12 KiB
BMAD Quick Flow
Track: Quick Flow Primary Agent: Quick Flow Solo Dev (Barry) Ideal For: Bug fixes, small features, rapid prototyping
Overview
BMAD Quick Flow is the fastest path from idea to production in the BMAD Method ecosystem. It's a streamlined 3-step process designed for rapid spec driven development without sacrificing quality. Perfect for experienced teams who need to move fast or for smaller features or 1 off efforts that don't require extensive planning.
When to Use Quick Flow
Perfect For:
- Bug fixes and patches
- Small feature additions
- Proof of concepts and prototypes
- Mid course corrections or additions of something missed in BMM full planning
- Performance optimizations
- API endpoint additions
- UI component enhancements
- Configuration changes
- Internal tools
Not Recommended For:
- Large-scale system redesigns
- Complex multi-team projects
- New product launches
- Projects requiring extensive UX design
- Enterprise-wide initiatives
- Mission-critical systems with compliance requirements
- Ideas with many 'moving pieces'
The Quick Flow Process
Utilizing the Quick Flow Solo Dev, this one agent can do it all!
- Create an (option) Technical Specification
- Develop with Tests
- AI Driven Code Review
That's it! Lets look at each step in more detail though.
Step 1: Optional Technical Specification
The create-tech-spec workflow transforms requirements into implementation-ready specifications.
Key Features:
- Conversational spec engineering
- Automatic codebase pattern detection
- Context gathering from existing code
- Implementation-ready task breakdown
- Acceptance criteria definition
Process Flow:
-
Problem Understanding
- Greet user and gather requirements
- Ask clarifying questions about scope and constraints
- Check for existing project context
-
Code Investigation (Brownfield)
- Analyze existing codebase patterns
- Document tech stack and conventions
- Identify files to modify and dependencies
-
Specification Generation
- Create structured tech specification
- Define clear tasks and acceptance criteria
- Document technical decisions
- Include development context
-
Review and Finalize
- Present spec for validation
- Make adjustments as needed
- Save to sprint artifacts
Output: {implementation_artifacts}/tech-spec-{slug}.md
Step 2: Development
The quick-dev workflow executes implementation with flexibility and speed.
Two Execution Modes:
Mode A: Tech-Spec Driven
# Execute from tech spec
quick-dev tech-spec-feature-x.md
- Loads and parses technical specification
- Extracts tasks, context, and acceptance criteria
- Executes all tasks in sequence
- Updates spec status on completion
Mode B: Direct Instructions
# Direct development commands
quick-dev "Add password reset to auth service"
quick-dev "Fix the memory leak in image processing"
- Accepts direct development instructions
- Offers optional planning step
- Executes immediately with minimal friction
Development Process:
-
Context Loading
- Load project context if available
- Understand patterns and conventions
- Identify relevant files and dependencies
-
Implementation Loop For each task:
- Load relevant files and context
- Implement following established patterns
- Write appropriate tests
- Run and verify tests pass
- Mark task complete and continue
-
Continuous Execution
- Works through all tasks without stopping
- Handles failures by requesting guidance
- Ensures tests pass before continuing
-
Verification
- Confirms all tasks complete
- Validates acceptance criteria
- Updates tech spec status if used
Step 3: Optional Code Review
The code-review workflow provides senior developer review of implemented code.
When to Use:
- Production-critical features
- Security-sensitive implementations
- Performance optimizations
- Team development scenarios
- Learning and knowledge transfer
Review Process:
- Load story context and acceptance criteria
- Analyze code implementation
- Check against project patterns
- Validate test coverage
- Provide structured review notes
- Suggest improvements if needed
Quick Flow vs Other Tracks
| Aspect | Quick Flow | BMad Method | Enterprise Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning | Minimal/Optional | Structured | Comprehensive |
| Documentation | Essential only | Moderate | Extensive |
| Team Size | 1-2 developers | 3-7 specialists | 8+ enterprise team |
| Timeline | Hours to days | Weeks to months | Months to quarters |
| Ceremony | Minimal | Balanced | Full governance |
| Flexibility | High | Moderate | Structured |
| Risk Profile | Medium | Low | Very Low |
Best Practices
Before Starting Quick Flow
-
Validate Track Selection
- Is the feature small enough?
- Do you have clear requirements?
- Is the team comfortable with rapid development?
