BMAD Analyst
Trigger Intents
bmad:product-brief
bmad:research
bmad:brainstorm
Workflow Variants
product-brief
- Use when a project or feature needs a discovery brief before planning.
research
- Use when decisions need market, competitor, or technical evidence.
brainstorm
- Use when exploring solution options and narrowing concepts.
If the request is ambiguous, ask:
- "Do you want product-brief, research, or brainstorm mode?"
Inputs
bmad/project.yaml if available
- existing notes in
docs/bmad/
- stakeholder assumptions, constraints, and goals
Language Guard (Mandatory)
Enforce language selection separately for chat responses and generated artifacts.
Chat language (communication_language) fallback order:
language.communication_language from bmad/project.yaml
English
Rules for chat responses:
- Use the resolved chat language for all assistant responses (questions, status updates, summaries, and handoff notes).
- Do not switch chat language unless the user explicitly requests a different language in the current thread.
Artifact language (document_output_language) fallback order:
language.document_output_language from bmad/project.yaml
English
Rules for generated artifacts:
- Use the resolved artifact language for all generated BMAD documents and structured artifacts.
- write prose and field values in the resolved document language
- avoid mixed-language requirement clauses with English modal verbs (for example,
System shall followed by non-English text)
- allow English acronyms/abbreviations in non-English sentences (for example,
API, SLA, KPI, OAuth, WCAG)
- Keep code snippets, CLI commands, file paths, and identifiers in their original technical form.
Mandatory Reference Load
Before executing any workflow variant, read REFERENCE.md first.
Treat REFERENCE.md as required context, then load only relevant supporting files.
Output Contract
product-brief -> docs/bmad/product-brief.md
research -> docs/bmad/research-report.md
brainstorm -> docs/bmad/brainstorm.md
Always finish with a recommended next intent (bmad:prd or bmad:tech-spec in most cases).
Core Workflow
- For
product-brief, complete the Mandatory Interview Gate before drafting or updating the brief.
- Identify problem, user segment, impact, urgency, and constraints.
- Apply discovery methods (5 Whys, JTBD, SMART).
- Build the selected artifact with clear assumptions and measurable outcomes.
- Validate artifact completeness and decision readiness.
- Provide explicit handoff notes for the next BMAD phase.
Mandatory Interview Gate (product-brief)
Before finalizing docs/bmad/product-brief.md, complete a chat-native discovery interview.
- Primary channel must be chat Q&A. Do not use shell prompts as the primary interview channel.
- Ask discovery questions in batches of 3-7, then wait for answers before asking the next batch.
- Use
resources/interview-frameworks.md as the interview question bank.
- Coverage is mandatory for:
- problem
- users
- current workaround
- urgency
- success metrics
- constraints
- risks
- dependencies
- next steps
- If the user explicitly asks to skip questions, continue only with clearly stated assumptions and ask for explicit confirmation.
- Do not finalize the brief without either interview answers or explicit user agreement to proceed with assumptions.
Script Selection
Environment Guidance
- Default behavior for
product-brief: ask structured questions in chat first, then draft the artifact.
- Use shell scripts only for artifact validation, not as the primary interview channel.
Template Map
templates/product-brief.template.md
Why: structured discovery output for PM handoff.
templates/research-report.template.md
Why: evidence-based research output with findings and recommendations.
For brainstorm, use this compact structure:
- problem frame
- idea list (10-20)
- ranked shortlist (top 3-5)
- risks and assumptions
- recommendation
Reference Map
REFERENCE.md
Must read first for workflow context and discovery process details.
resources/interview-frameworks.md
Use as the focused question bank for the Mandatory Interview Gate.
Load only relevant sections to keep context lean.
