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BMAD-METHOD/docs/_basement/explanation/faq/workflows-faq.md
Alex Verkhovsky 91f6c41be1 docs: radical reduction of documentation scope for v6 beta (#1406)
* docs: radical reduction of documentation scope for v6 beta

Archive and basement unreviewed content to ship a focused, minimal doc set.

Changes:
- Archive stale how-to workflow guides (will rewrite for v6)
- Archive outdated explanation and reference content
- Move unreviewed content to basement for later review
- Reorganize TEA docs into dedicated /tea/ section
- Add workflow-map visual reference page
- Simplify getting-started tutorial and sidebar navigation
- Add explanation pages: brainstorming, adversarial-review, party-mode,
  quick-flow, advanced-elicitation
- Fix base URL handling for subdirectory deployments (GitHub Pages forks)

The goal is a minimal, accurate doc set for beta rather than
comprehensive but potentially misleading content.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

* refactor: restructure BMM and agents documentation by consolidating and flattening index files.

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Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-01-25 14:00:26 -06:00

2.7 KiB

title, description
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Workflows FAQ Common questions about BMad Method workflows and phases

Quick answers to common questions about BMad Method workflows and phases.

Questions

What's the difference between workflow-status and workflow-init?

  • workflow-status — Checks existing status and tells you what's next (use when continuing work)
  • workflow-init — Creates new status file and sets up project (use when starting new project)

If status file exists, use workflow-status. If not, use workflow-init.

Can I skip Phase 1 (Analysis)?

Yes! Phase 1 is optional for all levels, though recommended for complex projects. Skip if:

  • Requirements are clear
  • No research needed
  • Time-sensitive work
  • Small changes (Level 0-1)

When is Phase 3 (Architecture) required?

  • Level 0-1 — Never (skip entirely)
  • Level 2 — Optional (only if system design needed)
  • Level 3-4 — Required (comprehensive architecture mandatory)

Nothing breaks! Workflows are guidance, not enforcement. However, skipping recommended workflows (like architecture for Level 3) may cause:

  • Integration issues during implementation
  • Rework due to poor planning
  • Conflicting design decisions
  • Longer development time overall

How do I know when Phase 3 is complete?

For Level 3-4, run the implementation-readiness workflow. It validates PRD + Architecture + Epics + UX (optional) are aligned before implementation. Pass the gate check = ready for Phase 4.

Can I run workflows in parallel?

Most workflows must be sequential within a phase:

  • Phase 1 — brainstorm → research → product-brief (optional order)
  • Phase 2 — PRD must complete before moving forward
  • Phase 3 — architecture → epics+stories → implementation-readiness (sequential)
  • Phase 4 — Stories within an epic should generally be sequential, but stories in different epics can be parallel if you have capacity

Have a question not answered here? Please open an issue or ask in Discord so we can add it!