Product:to Issues

Product to Issues

Convert an approved PRD into a set of issues that an agent or a developer can execute. Companion to product-prd-write: that skill produces the PRD, this one slices it into shippable work. Works with any issue tracker (Jira, Linear, GitHub Issues, etc.).

Input

A PRD reference: a URL/title, a file path, or pasted text. If none given, ask. Read the full PRD before slicing. Note the target tracker and project (ask if unknown).

Core principle — vertical tracer-bullet slices

Slice the PRD into vertical tracer bullets: each slice delivers a narrow but COMPLETE path through every layer it touches (data, API, UI, tests). Not horizontal layers (never "build the schema", then "build the API"). A slice must be independently mergeable and demonstrate one observable behavior end to end.

• Prefer MANY thin slices over FEW fat ones. When in doubt, split.
• The first slice is the thinnest walking skeleton that proves the path exists.
• Each later slice widens the path: one more behavior, one more case, one more persona.

HITL vs AFK tag

Tag every slice:

• AFK (away from keyboard): can be specified, built, and merged with no human decision. Default. Prefer AFK.
• HITL (human in the loop): needs a human design call, judgment, or sign-off mid-flight (ambiguous UX, contested data model, business rule to confirm, security/compliance choice).

Push to make slices AFK. If a slice is HITL only because of one open question, consider extracting that decision into its own upstream HITL slice so the rest stays AFK.

Workflow

1. Slice

Read the PRD. Map user stories and requirements to vertical slices. Order them by dependency (skeleton first, then widen). Assign each a type (Story / Task / Bug / Spike), a HITL/AFK tag, and its blockers.

2. Quiz (validate before creating anything)

Present the full slice list as a numbered table and ask for sign-off. Do NOT create any issue until the user approves.

| # | Title | Type | Tag | Blocked by | User stories covered | |---|-------|------|-----|------------|----------------------|

Then ask explicitly:

• Granularity OK, or should any slice be split / merged?
• Dependencies correct?
• HITL/AFK tags right?
• Anything missing or out of scope?

Iterate on the table until the user approves. This loop is the point of the skill — do not skip it.

3. Publish to the tracker

Once approved, create issues in dependency order (a blocker exists before the issue that links to it). For each issue:

• Build the body from the issue template below.
• Create it with the agreed type.
• Set "Blocked by" links once both issues exist.
• Tag HITL/AFK via a label.

Return the created issue keys and URLs, listed in dependency order.

Issue contents

Every issue follows this template:

• Parent — epic or PRD link
• What to build — the behavior this slice delivers, end to end
• Acceptance criteria — checkbox list, BEHAVIORAL (what the system does), not procedural (how to code it)
• Blocked by — upstream issue keys

Durability rule

Issues must not rot. So:

• NO file paths and NO code snippets in issues. They go stale the moment code moves.
• ONE exception: a trimmed snippet from a prototype that ENCODES A DECISION (a state machine, a schema, a type signature). Keep it minimal and label it as the decision it captures, not as implementation.
• Describe behavior and outcomes, not the current shape of the codebase.

Rules

• Never create issues before the quiz is approved.
• One observable behavior per slice; if a slice has "and" in its goal, split it.
• Acceptance criteria are testable and behavioral. "User sees X after Y", not "add field to table".
• Default to AFK; justify every HITL.
• Don't invent scope. If the PRD is silent on something needed to slice, flag it as an open question in the quiz, don't guess.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: ceyddrick
• Source: ceyddrick/skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.