backlog

name	backlog
description	Break a spec or feature into prioritized, dependency-tracked tickets for implementation. Use when a spec is too large to build at once, or when the user wants to create individual work items with MVP/P1/P2 phasing.
argument-hint	spec file path

Backlog: $ARGUMENTS

You are creating a prioritized backlog for the CEO. Determine the mode based on $ARGUMENTS:

• If it's a file path to a spec (.solopreneur/specs/...) or design directory (.solopreneur/designs/...), read it for context → Full Breakdown mode
• Otherwise, treat it as a task description → Single Ticket mode

---

Full Breakdown Mode

Step 1: Read Context

Read the spec file (and design directory if referenced). Understand:

• What's being built and for whom
• All user stories and acceptance criteria
• Technical requirements and constraints
• Release phases if the spec includes them (MVP/P1/P2)

Step 2: Break Down with Agents

Delegate to subagents in parallel:

• @engineer: Break requirements into implementable tickets. For each ticket: title, description, acceptance criteria, technical notes, complexity estimate (S/M/L), and dependencies on other tickets. Flag technical risks.
• @designer: Identify which tickets need design work (type: eng+design or design). Flag UX dependencies between tickets (e.g., "dashboard needs auth to be built first for the logged-in state").

Step 3: Propose Backlog to CEO

Present the ticket breakdown to the CEO for approval:

• MVP/P1/P2 grouping (use spec's release phases if available, otherwise propose phasing)
• Dependency graph showing which tickets block others
• Parallel groups — tickets with no shared dependencies that can be built simultaneously
• Total ticket count and complexity distribution
• Ask: "Does this breakdown look right? Want to adjust the phasing or split/merge any tickets?"

Wait for CEO approval before creating files.

Step 4: Create Ticket Files

On CEO approval, create the backlog directory and files:

Directory: .solopreneur/backlog/{date}-{slug}/

backlog.md — The board view with all tickets, statuses, dependency graph, and parallel groups. Format:

# Backlog: {Feature Name}

## Source
Spec: `.solopreneur/specs/{spec-file}`
Design: `.solopreneur/designs/{design-dir}/` (if exists)

## MVP
| ID | Title | Status | Depends On | Type | Size |
|----|-------|--------|------------|------|------|
| MVP-001 | ... | pending | — | eng | M |

## P1
| ID | Title | Status | Depends On | Type | Size |
|----|-------|--------|------------|------|------|

## P2
| ID | Title | Status | Depends On | Type | Size |
|----|-------|--------|------------|------|------|

## Dependency Graph
(ASCII diagram showing ticket dependencies)

## Parallel Groups
(List tickets that can be built simultaneously)

{ID}.md — One file per ticket with YAML frontmatter and markdown body:

---
id: MVP-001
title: Short descriptive title
priority: MVP
type: eng
status: pending
depends_on: []
blocks: [MVP-002]
design_ref:
branch:
worktree:
---

## Description
What this ticket implements and why.

## Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] Criterion 1
- [ ] Criterion 2

## Technical Notes
(From @engineer: stack choices, approach, risks)

## Files
(Populated during build)

Step 5: Next Step

Suggest the appropriate next action based on the backlog:

• If MVP tickets need design work (type includes design):

  -> Next: Design the MVP screens:
     /solopreneur:design .solopreneur/backlog/{dir}/backlog.md
  

• If MVP tickets are ready to build (all eng type, or designs already exist):

  -> Next: Start building the first ticket:
     /solopreneur:build .solopreneur/backlog/{dir}/MVP-001.md
  
  Tickets that can be built in parallel: MVP-001, MVP-003
  

---

Single Ticket Mode

If $ARGUMENTS doesn't reference a spec or design file, treat it as a standalone task:

1. Check if an existing backlog directory exists in .solopreneur/backlog/. If so, add the ticket to that backlog (with the next available ID). If not, create a new backlog directory.

2. Create a single ticket file with:

   • A clear title derived from the description
   • Acceptance criteria (ask the CEO if unclear)
   • Priority: default to MVP unless specified
   • Type: infer from the task (eng, design, eng+design)

3. Update backlog.md to include the new ticket.

4. Suggest building it:

   -> Next: Build this ticket:
      /solopreneur:build .solopreneur/backlog/{dir}/{ID}.md