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
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:
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.
Understanding BMad
BMad helps you build software through guided workflows with specialized AI agents. The process follows four phases:
| Phase | Name | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Analysis | Brainstorming, research, product brief (optional) |
| 2 | Planning | Create requirements (PRD or tech-spec) |
| 3 | Solutioning | Design architecture (BMad Method/Enterprise only) |
| 4 | Implementation | Build epic by epic, story by story |
Open the Workflow Map to explore phases, workflows, and context management.
Based on your project’s complexity, BMad offers three planning tracks:
| Track | Best For | Documents Created |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Flow | Bug fixes, simple features, clear scope (1-15 stories) | Tech-spec only |
| BMad Method | Products, platforms, complex features (10-50+ stories) | PRD + Architecture + UX |
| Enterprise | Compliance, multi-tenant systems (30+ stories) | PRD + Architecture + Security + DevOps |
Open a terminal in your project directory and run:
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
Step 1: Create Your Plan
Work through phases 1-3. Use fresh chats for each workflow.
Phase 1: Analysis (Optional)
All workflows in this phase are optional:
- brainstorming (
bmad-brainstorming) — Guided ideation - research (
bmad-research) — Market and technical research - create-product-brief (
bmad-create-product-brief) — Recommended foundation document
Phase 2: Planning (Required)
For BMad Method and Enterprise tracks:
- Invoke the PM agent (
bmad-pm) in a new chat - Run the
bmad-create-prdworkflow (bmad-create-prd) - Output:
PRD.md
For Quick Flow track:
- Use the
bmad-quick-specworkflow (bmad-quick-spec) instead of PRD, then skip to implementation
Phase 3: Solutioning (BMad Method/Enterprise)
Section titled “Phase 3: Solutioning (BMad Method/Enterprise)”
Create Architecture
- Invoke the Architect agent (
bmad-architect) in a new chat - Run
bmad-create-architecture(bmad-create-architecture) - Output: Architecture document with technical decisions
Create Epics and Stories
- Invoke the PM agent (
bmad-pm) in a new chat - Run
bmad-create-epics-and-stories(bmad-create-epics-and-stories) - The workflow uses both PRD and Architecture to create technically-informed stories
Implementation Readiness Check (Highly Recommended)
- Invoke the Architect agent (
bmad-architect) in a new chat - Run
bmad-check-implementation-readiness(bmad-check-implementation-readiness) - 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 SM agent (bmad-sm) and run bmad-sprint-planning (bmad-sprint-planning). This creates sprint-status.yaml to track all epics and stories.
For each story, repeat this cycle with fresh chats:
| Step | Agent | Workflow | Command | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SM | bmad-create-story | bmad-create-story | Create story file from epic |
| 2 | DEV | bmad-dev-story | bmad-dev-story | Implement the story |
| 3 | DEV | bmad-code-review | bmad-code-review | Quality validation (recommended) |
After completing all stories in an epic, invoke the SM agent (bmad-sm) 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)
└── ...
| Workflow | Command | Agent | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
bmad-help ⭐ | bmad-help | Any | Your intelligent guide — ask anything! |
bmad-create-prd | bmad-create-prd | PM | Create Product Requirements Document |
bmad-create-architecture | bmad-create-architecture | Architect | Create architecture document |
bmad-generate-project-context | bmad-generate-project-context | Analyst | Create project context file |
bmad-create-epics-and-stories | bmad-create-epics-and-stories | PM | Break down PRD into epics |
bmad-check-implementation-readiness | bmad-check-implementation-readiness | Architect | Validate planning cohesion |
bmad-sprint-planning | bmad-sprint-planning | SM | Initialize sprint tracking |
bmad-create-story | bmad-create-story | SM | Create a story file |
bmad-dev-story | bmad-dev-story | DEV | Implement a story |
bmad-code-review | bmad-code-review | DEV | Review implemented code |
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 bmad-correct-course workflow (bmad-correct-course) for handling scope changes.
What if I want to brainstorm first?
Invoke the Analyst agent (bmad-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.
- During workflows — Agents guide you with questions and explanations
- Community — Discord (#bmad-method-help, #report-bugs-and-issues)
Ready to start? Install BMad, invoke bmad-help, and let your intelligent guide lead the way.