Overhaul updates for appspec & feature generation. Added detail back to kanban feature creation

app/electron/services/feature-loader.js

@@ -384,20 +384,30 @@ class FeatureLoader {
    * @param {string} projectPath - Path to the project
    * @param {string} [summary] - Optional summary of what was done
    * @param {string} [error] - Optional error message if feature errored
+   * @param {string} [description] - Optional detailed description
+   * @param {string} [category] - Optional category/phase
+   * @param {string[]} [steps] - Optional array of implementation steps
    */
-  async updateFeatureStatus(featureId, status, projectPath, summary, error) {
+  async updateFeatureStatus(featureId, status, projectPath, summary, error, description, category, steps) {
     // Check if feature exists
     const existingFeature = await this.get(projectPath, featureId);
     
     if (!existingFeature) {
-      // Feature doesn't exist - create it
+      // Feature doesn't exist - create it with all required fields
       console.log(`[FeatureLoader] Feature ${featureId} not found - creating new feature`);
       const newFeature = {
         id: featureId,
         title: featureId.split('-').map(word => word.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + word.slice(1)).join(' '),
-        description: summary || '', // Use summary as description for display
+        description: description || summary || '', // Use provided description, fall back to summary
+        category: category || "Uncategorized",
+        steps: steps || [],
         status: status,
-        summary: summary || '',
+        images: [],
+        imagePaths: [],
+        skipTests: true,
+        model: "sonnet",
+        thinkingLevel: "none",
+        summary: summary || description || '',
         createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
       };
       if (error !== undefined) {
@@ -405,7 +415,7 @@ class FeatureLoader {
       }
       await this.create(projectPath, newFeature);
       console.log(
-        `[FeatureLoader] Created feature ${featureId}: status=${status}${
+        `[FeatureLoader] Created feature ${featureId}: status=${status}, category=${category || "Uncategorized"}, steps=${steps?.length || 0}${
           summary ? `, summary="${summary}"` : ""
         }`
       );
@@ -421,6 +431,15 @@ class FeatureLoader {
         updates.description = summary;
       }
     }
+    if (description !== undefined) {
+      updates.description = description;
+    }
+    if (category !== undefined) {
+      updates.category = category;
+    }
+    if (steps !== undefined && Array.isArray(steps)) {
+      updates.steps = steps;
+    }
     if (error !== undefined) {
       updates.error = error;
     } else {
@@ -429,10 +448,21 @@ class FeatureLoader {
         updates.error = undefined;
       }
     }
+    
+    // Ensure required fields exist (for features created before this fix)
+    if (!existingFeature.category && !updates.category) updates.category = "Uncategorized";
+    if (!existingFeature.steps && !updates.steps) updates.steps = [];
+    if (!existingFeature.images) updates.images = [];
+    if (!existingFeature.imagePaths) updates.imagePaths = [];
+    if (existingFeature.skipTests === undefined) updates.skipTests = true;
+    if (!existingFeature.model) updates.model = "sonnet";
+    if (!existingFeature.thinkingLevel) updates.thinkingLevel = "none";
 
     await this.update(projectPath, featureId, updates);
     console.log(
       `[FeatureLoader] Updated feature ${featureId}: status=${status}${
+        category ? `, category="${category}"` : ""
+      }${steps ? `, steps=${steps.length}` : ""}${
         summary ? `, summary="${summary}"` : ""
       }`
     );

app/electron/services/mcp-server-factory.js

@@ -19,15 +19,18 @@ class McpServerFactory {
       tools: [
         tool(
           "UpdateFeatureStatus",
-          "Update the status of a feature. Use this tool instead of directly modifying feature files to safely update feature status. IMPORTANT: If the feature has skipTests=true, you should NOT mark it as verified - instead it will automatically go to waiting_approval status for manual review. Always include a summary of what was done.",
+          "Create or update a feature. Use this tool to create new features with detailed information or update existing feature status. When creating features, provide comprehensive description, category, and implementation steps.",
           {
-            featureId: z.string().describe("The ID of the feature to update"),
+            featureId: z.string().describe("The ID of the feature (lowercase, hyphens for spaces). Example: 'user-authentication', 'budget-tracking'"),
-            status: z.enum(["backlog", "in_progress", "verified"]).describe("The new status for the feature. Note: If skipTests=true, verified will be converted to waiting_approval automatically."),
+            status: z.enum(["backlog", "todo", "in_progress", "verified"]).describe("The status for the feature. Use 'backlog' or 'todo' for new features."),
-            summary: z.string().optional().describe("A brief summary of what was implemented/changed. This will be displayed on the Kanban card. Example: 'Added dark mode toggle. Modified: settings.tsx, theme-provider.tsx'")
+            summary: z.string().optional().describe("A brief summary of what was implemented/changed or what the feature does."),
+            description: z.string().optional().describe("A detailed description of the feature. Be comprehensive - explain what the feature does, its purpose, and key functionality."),
+            category: z.string().optional().describe("The category/phase for this feature. Example: 'Phase 1: Foundation', 'Phase 2: Core Logic', 'Phase 3: Polish', 'Authentication', 'UI/UX'"),
+            steps: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe("Array of implementation steps. Each step should be a clear, actionable task. Example: ['Set up database schema', 'Create API endpoints', 'Build UI components', 'Add validation']")
           },
           async (args) => {
             try {
-              console.log(`[McpServerFactory] UpdateFeatureStatus tool called: featureId=${args.featureId}, status=${args.status}, summary=${args.summary || "(none)"}`);
+              console.log(`[McpServerFactory] UpdateFeatureStatus tool called: featureId=${args.featureId}, status=${args.status}, summary=${args.summary || "(none)"}, category=${args.category || "(none)"}, steps=${args.steps?.length || 0}`);
               console.log(`[Feature Creation] Creating/updating feature "${args.featureId}" with status "${args.status}"`);
 
