backlog
Scannednpx machina-cli add skill pcatattacks/solopreneur-plugin/backlog --openclawBacklog: $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+designordesign). 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
engtype, 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:
-
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. -
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)
-
Update backlog.md to include the new ticket.
-
Suggest building it:
-> Next: Build this ticket: /solopreneur:build .solopreneur/backlog/{dir}/{ID}.md
Source
git clone https://github.com/pcatattacks/solopreneur-plugin/blob/main/skills/backlog/SKILL.mdView on GitHub Overview
Backlog turns a spec or task into a prioritized set of tickets with MVP/P1/P2 phasing and explicit dependencies. It helps manage large specs by breaking them down, assigning design and engineering work, and aligning with release phases. It supports both full breakdown from a spec/design and single-ticket tasks.
How This Skill Works
In Full Breakdown mode, the system reads the spec (and designs) to understand goals, stories, criteria, and constraints. It then delegates to subagents (@engineer and @designer) to generate tickets with titles, descriptions, acceptance criteria, technical notes, estimates, dependencies, and risks, followed by a CEO-approved backlog with MVP/P1/P2 groupings and a dependency graph. After approval, backlog files are created under .solopreneur/backlog and ready-to-build tickets are prepared for execution.
When to Use It
- When a spec is too large to build at once and must be broken into manageable work items
- When you want to create individual work items with MVP/P1/P2 phasing
- When there are complex dependencies between features that need explicit tracking
- When you need to identify design work and its UX dependencies before engineering
- When you want a CEO-approved, parallelizable backlog with clear milestones
Quick Start
- Step 1: Step 1: Decide mode by ARGUMENTS (spec/design path → Full Breakdown; otherwise Single Ticket)
- Step 2: In Full Breakdown mode, read context and break requirements into tickets via @engineer and @designer
- Step 3: On CEO approval, create backlog files under .solopreneur/backlog and begin building the tickets
Best Practices
- Start with a clear spec context or design directory to enable accurate breakdown
- Define MVP/P1/P2 groupings using the spec's release phases or thoughtful phasing
- Explicitly map dependencies and identify blockers between tickets
- Flag design dependencies and ensure eng+design tickets are clearly tagged
- Review the backlog with the CEO and adjust phasing or split/merge tickets as needed
Example Use Cases
- Break a new analytics dashboard spec into MVP-001, MVP-002, and supporting design tickets with dependencies
- Decompose an e-commerce checkout redesign into phased tickets (auth, cart, payment, order history) with MVP then P1/P2
- Migrate to a new authentication system by creating separate tickets for backend auth, frontend login flows, and UX validation
- Add reporting features by first delivering MVP dashboards, then expanding with filters and export options
- Plan a mobile-first feature by splitting design tasks (responsive UI) and engineering tasks (API, iOS/Android) with clear dependencies