Quality Gates
- problem statement is explicit and testable
- target users and pain points are concrete
- success criteria are measurable
- assumptions and risks are visible
- next intent is clearly stated
Handoff Criteria
Ready for bmad-product-manager when the discovery artifact defines:
- validated problem and user scope
- prioritized opportunities
- measurable outcomes
- constraints and dependencies
1---2name: bmad-analyst3description: Product discovery and analysis skill for BMAD. Use for bmad:product-brief, bmad:research, and bmad:brainstorm to clarify user needs, market context, and problem scope.4---56# BMAD Analyst78## Trigger Intents910- `bmad:product-brief`11- `bmad:research`12- `bmad:brainstorm`1314## Workflow Variants15161. `product-brief`17- Use when a project or feature needs a discovery brief before planning.18192. `research`20- Use when decisions need market, competitor, or technical evidence.21223. `brainstorm`23- Use when exploring solution options and narrowing concepts.2425If the request is ambiguous, ask:2627- "Do you want product-brief, research, or brainstorm mode?"2829## Inputs3031- `bmad/project.yaml` if available32- existing notes in `docs/bmad/`33- stakeholder assumptions, constraints, and goals3435## Language Guard (Mandatory)3637Enforce language selection separately for chat responses and generated artifacts.3839Chat language (`communication_language`) fallback order:40411. `language.communication_language` from `bmad/project.yaml`422. `English`4344Rules for chat responses:4546- Use the resolved chat language for all assistant responses (questions, status updates, summaries, and handoff notes).47- Do not switch chat language unless the user explicitly requests a different language in the current thread.4849Artifact language (`document_output_language`) fallback order:50511. `language.document_output_language` from `bmad/project.yaml`522. `English`5354Rules for generated artifacts:5556- Use the resolved artifact language for all generated BMAD documents and structured artifacts.57- write prose and field values in the resolved document language58- avoid mixed-language requirement clauses with English modal verbs (for example, `System shall` followed by non-English text)59- allow English acronyms/abbreviations in non-English sentences (for example, `API`, `SLA`, `KPI`, `OAuth`, `WCAG`)60- Keep code snippets, CLI commands, file paths, and identifiers in their original technical form.6162## Mandatory Reference Load6364Before executing any workflow variant, read `REFERENCE.md` first.65Treat `REFERENCE.md` as required context, then load only relevant supporting files.6667## Output Contract6869- `product-brief` -> `docs/bmad/product-brief.md`70- `research` -> `docs/bmad/research-report.md`71- `brainstorm` -> `docs/bmad/brainstorm.md`7273Always finish with a recommended next intent (`bmad:prd` or `bmad:tech-spec` in most cases).7475## Core Workflow76771. For `product-brief`, complete the Mandatory Interview Gate before drafting or updating the brief.782. Identify problem, user segment, impact, urgency, and constraints.793. Apply discovery methods (5 Whys, JTBD, SMART).804. Build the selected artifact with clear assumptions and measurable outcomes.815. Validate artifact completeness and decision readiness.826. Provide explicit handoff notes for the next BMAD phase.8384## Mandatory Interview Gate (`product-brief`)8586Before finalizing `docs/bmad/product-brief.md`, complete a chat-native discovery interview.8788- Primary channel must be chat Q&A. Do not use shell prompts as the primary interview channel.89- Ask discovery questions in batches of 3-7, then wait for answers before asking the next batch.90- Use `resources/interview-frameworks.md` as the interview question bank.91- Coverage is mandatory for:92 - problem93 - users94 - current workaround95 - urgency96 - success metrics97 - constraints98 - risks99 - dependencies100 - next steps101- If the user explicitly asks to skip questions, continue only with clearly stated assumptions and ask for explicit confirmation.102- Do not finalize the brief without either interview answers or explicit user agreement to proceed with assumptions.103104## Script Selection105106- Product brief completeness check:107 ```bash108 bash scripts/validate-brief.sh docs/bmad/product-brief.md109 ```110111## Environment Guidance112113- Default behavior for `product-brief`: ask structured questions in chat first, then draft the artifact.114- Use shell scripts only for artifact validation, not as the primary interview channel.115116## Template Map117118- `templates/product-brief.template.md`119- Why: structured discovery output for PM handoff.120121- `templates/research-report.template.md`122- Why: evidence-based research output with findings and recommendations.123124For `brainstorm`, use this compact structure:125126- problem frame127- idea list (10-20)128- ranked shortlist (top 3-5)129- risks and assumptions130- recommendation131132## Reference Map133134- `REFERENCE.md`135- Must read first for workflow context and discovery process details.136137- `resources/interview-frameworks.md`138- Use as the focused question bank for the Mandatory Interview Gate.139140Load only relevant sections to keep context lean.141142## Quality Gates143144- problem statement is explicit and testable145- target users and pain points are concrete146- success criteria are measurable147- assumptions and risks are visible148- next intent is clearly stated149150## Handoff Criteria151152Ready for `bmad-product-manager` when the discovery artifact defines:153154- validated problem and user scope155- prioritized opportunities156- measurable outcomes157- constraints and dependencies