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76 changes: 40 additions & 36 deletions docs/tutorials/getting-started.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -65,7 +65,11 @@ The installer creates two folders:
- `_bmad/` — agents, workflows, tasks, and configuration
- `_bmad-output/` — empty for now, but this is where your artifacts will be saved

Open your AI IDE in the project folder. Run the `help` workflow (`/bmad-help` on most platforms) to see what to do next — it detects what you've completed and recommends the next step.
Open your AI IDE in the project folder. Run the `help` workflow (`/bmad-help`) to see what to do next — it detects what you've completed and recommends the next step.

:::note[How to Load Agents and Run Workflows]
Each workflow has a **slash command** you run in your IDE (e.g., `/bmad-bmm-create-prd`). Running a workflow command automatically loads the appropriate agent — you don't need to load agents separately. You can also load an agent directly for general conversation (e.g., `/bmad-agent-bmm-pm` for the PM agent).
:::

:::caution[Fresh Chats]
Always start a fresh chat for each workflow. This prevents context limitations from causing issues.
Expand All @@ -78,29 +82,29 @@ Work through phases 1-3. **Use fresh chats for each workflow.**
### Phase 1: Analysis (Optional)

All workflows in this phase are optional:
- **brainstorming** — Guided ideation
- **research** — Market and technical research
- **create-product-brief** — Recommended foundation document
- **brainstorming** (`/bmad-brainstorming`) — Guided ideation
- **research** (`/bmad-bmm-research`) — Market and technical research
- **create-product-brief** (`/bmad-bmm-create-product-brief`) — Recommended foundation document

### Phase 2: Planning (Required)

**For BMad Method and Enterprise tracks:**
1. Load the **PM agent** in a new chat
2. Run the `prd` workflow
1. Load the **PM agent** (`/bmad-agent-bmm-pm`) in a new chat
2. Run the `prd` workflow (`/bmad-bmm-create-prd`)
3. Output: `PRD.md`

**For Quick Flow track:**
- Use the `quick-spec` workflow instead of PRD, then skip to implementation
- Use the `quick-spec` workflow (`/bmad-bmm-quick-spec`) instead of PRD, then skip to implementation

:::note[UX Design (Optional)]
If your project has a user interface, load the **UX-Designer agent** and run the UX design workflow after creating your PRD.
If your project has a user interface, load the **UX-Designer agent** (`/bmad-agent-bmm-ux-designer`) and run the UX design workflow (`/bmad-bmm-create-ux-design`) after creating your PRD.
:::

### Phase 3: Solutioning (BMad Method/Enterprise)

**Create Architecture**
1. Load the **Architect agent** in a new chat
2. Run `create-architecture`
1. Load the **Architect agent** (`/bmad-agent-bmm-architect`) in a new chat
2. Run `create-architecture` (`/bmad-bmm-create-architecture`)
3. Output: Architecture document with technical decisions

**Create Epics and Stories**
Expand All @@ -109,13 +113,13 @@ If your project has a user interface, load the **UX-Designer agent** and run the
Epics and stories are now created *after* architecture. This produces better quality stories because architecture decisions (database, API patterns, tech stack) directly affect how work should be broken down.
:::

1. Load the **PM agent** in a new chat
2. Run `create-epics-and-stories`
1. Load the **PM agent** (`/bmad-agent-bmm-pm`) in a new chat
2. Run `create-epics-and-stories` (`/bmad-bmm-create-epics-and-stories`)
3. The workflow uses both PRD and Architecture to create technically-informed stories

**Implementation Readiness Check** *(Highly Recommended)*
1. Load the **Architect agent** in a new chat
2. Run `check-implementation-readiness`
1. Load the **Architect agent** (`/bmad-agent-bmm-architect`) in a new chat
2. Run `check-implementation-readiness` (`/bmad-bmm-check-implementation-readiness`)
3. Validates cohesion across all planning documents

## Step 2: Build Your Project
Expand All @@ -124,19 +128,19 @@ Once planning is complete, move to implementation. **Each workflow should run in

### Initialize Sprint Planning

Load the **SM agent** and run `sprint-planning`. This creates `sprint-status.yaml` to track all epics and stories.
Load the **SM agent** (`/bmad-agent-bmm-sm`) and run `sprint-planning` (`/bmad-bmm-sprint-planning`). This creates `sprint-status.yaml` to track all epics and stories.

