cut-backlog

Converts a closed charting map into an ordered, dependency-tracked ticket backlog.

2|Updated Jul 24, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/konstantinos-malavazos/claude-code-playbook --skill cut-backlog-konstantinos-malavazos
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: cut-backlog
Source: https://github.com/konstantinos-malavazos/claude-code-playbook/tree/main/templates/skills/cut-backlog
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/konstantinos-malavazos/claude-code-playbook --skill cut-backlog-konstantinos-malavazos

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Turning a finished product map into an actionable backlog is error-prone: tickets get cut from decisions instead of scope, dependencies go unrecorded, and issues are filed before anyone approves the plan. This Skill enforces a disciplined seven-step process that produces one ticket per capability, each traced to the smallest-version sentence. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Unit cutting from the smallest version: Derives each work unit from the one-sentence smallest version, forbidding plumbing-only tickets and decision-derived tickets. - Dependency ordering and tracing: Records real dependencies as needs #… lines and traces every unit back to a phrase in the smallest version, flagging untraceable scope. - Approval-gated tracker creation: Renders the full backlog as a board for human approval before creating all tickets at once via tracker-agnostic verbs, then generates a dependency graph. - Use Case: After charting closes a map for a habit-tracker app and the repo is scaffolded, run this Skill to produce four ordered, constraint-carrying tickets and hand the first one to /start-ticket. ## Quick Start Ask the assistant to cut the closed charting map into a backlog of tickets and show the board for approval before creating anything in the tracker.

Frequently Asked Questions about cut-backlog

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I turn a product map into a ticket backlog?

Read the smallest-version sentence from the map's notes, cut one unit per thing the app can newly do, order units by real dependencies, trace each to a phrase, render the board for approval, then create all tickets at once in dependency order.

What makes a valid backlog unit when cutting tickets?

A valid unit is one thing the app can do after the ticket is done, spanning all layers it needs. Plumbing-only work like schema setup or navigation wiring is forbidden and must ride inside the first unit that needs it.

When should I not use the cut-backlog skill?

Do not use it when the charting map is still open, when the repo is not scaffolded, or when you only need to add a single ticket to an existing backlog. It requires all three inputs: smallest version, closed map, and scaffolded repo.

Does cut-backlog work with Jira or other issue trackers?

Yes, it is tracker-agnostic. It expresses intent through verbs like create, label, and mark blocked, and the installed tracker adapter at ~/.claude/tracker.md translates them into the specific tracker's commands.

Why does cut-backlog stop before creating tickets?

The board rendering is a hard approval gate because editing a rendered board is free while editing filed issues requires many edits and re-ordering. Tickets are created only after the human explicitly approves the board.