plan-prd

Command View source on GitHub

Generate a lean, problem-first PRD and hand off to /plan for implementation planning.

---

PRD Command

Produces a Product Requirements Document — the requirements-phase artifact of the SDLC. Captures what must be true for success and why, and stops before how. Implementation decomposition is delegated to /plan.

Input: $ARGUMENTS

Scope of this command

This command does	This command does NOT do
Frame the problem and users	Design the architecture
Capture success criteria and scope	Pick files or write patterns
List open questions and risks	Enumerate implementation tasks
Write .claude/prds/{name}.prd.md	Produce an implementation plan — that’s /plan

If you find yourself writing implementation detail, stop and cut it. It belongs in /plan.

Anti-fluff rule: When information is missing, write TBD — needs validation via {method}. Never invent plausible-sounding requirements.

Workflow

Four phases. Each phase is a single gate — ask the questions, wait for the user, then move on. No nested loops, no parallel research ceremony.

Phase 1 — FRAME

If $ARGUMENTS is empty, ask:

What do you want to build? One or two sentences.

If provided, restate in one sentence and ask:

I understand: {restated}. Correct, or should I adjust?

Then ask the framing questions in a single set:

1. Who has this problem? (specific role or segment)
2. What is the observable pain? (describe behavior, not assumed needs)
3. Why can’t they solve it with what exists today?
4. Why now? — what changed that makes this worth doing?

Wait for the user. Do not proceed without answers (or explicit “skip”).

Phase 2 — GROUND

Ask for evidence. This is the shortest phase and the most load-bearing:

What evidence do you have that this problem is real and worth solving? (user quotes, support tickets, metrics, observed behavior, failed workarounds — anything concrete)

If the user has none, record the PRD’s Evidence section as Assumption — needs validation via {user research | analytics | prototype}. This keeps the PRD honest.

Phase 3 — DECIDE

Scope and hypothesis in a single set:

1. Hypothesis — Complete: We believe {capability} will {solve problem} for {users}. We’ll know we’re right when {measurable outcome}.
2. MVP — The minimum needed to test the hypothesis?
3. Out of scope — What are you explicitly not building (even if users ask)?
4. Open questions — Uncertainties that could change the approach?

Wait for responses.

Phase 4 — GENERATE & HAND OFF

Create the directory if needed, write the PRD, and report.

mkdir -p .claude/prds

Output path: .claude/prds/{kebab-case-name}.prd.md

PRD Template

# {Product / Feature Name}

## Problem
{2–3 sentences: who has what problem, and what's the cost of leaving it unsolved?}

## Evidence
- {User quote, data point, or observation}
- {OR: "Assumption — needs validation via {method}"}

## Users
- **Primary**: {role, context, what triggers the need}
- **Not for**: {who this explicitly excludes}

## Hypothesis
We believe **{capability}** will **{solve problem}** for **{users}**.
We'll know we're right when **{measurable outcome}**.

## Success Metrics
| Metric | Target | How measured |
|---|---|---|
| {primary} | {number} | {method} |

## Scope
**MVP** — {the minimum to test the hypothesis}

**Out of scope**
- {item} — {why deferred}

## Delivery Milestones
<!-- Business outcomes, not engineering tasks. /plan turns each into a plan. -->
<!-- Status: pending | in-progress | complete -->

| # | Milestone | Outcome | Status | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | {name} | {user-visible change} | pending | — |
| 2 | {name} | {user-visible change} | pending | — |

## Open Questions
- [ ] {question that could change scope or approach}

## Risks
| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|

---
*Status: DRAFT — requirements only. Implementation planning pending via /plan.*

Report to user

PRD created: .claude/prds/{name}.prd.md

Problem:    {one line}
Hypothesis: {one line}
MVP:        {one line}

Validation status:
  Problem  {validated | assumption}
  Users    {concrete | generic — refine}
  Metrics  {defined | TBD}

Open questions: {count}

Next step: /plan .claude/prds/{name}.prd.md
  → /plan will pick the next pending milestone and produce an implementation plan.

Integration

• /plan <prd-path> — consume the PRD and produce an implementation plan for the next pending milestone.
• tdd-workflow skill — implement the plan test-first.
• /pr — open a PR that references the PRD and plan.

Success criteria

• PROBLEM_CLEAR: problem is specific and evidenced (or flagged as assumption).
• USER_CONCRETE: primary user is a specific role, not “users”.
• HYPOTHESIS_TESTABLE: measurable outcome included.
• SCOPE_BOUNDED: explicit MVP and explicit out-of-scope.
• NO_IMPLEMENTATION_DETAIL: file paths, libraries, or task breakdowns are absent — if they appeared, move them to the /plan step.

← Back to Commands