Step 2: Format Detection & Structure Analysis

STEP GOAL:

Detect if PRD follows BMAD format and route appropriately - classify as BMAD Standard / BMAD Variant / Non-Standard, with optional parity check for non-standard formats.

MANDATORY EXECUTION RULES (READ FIRST):

Universal Rules:

• 🛑 NEVER generate content without user input
• 📖 CRITICAL: Read the complete step file before taking any action
• 🔄 CRITICAL: When loading next step with 'C', ensure entire file is read
• 📋 YOU ARE A FACILITATOR, not a content generator
• ✅ YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT In your Agent communication style with the config {communication_language}

Role Reinforcement:

• ✅ You are a Validation Architect and Quality Assurance Specialist
• ✅ If you already have been given communication or persona patterns, continue to use those while playing this new role
• ✅ We engage in collaborative dialogue, not command-response
• ✅ You bring systematic validation expertise and pattern recognition
• ✅ User brings domain knowledge and PRD context

Step-Specific Rules:

• 🎯 Focus ONLY on detecting format and classifying structure
• 🚫 FORBIDDEN to perform other validation checks in this step
• 💬 Approach: Analytical and systematic, clear reporting of findings
• 🚪 This is a branch step - may route to parity check for non-standard PRDs

EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:

• 🎯 Analyze PRD structure systematically
• 💾 Append format findings to validation report
• 📖 Route appropriately based on format classification
• 🚫 FORBIDDEN to skip format detection or proceed without classification

CONTEXT BOUNDARIES:

• Available context: PRD file loaded in step 1, validation report initialized
• Focus: Format detection and classification only
• Limits: Don't perform other validation, don't skip classification
• Dependencies: Step 1 completed - PRD loaded and report initialized

MANDATORY SEQUENCE

CRITICAL: Follow this sequence exactly. Do not skip, reorder, or improvise unless user explicitly requests a change.

1. Extract PRD Structure

Load the complete PRD file and extract:

All Level 2 (##) headers:

• Scan through entire PRD document
• Extract all ## section headers
• List them in order

PRD frontmatter:

• Extract classification.domain if present
• Extract classification.projectType if present
• Note any other relevant metadata

2. Check for BMAD PRD Core Sections

Check if the PRD contains the following BMAD PRD core sections:

1. Executive Summary (or variations: ## Executive Summary, ## Overview, ## Introduction)
2. Success Criteria (or: ## Success Criteria, ## Goals, ## Objectives)
3. Product Scope (or: ## Product Scope, ## Scope, ## In Scope, ## Out of Scope)
4. User Journeys (or: ## User Journeys, ## User Stories, ## User Flows)
5. Functional Requirements (or: ## Functional Requirements, ## Features, ## Capabilities)
6. Non-Functional Requirements (or: ## Non-Functional Requirements, ## NFRs, ## Quality Attributes)

Count matches:

• How many of these 6 core sections are present?
• Which specific sections are present?
• Which are missing?

3. Classify PRD Format

Based on core section count, classify:

BMAD Standard:

• 5-6 core sections present
• Follows BMAD PRD structure closely

BMAD Variant:

• 3-4 core sections present
• Generally follows BMAD patterns but may have structural differences
• Missing some sections but recognizable as BMAD-style

Non-Standard:

• Fewer than 3 core sections present
• Does not follow BMAD PRD structure
• May be completely custom format, legacy format, or from another framework

4. Report Format Findings to Validation Report

Append to validation report:

## Format Detection

**PRD Structure:**
[List all ## Level 2 headers found]

**BMAD Core Sections Present:**
- Executive Summary: [Present/Missing]
- Success Criteria: [Present/Missing]
- Product Scope: [Present/Missing]
- User Journeys: [Present/Missing]
- Functional Requirements: [Present/Missing]
- Non-Functional Requirements: [Present/Missing]

**Format Classification:** [BMAD Standard / BMAD Variant / Non-Standard]
**Core Sections Present:** [count]/6

5. Route Based on Format Classification

IF format is BMAD Standard or BMAD Variant:

Display: "Format Detected: {classification}

Proceeding to systematic validation checks..."

Without delay, read fully and follow: {nextStepFile} (step-v-03-density-validation.md)

IF format is Non-Standard (< 3 core sections):

Display: "Format Detected: Non-Standard PRD

This PRD does not follow BMAD standard structure (only {count}/6 core sections present).

You have options:"

Present MENU OPTIONS below for user selection

6. Present MENU OPTIONS (Non-Standard PRDs Only)

[A] Parity Check - Analyze gaps and estimate effort to reach BMAD PRD parity [B] Validate As-Is - Proceed with validation using current structure [C] Exit - Exit validation and review format findings

EXECUTION RULES:

• ALWAYS halt and wait for user input
• Only proceed based on user selection

Menu Handling Logic:

• IF A (Parity Check): Read fully and follow: {altStepFile} (step-v-02b-parity-check.md)
• IF B (Validate As-Is): Display "Proceeding with validation..." then read fully and follow: {nextStepFile}
• IF C (Exit): Display format findings summary and exit validation
• IF Any other: help user respond, then redisplay menu

🚨 SYSTEM SUCCESS/FAILURE METRICS

✅ SUCCESS:

• All ## Level 2 headers extracted successfully
• BMAD core sections checked systematically
• Format classified correctly based on section count
• Findings reported to validation report
• BMAD Standard/Variant PRDs proceed directly to next validation step
• Non-Standard PRDs pause and present options to user
• User can choose parity check, validate as-is, or exit

❌ SYSTEM FAILURE:

• Not extracting all headers before classification
• Incorrect format classification
• Not reporting findings to validation report
• Not pausing for non-standard PRDs
• Proceeding without user decision for non-standard formats

Master Rule: Format detection determines validation path. Non-standard PRDs require user choice before proceeding.