# Story Breakdown

> Activate when user presents a large story or epic that needs decomposition. Activate when a task spans multiple components or requires coordination across specialists. Creates work items in .agent/queue/ for execution. Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/story-breakdown` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/story-breakdown`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/story-breakdown/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/story-breakdown

---


# Story Breakdown Skill

Break large stories into work items in `.agent/queue/`.

## When to Break Down

- Multi-component scope
- Requires sequential execution phases
- Dependencies between work items
- More than 2-3 distinct tasks

## Breakdown Process

1. **Analyze scope** - Identify distinct work units
2. **Define items** - Create work item for each unit
3. **Set dependencies** - Note which items block others
4. **Assign roles** - Tag with @Role for execution
5. **Add to queue** - Create files in `.agent/queue/`

## Work Item Creation

For each item, create in `.agent/queue/`:

```markdown
# [Short Title]

**Status**: pending
**Priority**: high | medium | low
**Assignee**: @Developer | @Reviewer | etc.
**Blocks**: 002, 003 (optional)
**BlockedBy**: none | 001 (optional)

## Description
What needs to be done.

## Success Criteria
- [ ] Criterion 1
- [ ] Criterion 2
```

## Splitting Strategies

### By Component
- `001-pending-frontend-auth.md`
- `002-pending-backend-api.md`
- `003-pending-database-schema.md`

### By Phase
- `001-pending-core-functionality.md`
- `002-pending-error-handling.md`
- `003-pending-tests.md`

### By Domain
- `001-pending-authentication.md`
- `002-pending-data-processing.md`
- `003-pending-api-integration.md`

## Example Breakdown

Story: "Add user authentication"

```
.agent/queue/
├── 001-pending-setup-auth-database.md
├── 002-pending-implement-login-api.md
├── 003-pending-add-frontend-forms.md
└── 004-pending-write-auth-tests.md
```

With dependencies:
- 002 blocked by 001
- 003 blocked by 002
- 004 blocked by 002, 003

## Validation

Before execution:
- [ ] Each item has clear scope
- [ ] Dependencies are noted
- [ ] Roles assigned
- [ ] Success criteria defined
- [ ] No circular dependencies

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->