--- title: "Getting Started" description: Install BMad and build your first project --- 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+** — 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 with just the slash command: ``` /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, run `/bmad-help` 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: | 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](../reference/workflow-map.md)** 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 | :::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: ```bash npx bmad-method 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 **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. ::: ## 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-bmm-generate-project-context`. [Learn more](../explanation/project-context.md). ::: ### Phase 1: Analysis (Optional) All workflows in this phase are optional: - **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** (`/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 (`/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** (`/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** (`/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** :::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. 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** (`/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 Once planning is complete, move to implementation. **Each workflow should run in a fresh chat.** ### Initialize Sprint Planning 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 | 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** (`/bmad-agent-bmm-sm`) and run `retrospective` (`/bmad-bmm-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: ```text 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 | Workflow | Command | Agent | Purpose | | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | --------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | **`help`** ⭐ | `/bmad-help` | Any | **Your intelligent guide — ask anything!** | | `prd` | `/bmad-bmm-create-prd` | PM | Create Product Requirements Document | | `create-architecture` | `/bmad-bmm-create-architecture` | Architect | Create architecture document | | `generate-project-context` | `/bmad-bmm-generate-project-context` | Analyst | Create project context file | | `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 (`/bmad-bmm-correct-course`) for handling scope changes. **What if I want to brainstorm first?** 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. ## Getting Help :::tip[First Stop: BMad-Help] **Run `/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](https://discord.gg/gk8jAdXWmj) (#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 quick-spec; Method/Enterprise need PRD and architecture - **BMad-Help runs automatically** — Every workflow ends with guidance on what's next ::: Ready to start? Install BMad, run `/bmad-help`, and let your intelligent guide lead the way.