-
Prepare Context
- Have project documentation ready
- Know your codebase patterns
- Identify affected components upfront
-
Set Clear Boundaries
- Define in-scope and out-of-scope items
- Establish acceptance criteria
- Identify dependencies
During Development
-
Maintain Velocity
- Don't over-engineer solutions
- Follow existing patterns
- Keep tests proportional to risk
-
Stay Focused
- Resist scope creep
- Handle edge cases later if possible
- Document decisions briefly
-
Communicate Progress
- Update task status regularly
- Flag blockers immediately
- Share learning with team
After Completion
-
Quality Gates
- Ensure tests pass
- Verify acceptance criteria
- Consider optional code review
-
Knowledge Transfer
- Update relevant documentation
- Share key decisions
- Note any discovered patterns
-
Production Readiness
- Verify deployment requirements
- Check monitoring needs
- Plan rollback strategy
Quick Flow Templates
Tech Spec Template
# Tech-Spec: {Feature Title}
**Created:** {date}
**Status:** Ready for Development
**Estimated Effort:** Small (1-2 days)
## Overview
### Problem Statement
{Clear description of what needs to be solved}
### Solution
{High-level approach to solving the problem}
### Scope (In/Out)
**In:** {What will be implemented}
**Out:** {Explicitly excluded items}
## Context for Development
### Codebase Patterns
{Key patterns to follow, conventions}
### Files to Reference
{List of relevant files and their purpose}
### Technical Decisions
{Important technical choices and rationale}
## Implementation Plan
### Tasks
- [ ] Task 1: {Specific implementation task}
- [ ] Task 2: {Specific implementation task}
- [ ] Task 3: {Testing and validation}
### Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] AC 1: {Given/When/Then format}
- [ ] AC 2: {Given/When/Then format}
## Additional Context
### Dependencies
{External dependencies or prerequisites}
### Testing Strategy
{How the feature will be tested}
### Notes
{Additional considerations}
Quick Dev Commands
# From tech spec
quick-dev sprint-artifacts/tech-spec-user-auth.md
# Direct development
quick-dev "Add CORS middleware to API endpoints"
quick-dev "Fix null pointer exception in user service"
quick-dev "Optimize database query for user list"
# With optional planning
quick-dev "Implement file upload feature" --plan
Integration with Other Workflows
Upgrading Tracks
If a Quick Flow feature grows in complexity:
flowchart LR
QF[Quick Flow] --> CHECK{Complexity Increases?}
CHECK -->|Yes| UPGRADE[Upgrade to BMad Method]
CHECK -->|No| CONTINUE[Continue Quick Flow]
UPGRADE --> PRD[Create PRD]
PRD --> ARCH[Architecture Design]
ARCH --> STORIES[Create Epics/Stories]
STORIES --> SPRINT[Sprint Planning]
style QF fill:#e1f5fe
style UPGRADE fill:#fff3e0
style PRD fill:#f3e5f5
style ARCH fill:#e8f5e9
style STORIES fill:#f1f8e9
style SPRINT fill:#e0f2f1
Using Party Mode
For complex Quick Flow challenges:
# Start Barry
/bmad:bmm:agents:quick-flow-solo-dev
# Begin party mode for collaborative problem-solving
party-mode
Party mode brings in relevant experts:
- Architect - For design decisions
- Dev - For implementation pairing
- QA - For test strategy
- UX Designer - For user experience
- Analyst - For requirements clarity
Quality Assurance Integration
Quick Flow can integrate with TEA agent for automated testing:
- Test case generation
- Automated test execution
- Coverage analysis
- Test healing
Common Quick Flow Scenarios
Scenario 1: Bug Fix
Requirement: "Users can't reset passwords"
Process: Direct development (no spec needed)
Steps: Investigate → Fix → Test → Deploy
Time: 2-4 hours
Scenario 2: Small Feature
Requirement: "Add export to CSV functionality"
Process: Tech spec → Development → Code review
Steps: Spec → Implement → Test → Review → Deploy
Time: 1-2 days
Scenario 3: Performance Fix
Requirement: "Optimize slow product search query"
Process: Tech spec → Development → Review
Steps: Analysis → Optimize → Benchmark → Deploy
Time: 1 day
Scenario 4: API Addition
Requirement: "Add webhook endpoints for integrations"
Process: Tech spec → Development → Review
Steps: Design → Implement → Document → Deploy
Time: 2-3 days
Metrics and KPIs
Track these metrics to ensure Quick Flow effectiveness:
Velocity Metrics:
- Features completed per week
- Average cycle time (hours)
- Bug fix resolution time
- Code review turnaround
Quality Metrics:
- Defect escape rate
- Test coverage percentage
- Production incident rate
- Code review findings
Team Metrics:
- Developer satisfaction
- Knowledge sharing frequency
- Process adherence
- Autonomy index
Troubleshooting Quick Flow
Common Issues
Issue: Scope creep during development Solution: Refer back to tech spec, explicitly document new requirements
Issue: Unknown patterns or conventions Solution: Use party-mode to bring in architect or senior dev
Issue: Testing bottleneck Solution: Leverage TEA agent for automated test generation
Issue: Integration conflicts Solution: Document dependencies, coordinate with affected teams
Emergency Procedures
Production Hotfix:
- Create branch from production
- Quick dev with minimal changes
- Deploy to staging
- Quick regression test
- Deploy to production
- Merge to main
Critical Bug:
- Immediate investigation
- Party-mode if unclear
- Quick fix with rollback plan
- Post-mortem documentation
Related Documentation
- Quick Flow Solo Dev Agent - Primary agent for Quick Flow
- Agents Guide - Complete agent reference
- Scale Adaptive System - Track selection guidance
- Party Mode - Multi-agent collaboration
- Workflow Implementation - Implementation details
FAQ
Q: How do I know if my feature is too big for Quick Flow? A: If it requires more than 3-5 days of work, affects multiple systems significantly, or needs extensive UX design, consider the BMad Method track.
Q: Can I switch from Quick Flow to BMad Method mid-development? A: Yes, you can upgrade. Create the missing artifacts (PRD, architecture) and transition to sprint-based development.
Q: Is Quick Flow suitable for production-critical features? A: Yes, with code review. Quick Flow doesn't sacrifice quality, just ceremony.
Q: How do I handle dependencies between Quick Flow features? A: Document dependencies clearly, consider batching related features, or upgrade to BMad Method for complex interdependencies.
Q: Can junior developers use Quick Flow? A: Yes, but they may benefit from the structure of BMad Method. Quick Flow assumes familiarity with patterns and autonomy.
Ready to ship fast? → Start with /bmad:bmm:agents:quick-flow-solo-dev