refine-notes

name	refine-notes
description	Use when docs/backlog.md has unstructured content in

Refine Notes into Backlog Items

Use this skill when docs/backlog.md has unstructured content in ## Notes that was absorbed from an existing informal backlog during janus init.

Workflow

1. Read the Notes section

   uv run janus notes
   

2. Identify distinct actionable tasks, features, or bugs Skip vague/aspirational notes, links, and context that isn't work to be done.

3. For each actionable item, decide:

   • type: feature | bug | refactor | exploration
   • areas: one or more of backend frontend infrastructure db docs app
   • priority (if inferable from the text): low | medium | high

4. Create each item:

   uv run janus add --title "..." --type <type> --areas <a1,a2> [--priority <p>] [--body "..."]
   

   One janus add per item. Use the original wording where possible. Include --body for any detail worth preserving. To add or replace body text after creation: uv run janus edit <id> --body "...".

5. Leave non-actionable content in Notes — context, background, links, references.

6. Clean up the Notes section. Remove converted items; keep non-actionable context:

   uv run janus notes --set "remaining non-actionable content"
   

   To clear it entirely: uv run janus notes --set ""

7. Verify:

   uv run janus list
   uv run janus validate docs/backlog.md
   

Guidelines

• One idea = one item; don't over-split
• Don't create items for things already done
• Preserve priority signals from the original text ("urgent", "critical", "nice to have")
• If the original phrasing is ambiguous, create the item and leave a clarifying note in its body