| name | gsd-add-backlog |
| description | Add an idea to the backlog parking lot (999.x numbering) |
| argument-hint | <description> |
| allowed-tools | Read, Write, Bash |
Add a backlog item to the roadmap using 999.x numbering. Backlog items are
unsequenced ideas that aren't ready for active planning — they live outside
the normal phase sequence and accumulate context over time.
-
Read ROADMAP.md to find existing backlog entries:
cat .planning/ROADMAP.md
-
Find next backlog number:
NEXT=$(gsd-sdk query phase.next-decimal 999 --raw)
If no 999.x phases exist, start at 999.1.
-
Add to ROADMAP.md under a ## Backlog section. If the section doesn't exist, create it at the end.
Write the ROADMAP entry BEFORE creating the directory — this ensures directory existence is always
a reliable indicator that the phase is already registered, which prevents false duplicate detection
in any hook that checks for existing 999.x directories (#2280):
## Backlog
### Phase {NEXT}: {description} (BACKLOG)
**Goal:** [Captured for future planning]
**Requirements:** TBD
**Plans:** 0 plans
Plans:
- [ ] TBD (promote with /gsd-review-backlog when ready)
-
Create the phase directory:
SLUG=$(gsd-sdk query generate-slug "$ARGUMENTS" --raw)
mkdir -p ".planning/phases/${NEXT}-${SLUG}"
touch ".planning/phases/${NEXT}-${SLUG}/.gitkeep"
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Commit:
gsd-sdk query commit "docs: add backlog item ${NEXT} — ${ARGUMENTS}" .planning/ROADMAP.md ".planning/phases/${NEXT}-${SLUG}/.gitkeep"
-
Report:
## 📋 Backlog Item Added
Phase {NEXT}: {description}
Directory: .planning/phases/{NEXT}-{slug}/
This item lives in the backlog parking lot.
Use /gsd-discuss-phase {NEXT} to explore it further.
Use /gsd-review-backlog to promote items to active milestone.
- 999.x numbering keeps backlog items out of the active phase sequence
- Phase directories are created immediately, so /gsd-discuss-phase and /gsd-plan-phase work on them
- No `Depends on:` field — backlog items are unsequenced by definition
- Sparse numbering is fine (999.1, 999.3) — always uses next-decimal