Prd To Plan

PRD to Plan

Turn a PRD into a phased implementation plan using tracer-bullet vertical slices, saved as a local Markdown file in ./plans/.

Step 0: Repo Guardrail

Before doing anything else, run:

gh repo view --json nameWithOwner -q .nameWithOwner

• If this succeeds, store the owner/repo value for reference. Confirm with the user: "Working in owner/repo. Correct?"
• If the user says no, ask them to cd into the correct project directory and run /prd-to-plan again. Stop here.
• If the command fails, inform the user and stop.

Step 1: Confirm the PRD is in Context

Ask the user for the PRD — either:

• A GitHub issue number (fetch with gh issue view <number> --repo <owner/repo> --comments)
• A local file path
• Or confirm it's already in the conversation from a previous /write-prd invocation

Step 2: Explore the Codebase

Explore the codebase to understand:

• Project structure and tech stack
• Existing patterns and conventions
• How the PRD maps to current architecture

Step 3: Identify Durable Architectural Decisions

Document decisions that will survive implementation changes:

• Route structures / URL patterns
• Database schema shape (Firestore collections, document structures)
• Key data models
• Authentication / authorization approach
• Third-party service boundaries (Firebase services, external APIs)

Step 4: Draft Vertical Slices

Break the PRD into phased vertical slices. Each phase is a thin slice that cuts through ALL integration layers end-to-end, NOT a horizontal slice of one layer.

Rules

• Each slice delivers a narrow but COMPLETE path through every layer (schema, API, UI, tests)
• A completed slice is demoable or verifiable on its own
• Prefer many thin slices over few thick ones
• Do NOT include specific file names, function names, or implementation details likely to change
• DO include durable decisions: route paths, schema shapes, data model names

Step 5: Quiz the User

Present the proposed breakdown as a numbered list. For each phase show:

• Title
• User stories covered (from the PRD)

Ask:

• Does the granularity feel right? (too coarse / too fine)
• Should any phases be merged or split?
• Is the ordering correct?

Iterate until the user approves. Do not write the plan file until approved.

Step 6: Write the Plan File

Create the ./plans/ directory if it doesn't exist.

Write a Markdown file named after the feature (e.g., ./plans/user-authentication.md) using this template:

# Plan: <Feature Name>

**PRD**: #<issue-number> (or link/reference)
**Repo**: <owner/repo>
**Created**: <date>

---

## Architectural Decisions

### Routes
- ...

### Schema
- ...

### Key Models
- ...

### Service Boundaries
- ...

---

## Phase 1: <Title>

**User stories**: 1, 2, 5

### What to build
<Description of end-to-end behavior for this slice>

### Acceptance criteria
- [ ] Criterion 1
- [ ] Criterion 2
- [ ] Criterion 3

---

## Phase 2: <Title>

**User stories**: 3, 4

### What to build
<Description>

### Acceptance criteria
- [ ] ...

---

(Continue for all phases)

Display the file path to the user when done.

Rules

1. Always confirm the repo before fetching any GitHub issues
2. Use --repo flag on all gh commands with the confirmed owner/repo
3. Never write the plan until the user approves the breakdown
4. Vertical slices only — no horizontal layer-by-layer phases
5. Durable descriptions — no file paths, function names, or implementation details that will change