deckrd
Stepwise derivation workflow from requirements to executable tasks.
When & Why to Use This Skill
Deckrd is a document-centered framework designed to transform high-level goals into executable development tasks through a structured, stepwise derivation process. By enforcing phase integrity and state-driven workflows, it ensures that requirements, decision records, and specifications are systematically refined into actionable implementation plans, preserving context and intent throughout the project lifecycle.
Use Cases
- Software Development Planning: Systematically breaking down vague product goals into granular, executable tasks while maintaining a clear audit trail of technical decisions.
- Requirements Engineering: Using iterative AI discussions to refine raw ideas into structured documentation, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned before implementation begins.
- Technical Project Management: Enforcing a strict workflow from requirements to specifications to prevent scope creep and ensure that every task is derived from a validated need.
- Context-Preserving Documentation: Creating a living repository of reasoning and intent that serves as a practical engine for development rather than just static descriptions.
| name | deckrd |
|---|---|
| description | "Use when structuring requirements, specifications, or tasks. Enforces stepwise derivation and phase integrity." |
Deckrd - Your Goals to Tasks framework
Deckrd is a document-centered framework for structuring and refining ideas through iterative discussion with AI. It guides the creation of requirements, decisions, specifications, and implementation plans as derived documents, not final outputs. Each document captures reasoning at a specific stage, preserving context and intent. Through a strict, state-driven workflow, these documents are progressively shaped into executable development tasks. Deckrd enables documentation to function as a practical engine for action, not just description.
Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
init <ns>/<mod> |
Initialize module directory and session |
req |
Derive requirements from goals |
dr |
Manage Decision Records (req step only) |
dr --add |
Append a new Decision Record |
spec |
Derive specifications from requirements |
impl |
Derive implementation plan from specifications |
tasks |
Derive executable tasks from implementation |
status |
Display current workflow progress and status |
Session Resolution
Session state is stored in docs/.deckrd/.session.json.
Before executing any command:
- Read
.session.jsonto get active module and current step - Validate the command matches expected workflow progression
- Load the appropriate reference from
references/commands/
Reference selection:
| Current State | Next Command | Load Reference |
|---|---|---|
| (none) | init | commands/init.md |
| init completed | req | commands/req.md |
| req completed | spec | commands/spec.md |
| spec completed | impl | commands/impl.md |
| impl completed | tasks | commands/tasks.md |
For workflow overview: workflow.md For session management details: session.md For status command: commands/status.md