setup

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Initialize the design doc backlog system in a project. Use when the user wants to: - Set up design docs for a project - Initialize the backlog system - Configure design doc workflow - Add design doc task management

farra By farra schedule Updated 1/26/2026

name: setup description: | Initialize the design doc backlog system in a project. Use when the user wants to: - Set up design docs for a project - Initialize the backlog system - Configure design doc workflow - Add design doc task management

Setup Design Doc Backlog System

This skill helps users set up the design doc driven task management system in their project.

When to Use

Activate when the user says things like:

  • "set up design docs"
  • "initialize the backlog"
  • "configure design doc workflow"
  • "add task management with design docs"

Setup Process

1. Gather Information

Ask the user for:

  • Project prefix: A short uppercase identifier (e.g., ACME, GF, DAB) used in task IDs like [ACME-001-01]

Check if they already have:

  • A README.org with #+PROJECT_PREFIX: set (use that)
  • Existing docs/design/ directory (don't overwrite)
  • Existing backlog.org (don't overwrite)

2. Create Directory Structure

Create these directories if they don't exist:

docs/design/

3. Create Files from Templates

The templates are in the plugin's templates/ directory. Copy them with PROJECT substitution:

Template Destination Substitution
readme-project.org README.org Replace PROJECT with prefix
readme-design.org docs/design/README.org None
org-setup.org org-setup.org Replace PROJECT with prefix
backlog-template.org backlog.org Replace PROJECT with prefix
design-doc-template.org docs/design/000-template.org Replace PROJECT with prefix
changelog-template.md CHANGELOG.md None

Important: Check if files exist before writing. Ask the user before overwriting.

4. Update CLAUDE.md

Append or merge the following into the project's CLAUDE.md (create if needed):

## Design Doc Workflow

This project uses design docs for task management. Design docs live in `docs/design/`.

### Key Files
- `backlog.org` - Working surface for active tasks
- `docs/design/*.org` - Design documents (source of truth)
- `README.org` - Project config (prefix, categories, statuses)

### Workflow
1. Create design docs with `/backlog:new-design-doc`
2. Queue tasks with `/backlog:task-queue <id>`
3. Start work with `/backlog:task-start <id>`
4. Complete with `/backlog:task-complete <id>`

### Task ID Format
`[PREFIX-NNN-XX]` where:
- PREFIX = project prefix (e.g., ACME)
- NNN = design doc number
- XX = task sequence

5. Explain What Was Created

After setup, explain:

  • What files were created and their purpose
  • How to create a first design doc
  • Available commands (/backlog:new-design-doc, etc.)

Example Interaction

User: Set up design docs for this project

Claude: I'll help you set up the design doc backlog system.

What project prefix would you like to use? This is a short uppercase identifier
(like ACME, GF, or DAB) that will appear in task IDs like [ACME-001-01].

User: ACME

Claude: Great! Let me set up the backlog system with prefix ACME.

[Creates files...]

Done! I've created:
- README.org - Project config with categories and statuses
- org-setup.org - Shared org-mode configuration
- backlog.org - Your working surface for active tasks
- docs/design/README.org - Index of design documents
- docs/design/000-template.org - Template for new design docs
- CHANGELOG.md - For tracking releases

To create your first design doc, use:
  /backlog:new-design-doc "Your Feature Title"

This will create a numbered design doc with tasks you can then queue to your backlog.

Template Content

When writing files, read the template content from the plugin's templates directory and perform the PROJECT → prefix substitution.

Install via CLI
npx skills add https://github.com/farra/dev-agent-backlog --skill setup
Repository Details
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navigation Branch main
article Path SKILL.md
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