BMAD-METHOD/expansion-packs/bmad-technical-writing/tasks/create-index-entries.md

3.2 KiB

Create Index Entries


task: id: create-index-entries name: Create Index Entries description: Generate comprehensive book index with primary entries, secondary entries, and cross-references persona_default: technical-editor inputs:

  • final-manuscript
  • key-terms-list
  • publisher-index-guidelines steps:
  • Extract all key terms from manuscript
  • Identify technical terms, concepts, APIs, methods
  • Create primary index entries (main term)
  • Create secondary entries (sub-topics under main term)
  • Add cross-references ("See also...")
  • Ensure consistent terminology
  • Organize alphabetically
  • Add page number placeholders
  • Review for completeness (all important terms indexed)
  • Format per publisher requirements
  • Run execute-checklist.md with index-completeness-checklist.md output: docs/index/{{book-name}}-index.md

Purpose

Create a comprehensive index that helps readers quickly locate information. A good index makes technical books significantly more useful as reference materials.

Workflow Steps

1. Extract Key Terms

Identify indexable content:

  • Technical terms: API, HTTP, REST, JSON
  • Concepts: Authentication, caching, rate limiting
  • Tools/frameworks: Express.js, Flask, Django
  • Methods/functions: app.get(), request.json()
  • Patterns: MVC, Singleton, Factory
  • Acronyms: CRUD, JWT, CORS

2. Create Primary Entries

Main index entries:

API (Application Programming Interface), 23, 45-52, 89
  authentication, 105-112
  design principles, 67-74
  documentation, 156-163
  REST vs GraphQL, 91-98
  versioning, 142-149

Caching, 201-218
  cache invalidation, 210-212
  HTTP caching headers, 205-209
  Redis implementation, 213-218

3. Add Secondary Entries

Sub-topics under main terms:

Express.js, 34-82
  error handling, 76-82
  middleware, 48-55
  routing, 38-47
  testing, 171-180

4. Cross-References

Link related topics:

Authentication, 105-112
  See also Security, Authorization

JWT (JSON Web Tokens), 108-110
  See also Authentication, Tokens

Tokens
  access tokens, 110
  refresh tokens, 111
  See also JWT, Authentication

5. Ensure Consistency

Maintain uniform terminology:

✅ Correct - Consistent terminology:
API design, 67
REST API, 91
API authentication, 105

❌ Inconsistent:
API design, 67
Designing APIs, 67 (duplicate)
Rest api, 91 (capitalization inconsistent)

6. Format Per Publisher

Follow publisher guidelines:

Manning/O'Reilly Style:

Term, page numbers
  subterm, page numbers
  subterm, page numbers

LaTeX Style:

\index{API}
\index{API!authentication}
\index{API!design}

7. Add Page Placeholders

Structure for page numbering:

API (Application Programming Interface), [TK], [TK]-[TK]
  authentication, [TK]-[TK]
  design principles, [TK]-[TK]

Note: [TK] = "To Come" placeholder for page numbers

Success Criteria

  • All key terms indexed
  • Primary and secondary entries created
  • Cross-references added
  • Consistent terminology
  • Alphabetically organized
  • Publisher format followed
  • Index completeness checklist passed

Next Steps

  1. Submit index to publisher for page numbering
  2. Review final index in page proofs
  3. Update any missing entries