               // Load the feature to check skipTests flag
@@ -41,17 +44,30 @@ class McpServerFactory {
 
               // If agent tries to mark as verified but feature has skipTests=true, convert to waiting_approval
               let finalStatus = args.status;
+              // Convert 'todo' to 'backlog' for consistency
+              if (finalStatus === "todo") {
+                finalStatus = "backlog";
+              }
               if (feature && args.status === "verified" && feature.skipTests === true) {
                 console.log(`[McpServerFactory] Feature ${args.featureId} has skipTests=true, converting verified -> waiting_approval`);
                 finalStatus = "waiting_approval";
               }
 
-              // Call the provided callback to update feature status with summary
+              // Call the provided callback to update feature status with all parameters
-              await updateFeatureStatusCallback(args.featureId, finalStatus, projectPath, args.summary);
+              await updateFeatureStatusCallback(
+                args.featureId, 
+                finalStatus, 
+                projectPath, 
+                args.summary,
+                undefined, // error
+                args.description,
+                args.category,
+                args.steps
+              );
 
               const statusMessage = finalStatus !== args.status
-                ? `Successfully updated feature ${args.featureId} to status "${finalStatus}" (converted from "${args.status}" because skipTests=true)${args.summary ? ` with summary: "${args.summary}"` : ""}`
+                ? `Successfully created/updated feature ${args.featureId} to status "${finalStatus}" (converted from "${args.status}")${args.summary ? ` - ${args.summary}` : ""}`
-                : `Successfully updated feature ${args.featureId} to status "${finalStatus}"${args.summary ? ` with summary: "${args.summary}"` : ""}`;
+                : `Successfully created/updated feature ${args.featureId} to status "${finalStatus}"${args.summary ? ` - ${args.summary}` : ""}`;
 
               console.log(`[Feature Creation] ✓ ${statusMessage}`);
 

app/electron/services/prompt-builder.js

@@ -52,11 +52,11 @@ ${memoryContent}
 **Current Feature to Implement:**
 
 ID: ${feature.id}
-Category: ${feature.category}
+Category: ${feature.category || "Uncategorized"}
-Description: ${feature.description}
+Description: ${feature.description || feature.summary || feature.title || "No description provided"}
 ${skipTestsNote}${imagesNote}${contextFilesPreview}
 **Steps to Complete:**
-${feature.steps.map((step, i) => `${i + 1}. ${step}`).join("\n")}
+${(feature.steps || []).map((step, i) => `${i + 1}. ${step}`).join("\n") || "No specific steps provided - implement based on description"}
 
 **Your Task:**
 
@@ -195,12 +195,12 @@ ${memoryContent}
 **Feature to Implement/Verify:**
 
 ID: ${feature.id}
-Category: ${feature.category}
+Category: ${feature.category || "Uncategorized"}
-Description: ${feature.description}
+Description: ${feature.description || feature.summary || feature.title || "No description provided"}
 Current Status: ${feature.status}
 ${skipTestsNote}${imagesNote}${contextFilesPreview}
 **Steps that should be implemented:**
-${feature.steps.map((step, i) => `${i + 1}. ${step}`).join("\n")}
+${(feature.steps || []).map((step, i) => `${i + 1}. ${step}`).join("\n") || "No specific steps provided - implement based on description"}
 
 **Your Task:**
 
@@ -335,11 +335,11 @@ ${memoryContent}
 **Current Feature:**
 
 ID: ${feature.id}
-Category: ${feature.category}
+Category: ${feature.category || "Uncategorized"}
-Description: ${feature.description}
+Description: ${feature.description || feature.summary || feature.title || "No description provided"}
 ${skipTestsNote}${imagesNote}${contextFilesPreview}
 **Steps to Complete:**
-${feature.steps.map((step, i) => `${i + 1}. ${step}`).join("\n")}
+${(feature.steps || []).map((step, i) => `${i + 1}. ${step}`).join("\n") || "No specific steps provided - implement based on description"}
 
 **Previous Work Context:**
 

app/electron/services/spec-regeneration-service.js

@@ -368,24 +368,42 @@ class SpecRegenerationService {
       
       const options = {
         model: "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
-        systemPrompt: `You are a feature management assistant. Your job is to read the app_spec.txt file and create feature entries based on the implementation_roadmap section.
+        systemPrompt: `You are a feature management assistant. Your job is to read the app_spec.txt file and create DETAILED, COMPREHENSIVE feature entries based on the implementation_roadmap section.
 
