| name | kiss-backlog |
| description | Maintains the product backlog — an ordered markdown list of user stories / items keyed by priority, with lightweight estimates, acceptance-criteria pointers, and status. Drafts and re-orders the list from priorities the user states; does not decide priority or commit a team to deliver. Use when managing a product backlog, adding user stories, reprioritising features, or preparing for sprint planning. |
| compatibility | Requires kiss project structure with .kiss/ directory |
| metadata | {"author":"github-kiss","source":"agent-skills/kiss-backlog/kiss-backlog.md"} |
| user-invocable | true |
| disable-model-invocation | false |
User Input
$ARGUMENTS
Audience and tone (interactive mode)
When KISS_AGENT_MODE=interactive (the default), assume the user
has no technical or business-domain background. Run this skill
as a guided questionnaire:
- One question at a time. No walls of questions.
- Yes / no first. Phrase so
yes, no, not sure, or skip
is a valid answer.
- No jargon. Translate domain terms into everyday words with
concrete examples (avoid MoSCoW, WSJF, RICE, INVEST, story
points, T-shirt, velocity, MVP). Use plain alternatives:
"must-have / nice-to-have / maybe-later" for priority,
"Small / Medium / Large / Extra-Large" for size.
- Choices, not blank fields. When yes/no isn't enough, offer
2-4 lettered options (A/B/C/D) with one-line everyday
descriptions. Always include "Not sure — pick a sensible default".
- Always recommend. State the option you would pick and why in
one sentence so the user can reply "yes" / "ok" to accept.
not sure / skip triggers a sensible default, marked
"(default applied — confirm later)" in the backlog row, and a
PODEBT- entry in product-debts.md.
When KISS_AGENT_MODE=auto (or --auto), skip the questionnaire
entirely: apply sensible defaults and log decisions to the
product-owner agent's decision log.
Inputs
.kiss/context.yml → paths.docs, paths.specs, current.feature{context.paths.specs}/**/spec.md — user stories source{context.paths.docs}/product/acceptance.md — ties items to criteria
Outputs
{context.paths.docs}/product/backlog.md — the ordered backlog.{context.paths.docs}/product/backlog.extract — summary counts.
Context Update
Does not mutate .kiss/context.yml.
Handoffs
kiss-roadmap reads the backlog to propose release windows.kiss-taskify converts prioritised items into tasks.kiss-tasks-to-issues emits GitHub issues once the PO approves.kiss-sprint-planning pulls top-N items into a sprint plan.
AI authoring scope
This skill does: append backlog items, re-order by priority the
user provides, estimate T-shirt sizes the user confirms, link each
item to its spec + acceptance criteria.
This skill does not: decide which items to promote / demote,
commit a team to deliver anything, negotiate with stakeholders.
Usage
<SKILL_DIR> = the integration's skills root (e.g. .claude/skills/
for Claude Code, .agents/skills/ for Antigravity / Codex,
.cursor/skills/ for Cursor, .windsurf/workflows/ for Windsurf).
Scripts live at <SKILL_DIR>/<skill-name>/scripts/….
BL_TITLE="Forgot-password flow" BL_PRIORITY=2 BL_SIZE=M BL_STORY_REF="specs/user-auth/spec.md#us-04" \
bash <SKILL_DIR>/kiss-backlog/scripts/bash/add-item.sh --auto
bash <SKILL_DIR>/kiss-backlog/scripts/bash/add-item.sh
Answer keys
| Key | Meaning | Default |
|---|
BL_TITLE | Item title (user story summary) | (required) |
BL_PRIORITY | 1 = highest; integer | 99 |
BL_SIZE | XS / S / M / L / XL | M |
BL_STATUS | New / Ready / In progress / Done / Cut | New |
BL_STORY_REF | Path or anchor into the spec | empty |
Interactive flow
For each item: title → priority (1 = highest) → size (XS–XL) → spec
reference → status. Loop with "add another? (y/n)".
Debt register
File {context.paths.docs}/product/product-debts.md, prefix
PODEBT-. Log when an item has no priority, no acceptance-criteria
link, or an ambiguous size.
References
references/prioritization-frames.md — MoSCoW, WSJF, RICE quick
reference.references/estimation-t-shirt.md — T-shirt sizing anchors.
