Getting Started

Build software faster using AI-powered workflows with specialized agents that guide you through planning, architecture, and implementation.

What You'll Learn

• Install and initialize BMad Method for a new project
• Use BMad-Help — your intelligent guide that knows what to do next
• Choose the right planning track for your project size
• Progress through phases from requirements to working code
• Use agents and workflows effectively

:::note[Prerequisites]

• Node.js 20.12+ — Required for the installer
• Git — Recommended for version control
• AI-powered IDE — Claude Code, Cursor, or similar
• A project idea — Even a simple one works for learning :::

:::tip[The Easiest Path] Install → npx bmad-method install Ask → bmad-help what should I do first? Build → Let BMad-Help guide you workflow by workflow :::

Meet BMad-Help: Your Intelligent Guide

BMad-Help is the fastest way to get started with BMad. You don't need to memorize workflows or phases — just ask, and BMad-Help will:

• Inspect your project to see what's already been done
• Show your options based on which modules you have installed
• Recommend what's next — including the first required task
• Answer questions like "I have a SaaS idea, where do I start?"

How to Use BMad-Help

Run it in your AI IDE by invoking the skill:

bmad-help

Or combine it with a question for context-aware guidance:

bmad-help I have an idea for a SaaS product, I already know all the features I want. where do I get started?

BMad-Help will respond with:

• What's recommended for your situation
• What the first required task is
• What the rest of the process looks like

It Powers Workflows Too

BMad-Help doesn't just answer questions — it automatically runs at the end of every workflow to tell you exactly what to do next. No guessing, no searching docs — just clear guidance on the next required workflow.

:::tip[Start Here] After installing BMad, invoke the bmad-help skill immediately. It will detect what modules you have installed and guide you to the right starting point for your project. :::

Understanding BMad

BMad helps you build software through guided workflows with specialized AI agents. The process follows four phases:

Open the Workflow Map to explore phases, workflows, and context management.

Based on your project's complexity, BMad offers three planning tracks:

:::note Story counts are guidance, not definitions. Choose your track based on planning needs, not story math. :::

Installation

Open a terminal in your project directory and run:

npx bmad-method install

If you want the newest prerelease build instead of the default release channel, use npx bmad-method@next install.

When prompted to select modules, choose BMad Method.

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

:::tip[Your Next Step] Open your AI IDE in the project folder and run:

bmad-help

BMad-Help will detect what you've completed and recommend exactly what to do next. You can also ask it questions like "What are my options?" or "I have a SaaS idea, where should I start?" :::

:::note[How to Load Agents and Run Workflows] Each workflow has a skill you invoke by name in your IDE (e.g., bmad-prd). Your AI tool will recognize the bmad-* name and run it — you don't need to load agents separately. You can also invoke an agent skill directly for general conversation (e.g., bmad-agent-pm for the PM agent). :::

:::caution[Fresh Chats] Always start a fresh chat for each workflow. This prevents context limitations from causing issues. :::

Step 1: Create Your Plan

Work through phases 1-3. Use fresh chats for each workflow.

:::tip[Project Context (Optional)] Before starting, consider creating project-context.md to document your technical preferences and implementation rules. This ensures all AI agents follow your conventions throughout the project.

Create it manually at _bmad-output/project-context.md or generate it after architecture using bmad-generate-project-context. Learn more. :::

Phase 1: Analysis (Optional)

All workflows in this phase are optional. Not sure which to use?

• brainstorming (bmad-brainstorming) — Guided ideation
• forge-idea (bmad-forge-idea) — Pressure-test an idea until it hardens or dies cheaply
• research (bmad-market-research / bmad-domain-research / bmad-technical-research) — Market, domain, and technical research
• product-brief (bmad-product-brief) — Recommended foundation document when your concept is clear
• prfaq (bmad-prfaq) — Working Backwards challenge to stress-test your product concept customer-first

Phase 2: Planning (Required)

For BMad Method and Enterprise tracks:

1. Run bmad-prd in a new chat — state your intent (Create / Update / Validate) or let the skill ask
2. Output: prd.md, addendum.md, .memlog.md

:::note[bmad-prd intents]

• Create — coached discovery from scratch; the skill names the workspace folder and guides you to a PRD you're proud of
• Update — point it at an existing PRD and a change signal; it surfaces conflicts before applying changes
• Validate — critique a finished PRD against a checklist and produce an HTML findings report :::

For Quick Flow track:

• Run bmad-quick-dev — it handles planning and implementation in a single workflow, skip to implementation

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

Phase 3: Solutioning (BMad Method/Enterprise)

Create Architecture

1. Invoke the Architect agent (bmad-agent-architect) in a new chat
2. Run bmad-create-architecture (bmad-create-architecture)
3. Output: Architecture document with technical decisions

Create Epics and Stories

:::tip[V6 Improvement] 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. Invoke the PM agent (bmad-agent-pm) in a new chat
2. Run bmad-create-epics-and-stories (bmad-create-epics-and-stories)
3. The workflow uses both PRD and Architecture to create technically-informed stories

Implementation Readiness Check (Highly Recommended)

1. Invoke the Architect agent (bmad-agent-architect) in a new chat
2. Run bmad-check-implementation-readiness (bmad-check-implementation-readiness)
3. Validates cohesion across all planning documents

Step 2: Build Your Project

Once planning is complete, move to implementation. Each workflow should run in a fresh chat.

Initialize Sprint Planning

Invoke the Developer agent (bmad-agent-dev) and run bmad-sprint-planning (bmad-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:

After completing all stories in an epic, invoke the Developer agent (bmad-agent-dev) and run bmad-retrospective (bmad-retrospective).

What You've Accomplished

You've learned the foundation of building with BMad:

• Installed BMad and configured it for your IDE
• Initialized a project with your chosen planning track
• Created planning documents (PRD, Architecture, Epics & Stories)
• Understood the build cycle for implementation

Your project now has:

your-project/
├── _bmad/                                   # BMad configuration
├── _bmad-output/
│   ├── planning-artifacts/
│   │   ├── PRD.md                           # Your requirements document
│   │   ├── architecture.md                  # Technical decisions
│   │   └── epics/                           # Epic and story files
│   ├── implementation-artifacts/
│   │   └── sprint-status.yaml               # Sprint tracking
│   └── project-context.md                   # Implementation rules (optional)
└── ...

Quick Reference

Common Questions

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

Can I change my plan later? Yes. The bmad-correct-course workflow handles scope changes mid-implementation.

What if I want to brainstorm first? Invoke the Analyst agent (bmad-agent-analyst) and run bmad-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.

Getting Help

:::tip[First Stop: BMad-Help] Invoke bmad-help anytime — it's the fastest way to get unstuck. Ask it anything:

• "What should I do after installing?"
• "I'm stuck on workflow X"
• "What are my options for Y?"
• "Show me what's been done so far"

BMad-Help inspects your project, detects what you've completed, and tells you exactly what to do next. :::

• During workflows — Agents guide you with questions and explanations
• Community — Discord (#bmad-method-help, #report-bugs-and-issues)

Key Takeaways

:::tip[Remember These]

• Start with bmad-help — Your intelligent guide that knows your project and options
• Always use fresh chats — Start a new chat for each workflow
• Track matters — Quick Flow uses bmad-quick-dev; Method/Enterprise need PRD and architecture
• BMad-Help runs automatically — Every workflow ends with guidance on what's next :::

Ready to start? Install BMad, invoke bmad-help, and let your intelligent guide lead the way.