BMAD-METHOD: Breakthrough Method for Agile AI-Driven Development

When to use this skill

• Planning complex software projects: Coordinating multiple AI agents in structured workflows.
• Reducing hallucinations: Using spec-driven development (SDD) to ensure precision.
• Scaling development: From simple bug fixes to enterprise-grade systems.
• Enterprise applications: Projects requiring compliance and multi-team coordination.
• Legacy modernization: Brownfield development with incremental migration.
• Team collaboration: Enabling multiple agents and humans to work together efficiently.

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1. Core Concepts

Four-Phase Methodology

1. Phase 1: Analysis (Optional): Exploration and research using /brainstorm-project, /research, /product-brief.
2. Phase 2: Planning (Required): Requirements definition using /prd, /tech-spec, /create-ux-design.
3. Phase 3: Solutioning (Track-Dependent): Architecture design using /create-architecture.
4. Phase 4: Implementation (Required): Sprint execution using /sprint-plan, /story-breakdown.

Multi-Agent Orchestration

Coordinates 26+ specialized agents. Use /load-agent [name] or /party-mode [names...].

Agent	Phase	Responsibility
Analyst	Analysis	Market research, competitive analysis
Product Manager	Planning	PRD creation, requirements definition
Architect	Solutioning	Technical design, ADRs, system decisions
Developer	Implementation	Code implementation, technical execution
QA Specialist	Implementation	Test design, quality assurance
Barry	Quick Flow	Solo development track specialist

Scale-Adaptive Intelligence

Automatically adjusts planning depth (Simple, BMad Method, Enterprise) based on complexity.

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2. Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Initialize BMAD

Ensure Node.js v20+ is installed and initialize BMAD at the project level.

# Check prerequisites
node --version
git --version

# Install BMAD-METHOD
npx bmad-method install

Step 2: Verification (Installation Check)

Verify the setup is ready for operation.

# Check installation manifest
cat .bmad-manifest.json

# Get interactive guidance
/bmad-help

Step 3: Start a Workflow

Execute the phase-appropriate command.

# Start with ideation
/brainstorm-project

# Move to requirements
/prd

Step 4: Multi-Agent Collaboration

Use Party Mode for complex planning.

/party-mode analyst pm architect

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3. Code Examples

Example 1: Quick Flow Implementation

Scenario: Rapid feature development using the Barry agent.

# 1. Load Barry
/load-agent barry

# 2. Generate lightweight spec
/tech-spec

# 3. Implement and verify
/sprint-plan

Example 2: CI/CD Non-Interactive Installation

Scenario: Automated environment setup.

npx bmad-method install \
  --directory ./my-project \
  --modules bmm,bmb \
  --tools "Claude Code" \
  -y

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4. Best Practices

• SDD First: Never code before producing a spec (PRD or Tech Spec).
• Isolation: Use project-level installation for configuration consistency.
• Quality Gates: Run QA workflows before merging or deploying.
• Human Governance: Agents are expert collaborators; humans provide final approval.

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5. Troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Solution
Command not found	BMAD not installed	Run npx bmad-method install
Hallucinations	Vague spec	Refine /prd or /tech-spec output
Workflow stuck	State conflict	Run /bmad-help or check sprint-status.yaml
Missing Agent	Module not installed	Re-run install with --modules flag

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6. References

• Official Documentation
• GitHub Repository
• Workflow Map
• Agent Reference