to-tickets

Breaks plans and specs into tracer-bullet tickets with declared blocking edges.

Updated Mar 27, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/gmackie/agent-skills --skill to-tickets-gmackie
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: to-tickets
Source: https://github.com/gmackie/agent-skills/tree/main/skills/to-tickets
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/gmackie/agent-skills --skill to-tickets-gmackie

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Turning a plan, spec, or long conversation into actionable work items is hard: slices are often cut horizontally by layer, dependencies between tasks go undeclared, and tickets end up too coarse or too fine for an agent or developer to execute in one pass. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Vertical Slice Breakdown: Splits work into tracer-bullet tickets that each cut a complete path through schema, API, UI, and tests, sized to fit a single fresh context window. - Blocking Edge Declaration: Every ticket declares which other tickets block it, published either as text in one local file per ticket under .scratch/<feature-slug>/issues/ or as native blocking links on a real tracker like GitHub or Linear. - Expand-Contract Sequencing: Handles wide refactors (renames, retypes) that cannot be vertically sliced by sequencing them as expand, batched migration, and contract tickets. - Use Case: After drafting a feature spec, ask the agent to break it into tickets; it quizzes you on granularity and dependencies, then publishes approved tickets with a ready-for-agent triage label. ## Quick Start Break the attached feature spec into tracer-bullet tickets with blocking edges and publish them to my issue tracker.

Frequently Asked Questions about to-tickets

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I break a feature spec into tickets for an issue tracker?▼

Provide the spec path, issue number, or URL and the skill drafts tracer-bullet tickets, each a vertical slice with declared blocking edges. After you approve the breakdown, it publishes one issue per ticket in dependency order with native blocking links where the platform supports them.

What is a tracer-bullet or vertical slice ticket?▼

A vertical slice ticket cuts a narrow but complete path through every layer: schema, API, UI, and tests. Each completed slice is demoable on its own and sized to fit in a single fresh context window, unlike horizontal slices that cover only one layer.

Can I publish tickets to GitHub or Linear instead of local files?▼

Yes, the skill supports both. With a real tracker it creates one issue per ticket using native blocking or sub-issue relationships and applies the ready-for-agent label; without one it writes one markdown file per ticket under .scratch/<feature-slug>/issues/.

How are ticket dependencies and blocking edges handled?▼

Each ticket declares which other tickets must complete before it can start. Tickets are published blockers-first so edges reference real identifiers, and any ticket whose blockers are all done forms the workable frontier.

When should a refactor not be split into vertical slices?▼

Wide refactors, such as renaming a column or retyping a shared symbol, break thousands of call sites at once, so no vertical slice lands green. The skill sequences these as expand-contract: add the new form, migrate call sites in batches, then delete the old form.