# create-story Workflow Rule

This rule defines the create-story workflow.

## Workflow Description

Create the next user story markdown from epics/PRD and architecture, using a standard template and saving to the stories folder

## Workflow Definition

name: create-story
description: "Create the next user story markdown from epics/PRD and architecture, using a standard template and saving to the stories folder"
author: "BMad"

# Critical variables from config
config_source: "{project-root}/.bmad/bmm/config.yaml"
output_folder: "{config_source}:output_folder"
user_name: "{config_source}:user_name"
communication_language: "{config_source}:communication_language"
date: system-generated
story_dir: "{config_source}:dev_ephemeral_location/stories"

# Workflow components
installed_path: "{project-root}/.bmad/bmm/workflows/4-implementation/create-story"
template: "{installed_path}/template.md"
instructions: "{installed_path}/instructions.md"
validation: "{installed_path}/checklist.md"

# Variables and inputs
variables:
  sprint_status: "{config_source}:dev_ephemeral_location/sprint-status.yaml || {output_folder}/sprint-status.yaml" # Primary source for story tracking
  epics_file: "{output_folder}/epics.md" # Preferred source for epic/story breakdown
  prd_file: "{output_folder}/PRD.md" # Fallback for requirements
  architecture_file: "{output_folder}/architecture.md" # Optional architecture context
  tech_spec_file: "" # Will be auto-discovered from docs as tech-spec-epic-{{epic_num}}-*.md
  tech_spec_search_dir: "{project-root}/docs"
  tech_spec_glob_template: "tech-spec-epic-{{epic_num}}*.md"
  arch_docs_search_dirs: |
    - "{project-root}/docs"
    - "{output_folder}"
  arch_docs_file_names: |
    - *architecture*.md
  story_title: "" # Will be elicited if not derivable

# Output configuration
# Uses story_key from sprint-status.yaml (e.g., "1-2-user-authentication")
default_output_file: "{story_dir}/{{story_key}}.md"

# Smart input file references - handles both whole docs and sharded docs
# Priority: Whole document first, then sharded version
# Strategy: SELECTIVE LOAD - only load the specific epic needed for this story
input_file_patterns:
  prd:
    whole: "{output_folder}/*prd*.md"
    sharded: "{output_folder}/*prd*/index.md"
  tech_spec:
    whole: "{output_folder}/tech-spec.md"
  architecture:
    whole: "{output_folder}/*architecture*.md"
    sharded: "{output_folder}/*architecture*/index.md"
  ux_design:
    whole: "{output_folder}/*ux*.md"
    sharded: "{output_folder}/*ux*/index.md"
  epics:
    whole: "{output_folder}/*epic*.md"
    sharded_index: "{output_folder}/*epic*/index.md"
    sharded_single: "{output_folder}/*epic*/epic-{{epic_num}}.md"
  document_project:
    sharded: "{output_folder}/index.md"

standalone: true


## Usage

Reference this workflow with `@workflow-create-story` to execute the guided workflow.

## Module

Part of the BMAD BMM module.