 **Your Task:**
-1. Read the .automaker/app_spec.txt file
+1. Read the .automaker/app_spec.txt file thoroughly
 2. Parse the implementation_roadmap section (it contains phases with features listed)
-3. For each feature listed in the roadmap, use the UpdateFeatureStatus tool to create a feature entry
+3. For EACH feature in the roadmap, use the UpdateFeatureStatus tool to create a detailed feature entry
-4. Set the initial status to "todo" for all features
+4. Set the initial status to "backlog" for all features
-5. Extract a meaningful summary/description for each feature from the roadmap
+
+**IMPORTANT - For each feature you MUST provide:**
+- **featureId**: A descriptive ID (lowercase, hyphens for spaces). Example: "user-authentication", "budget-tracking"
+- **status**: "backlog" for all new features
+- **description**: A DETAILED description (2-4 sentences) explaining what the feature does, its purpose, and key functionality
+- **category**: The phase from the roadmap (e.g., "Phase 1: Foundation", "Phase 2: Core Logic", "Phase 3: Polish")
+- **steps**: An array of 4-8 clear, actionable implementation steps. Each step should be specific and completable.
+- **summary**: A brief one-line summary of the feature
+
+**Example of a well-defined feature:**
+{
+  "featureId": "user-authentication",
+  "status": "backlog",
+  "description": "Implement secure user authentication system with email/password login, OAuth integration for Google and Facebook, password reset functionality, and session management. This forms the foundation for all user-specific features.",
+  "category": "Phase 1: Foundation",
+  "steps": [
+    "Set up authentication provider (NextAuth.js or similar)",
+    "Configure email/password authentication",
+    "Implement social login (Google, Facebook OAuth)",
+    "Create login and registration UI components",
+    "Add password reset flow with email verification",
+    "Implement session management and token refresh"
+  ],
+  "summary": "Secure authentication with email/password and social login"
+}
 
 **Feature Storage:**
 Features are stored in .automaker/features/{id}/feature.json - each feature has its own folder.
-Use the UpdateFeatureStatus tool to create features. The tool will handle creating the directory structure and feature.json file.
+Use the UpdateFeatureStatus tool to create features with ALL the fields above.`,
-
-**Important:**
-- Create features ONLY from the implementation_roadmap section
-- Use the UpdateFeatureStatus tool for each feature
-- Set status to "todo" initially
-- Use a descriptive featureId based on the feature name (lowercase, hyphens for spaces)`,
         maxTurns: 50,
         cwd: projectPath,
         mcpServers: {
@@ -400,15 +418,24 @@ Use the UpdateFeatureStatus tool to create features. The tool will handle creati
         abortController: abortController,
       };
       
-      const prompt = `Please read the .automaker/app_spec.txt file and create feature entries for all features listed in the implementation_roadmap section.
+      const prompt = `Please read the .automaker/app_spec.txt file and create DETAILED feature entries for ALL features listed in the implementation_roadmap section.
 
-For each feature in the roadmap:
+**Your workflow:**
-1. Use the UpdateFeatureStatus tool to create the feature
+1. Read the app_spec.txt file completely
-2. Set status to "todo"
+2. Identify ALL features from the implementation_roadmap section
-3. Provide a clear summary/description based on what's in the roadmap
+3. For EACH feature, call UpdateFeatureStatus with ALL required fields:
-4. Use a featureId that's descriptive and follows the pattern: lowercase with hyphens (e.g., "user-authentication", "payment-processing")
 
-Start by reading the app_spec.txt file to see the implementation roadmap.`;
+**Required for each UpdateFeatureStatus call:**
+- featureId: Descriptive ID (lowercase, hyphens). Example: "user-authentication"
+- status: "backlog"
+- description: 2-4 sentences explaining the feature in detail
+- category: The phase name (e.g., "Phase 1: Foundation", "Phase 2: Core Logic")
+- steps: Array of 4-8 specific implementation steps
+- summary: One-line summary
+
+**Do NOT create features with just a summary - each feature needs description, category, AND steps.**
+
+Start by reading the app_spec.txt file, then create each feature with full detail.`;
       
       const currentQuery = query({ prompt, options });
       execution.query = currentQuery;