Create Epics

An epic is a named, bounded body of work that maps to one architectural module. It defines what needs to be built and who owns it architecturally. It does not prescribe implementation steps — that is the job of stories.

Run this skill once per layer as you approach that layer in development. Do not create Feature layer epics until Core is nearly complete — the design will have changed.

Output: production/epics/[epic-slug]/EPIC.md + production/epics/index.md

Next step after each epic: /create-stories [epic-slug]

When to run: After /create-control-manifest and /architecture-review pass.

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1. Parse Arguments

Resolve the review mode (once, store for all gate spawns this run):

1. If --review [full|lean|solo] was passed → use that
2. Else read production/review-mode.txt → use that value
3. Else → default to lean

See .claude/docs/director-gates.md for the full check pattern.

Modes:

• /create-epics all — process all systems in layer order
• /create-epics layer: foundation — Foundation layer only
• /create-epics layer: core — Core layer only
• /create-epics layer: feature — Feature layer only
• /create-epics layer: presentation — Presentation layer only
• /create-epics [system-name] — one specific system
• No argument — ask: "Which layer or system would you like to create epics for?"

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2. Load Inputs

Step 2a — Summary scan (fast)

Grep all GDDs for their ## Summary sections before reading anything fully:

Grep pattern="## Summary" glob="design/gdd/*.md" output_mode="content" -A 5

For layer: or [system-name] modes: filter to only in-scope GDDs based on the Summary quick-reference. Skip full-reading anything out of scope.

Step 2b — Full document load (in-scope systems only)

Using the Step 2a grep results, identify which systems are in scope. Read full documents only for in-scope systems — do not read GDDs or ADRs for out-of-scope systems or layers.

Read for in-scope systems:

• design/gdd/systems-index.md — authoritative system list, layers, priority
• In-scope GDDs only (Approved or Designed status, filtered by Step 2a results)
• docs/architecture/architecture.md — module ownership and API boundaries
• Accepted ADRs whose domains cover in-scope systems only — read the "GDD Requirements Addressed", "Decision", and "Engine Compatibility" sections; skip ADRs for unrelated domains
• docs/architecture/control-manifest.md — manifest version date from header
• docs/architecture/tr-registry.yaml — for tracing requirements to ADR coverage
• docs/engine-reference/[engine]/VERSION.md — engine name, version, risk levels

Report: "Loaded [N] GDDs, [M] ADRs, engine: [name + version]."

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3. Processing Order

Process in dependency-safe layer order:

1. Foundation (no dependencies)
2. Core (depends on Foundation)
3. Feature (depends on Core)
4. Presentation (depends on Feature + Core)

Within each layer, use the order from systems-index.md.

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4. Define Each Epic

For each system, map it to an architectural module from architecture.md.

Check ADR coverage against the TR registry:

• Traced requirements: TR-IDs that have an Accepted ADR covering them
• Untraced requirements: TR-IDs with no ADR — warn before proceeding

Present to user before writing anything:

## Epic: [System Name]

**Layer**: [Foundation / Core / Feature / Presentation]
**GDD**: design/gdd/[filename].md
**Architecture Module**: [module name from architecture.md]
**Governing ADRs**: [ADR-NNNN, ADR-MMMM]
**Engine Risk**: [LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH — highest risk among governing ADRs]
**GDD Requirements Covered by ADRs**: [N / total]
**Untraced Requirements**: [list TR-IDs with no ADR, or "None"]

If there are untraced requirements:

"⚠️ [N] requirements in [system] have no ADR. The epic can be created, but stories for these requirements will be marked Blocked until ADRs exist. Run /architecture-decision first, or proceed with placeholders."

Ask: "Shall I create Epic: [name]?" Options: "Yes, create it", "Skip", "Pause — I need to write ADRs first"

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4b. Producer Epic Structure Gate

Review mode check — apply before spawning PR-EPIC:

• solo → skip. Note: "PR-EPIC skipped — Solo mode." Proceed to Step 5 (write epic files).
• lean → skip (not a PHASE-GATE). Note: "PR-EPIC skipped — Lean mode." Proceed to Step 5 (write epic files).
• full → spawn as normal.

After all epics for the current layer are defined (Step 4 completed for all in-scope systems), and before writing any files, spawn producer via Task using gate PR-EPIC (.claude/docs/director-gates.md).

Pass: the full epic structure summary (all epics, their scope summaries, governing ADR counts), the layer being processed, milestone timeline and team capacity.

Present the producer's assessment. If UNREALISTIC, offer to revise epic boundaries (split overscoped or merge underscoped epics) before writing. If CONCERNS, surface them and let the user decide. Do not write epic files until the producer gate resolves.

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5. Write Epic Files

After approval, ask: "May I write the epic file to production/epics/[epic-slug]/EPIC.md?"

After user confirms, write:

production/epics/[epic-slug]/EPIC.md

# Epic: [System Name]

> **Layer**: [Foundation / Core / Feature / Presentation]
> **GDD**: design/gdd/[filename].md
> **Architecture Module**: [module name]
> **Status**: Ready
> **Stories**: Not yet created — run `/create-stories [epic-slug]`

## Overview

[1 paragraph describing what this epic implements, derived from the GDD Overview
and the architecture module's stated responsibilities]

## Governing ADRs

| ADR | Decision Summary | Engine Risk |
|-----|-----------------|-------------|
| ADR-NNNN: [title] | [1-line summary] | LOW/MEDIUM/HIGH |

## GDD Requirements

| TR-ID | Requirement | ADR Coverage |
|-------|-------------|--------------|
| TR-[system]-001 | [requirement text from registry] | ADR-NNNN ✅ |
| TR-[system]-002 | [requirement text] | ❌ No ADR |

## Definition of Done

This epic is complete when:
- All stories are implemented, reviewed, and closed via `/story-done`
- All acceptance criteria from `design/gdd/[filename].md` are verified
- All Logic and Integration stories have passing test files in `tests/`
- All Visual/Feel and UI stories have evidence docs with sign-off in `production/qa/evidence/`

## Next Step

Run `/create-stories [epic-slug]` to break this epic into implementable stories.

Update production/epics/index.md

Create or update the master index:

# Epics Index

Last Updated: [date]
Engine: [name + version]

| Epic | Layer | System | GDD | Stories | Status |
|------|-------|--------|-----|---------|--------|
| [name] | Foundation | [system] | [file] | Not yet created | Ready |

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6. Gate-Check Reminder

After writing all epics for the requested scope:

• Foundation + Core complete: These are required for the Pre-Production → Production gate. Run /gate-check production to check readiness.
• Reminder: Epics define scope. Stories define implementation steps. Run /create-stories [epic-slug] for each epic before developers can pick up work.

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Collaborative Protocol

1. One epic at a time — present each epic definition before asking to create it
2. Warn on gaps — flag untraced requirements before proceeding
3. Ask before writing — per-epic approval before writing any file
4. No invention — all content comes from GDDs, ADRs, and architecture docs
5. Never create stories — this skill stops at the epic level

After all requested epics are processed:

• Verdict: COMPLETE — [N] epic(s) written. Run /create-stories [epic-slug] per epic.
• Verdict: BLOCKED — user declined all epics, or no eligible systems found.