| name | to-issues |
| description | Break a plan/PRD into independent vertical-slice Beads issues with explicit dependencies. |
to-issues
Convert a plan, PRD, or feature brief into small, independently executable Beads tasks.
When to use
- User asks to break work into tickets/issues.
- You have a PRD/plan and need execution-ready slices.
Process
1) Gather source context
Use available material first:
- Conversation context
- PRD/plan text
- Existing bead (
bd show <id>)
- Relevant codebase context
If user provides an external issue/URL, map it into local context before decomposition.
2) Draft tracer-bullet vertical slices
Each slice must be an end-to-end path through relevant layers (contract, logic, integration, verification), not a single-layer chunk.
Rules:
- Demoable/verifiable on its own
- Prefer many thin slices over few large slices
- Minimize cross-slice coupling
- Mark slices as:
AFK: can execute without user intervention
HITL: requires human decision/review checkpoint
3) Review slice plan with user
Present a numbered list with:
- Title
- Type (
AFK/HITL)
- Blocked by (if any)
- User stories covered (if source has stories)
Refine until approved.
4) Create Beads issues
Create issues in dependency order so blockers exist first.
Use this issue body format:
## What to build
Concise vertical-slice behavior description.
Acceptance criteria
Blocked by
- None - can start immediately
or
-
Notes
- Type: AFK/HITL
- Risks or assumptions
Commands:
bd create --type task --title "<slice title>" --description "<template markdown>" --priority 2 --repo .
bd dep add <slice-id> --blocks <blocked-id>
If slices derive from a parent PRD/feature, attach children:
bd create --type task --parent <parent-id> --title "<slice title>" --description "<template markdown>" --priority 2 --repo .
5) Validate and report
- Verify dependency graph (
bd children <parent-id> and/or bd graph)
- Confirm no orphaned critical-path work
- Add
worklog: comment to parent summarizing decomposition decisions