, and retrospective workflows to support this, but still might require some udpates
Additional Changes:
- New agent and action command header models for standardization
- Enhanced web-bundle-activation-steps fragment
- Updated web-bundler.js to support new structure
- VS Code settings updated for new .bmad directory
- Party mode instructions and workflow enhanced for better orchestration
IDE Installer Updates:
- Show version number of installer in cli
- improved Installer UX
- Gemini TOML Improved to have clear loading instructions with @ commands
- All tools agent launcher mds improved to use a central file template critical indication isntead of hardcoding in 2 different locations.
Scott Jennings
Alex Verkhovsky
Hang
Nguyen Quang Huy
Murat K Ozcan
Brian Madison
Dicky Moore
mrsaifullah52