### The Build Cycle

For each story, repeat this cycle with fresh chats:

| Step | Agent | Workflow | Purpose |
| ---- | ----- | -------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| 1 | SM | `create-story` | Create story file from epic |
| 2 | DEV | `dev-story` | Implement the story |
| 3 | DEV | `code-review` | Quality validation *(recommended)* |
| Step | Agent | Workflow | Command | Purpose |
| ---- | ----- | -------------- | -------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| 1 | SM | `create-story` | `/bmad-bmm-create-story` | Create story file from epic |
| 2 | DEV | `dev-story` | `/bmad-bmm-dev-story` | Implement the story |
| 3 | DEV | `code-review` | `/bmad-bmm-code-review` | Quality validation *(recommended)* |

After completing all stories in an epic, load the **SM agent** and run `retrospective`.
After completing all stories in an epic, load the **SM agent** (`/bmad-agent-bmm-sm`) and run `retrospective` (`/bmad-bmm-retrospective`).

## What You've Accomplished

Expand All @@ -162,28 +166,28 @@ your-project/

## Quick Reference

| Workflow | Agent | Purpose |
| -------------------------------- | --------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `help` | Any | Get guidance on what to do next |
| `prd` | PM | Create Product Requirements Document |
| `create-architecture` | Architect | Create architecture document |
| `create-epics-and-stories` | PM | Break down PRD into epics |
| `check-implementation-readiness` | Architect | Validate planning cohesion |
| `sprint-planning` | SM | Initialize sprint tracking |
| `create-story` | SM | Create a story file |
| `dev-story` | DEV | Implement a story |
| `code-review` | DEV | Review implemented code |
| Workflow | Command | Agent | Purpose |
| -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | --------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `help` | `/bmad-help` | Any | Get guidance on what to do next |
| `prd` | `/bmad-bmm-create-prd` | PM | Create Product Requirements Document |
| `create-architecture` | `/bmad-bmm-create-architecture` | Architect | Create architecture document |
| `create-epics-and-stories` | `/bmad-bmm-create-epics-and-stories` | PM | Break down PRD into epics |
| `check-implementation-readiness` | `/bmad-bmm-check-implementation-readiness` | Architect | Validate planning cohesion |
| `sprint-planning` | `/bmad-bmm-sprint-planning` | SM | Initialize sprint tracking |
| `create-story` | `/bmad-bmm-create-story` | SM | Create a story file |
| `dev-story` | `/bmad-bmm-dev-story` | DEV | Implement a story |
| `code-review` | `/bmad-bmm-code-review` | DEV | Review implemented code |

## Common Questions

**Do I always need architecture?**
Only for BMad Method and Enterprise tracks. Quick Flow skips from tech-spec to implementation.

**Can I change my plan later?**
Yes. The SM agent has a `correct-course` workflow for handling scope changes.
Yes. The SM agent has a `correct-course` workflow (`/bmad-bmm-correct-course`) for handling scope changes.

**What if I want to brainstorm first?**
Load the Analyst agent and run `brainstorming` before starting your PRD.
Load the Analyst agent (`/bmad-agent-bmm-analyst`) and run `brainstorming` (`/bmad-brainstorming`) before starting your PRD.

**Do I need to follow a strict order?**
Not strictly. Once you learn the flow, you can run workflows directly using the Quick Reference above.
Expand All @@ -192,14 +196,14 @@ Not strictly. Once you learn the flow, you can run workflows directly using the

- **During workflows** — Agents guide you with questions and explanations
- **Community** — [Discord](https://discord.gg/gk8jAdXWmj) (#bmad-method-help, #report-bugs-and-issues)
- **Stuck?** — Run `help` to see what to do next
- **Stuck?** — Run `help` (`/bmad-help`) to see what to do next

## Key Takeaways

:::tip[Remember These]
- **Always use fresh chats** — Start a new chat for each workflow
- **Track matters** — Quick Flow uses quick-spec; Method/Enterprise need PRD and architecture
- **Use `help` when stuck** — It detects your progress and suggests next steps
- **Use `help` (`/bmad-help`) when stuck** — It detects your progress and suggests next steps
:::

Ready to start? Install BMad and let the agents guide you through your first project.