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## The Tale of the Frame Expert
Once upon a time, BMad Method had a specialized agent called Frame Expert.
This agent was the master of all visual artifacts - flowcharts, diagrams,
wireframes, data flows. Whenever anyone needed a diagram, they called upon
Frame Expert. The agent lived in its own isolated domain with four dedicated
workflows and a library of shared templates.
## The Awakening
But something felt wrong. Teams using BMad Method were meant to mirror real
agile teams - Product Managers, Architects, UX Designers, Tech Writers,
Developers. Each agent represented an authentic role you'd find in any
software team.
Except Frame Expert.
No real agile team has a "Frame Expert" or "Diagram Specialist" who creates
all visual artifacts. In real teams, Architects diagram system architecture.
PMs flowchart processes. UX Designers wireframe interfaces. Tech Writers
create documentation diagrams. The visuals emerge from the domain experts
who need them, not from a centralized diagram factory.
Frame Expert was an abstraction that made technical sense but violated the
very soul of BMad Method - authentic agile role modeling.
## The Transformation
And so Frame Expert was dissolved, its knowledge distributed to those who
truly needed it:
**The Architect** inherited system architecture diagrams and data flows -
the blueprints of technical systems they design.
**The Product Manager** received process flowcharts - the visual maps of
features and workflows they orchestrate.
**The UX Designer** claimed wireframes - the interface sketches that bring
their vision to life.
**The Tech Writer** gained all diagram types - the visual aids that clarify
their documentation.
Each agent now creates diagrams in their domain, using their expertise,
serving their purpose.
## The Shared Knowledge
But the wisdom of diagram creation itself - the Excalidraw templates, the
component libraries, the validation patterns - this knowledge was too
valuable to scatter. It was elevated to core resources, where both BMM
agents AND the new CIS presentation-master agent could draw upon it.
Shared infrastructure for common needs. Distributed execution for domain
expertise.
## The Ripple Effects
With diagrams now properly distributed, other misalignments became visible:
Epic creation was happening in Phase 2 (Planning), before Architecture
existed. But epics need architectural context - API contracts, data models,
technical decisions. So epic creation migrated to Phase 3 (Solutioning),
after Architecture provides that foundation.
Workflow paths were updated. Documentation gained visual flowcharts showing
the complete journey. Agent naming standards were clarified - filenames are
stable roles, persona names are user dreams.
## What Changed
**Removed:**
- frame-expert.agent.yaml (the centralized specialist)
- All frame-expert workflows and shared resources
- Phase 2 epic creation workflow (wrong timing)
- game-design workflow path (consolidated to method track)
- v6-open-items.md (planning doc, now complete)
**Distributed Diagram Capabilities:**
- Architect: create-excalidraw-diagram, create-excalidraw-dataflow
- PM: create-excalidraw-flowchart
- Tech Writer: create-excalidraw-{diagram,dataflow,flowchart}, generate-mermaid
- UX Designer: create-excalidraw-wireframe
**Created:**
- src/core/resources/ (shared diagram context for all modules)
- src/modules/cis/agents/presentation-master.agent.yaml (visual comms specialist)
- src/modules/bmm/workflows/3-solutioning/create-epics-and-stories/ (epic creation's new home)
- src/modules/bmm/workflows/diagrams/ (distributed diagram implementations)
- src/modules/bmm/docs/images/ (workflow visualization assets)
**Enhanced:**
- All agent definitions with domain-appropriate diagram workflows
- Documentation with embedded workflow diagrams and visual guides
- Agent compilation docs with critical naming convention rules
- All 4 workflow paths (enterprise/method × brownfield/greenfield)
**Fixed:**
- Epic creation now in Phase 3 after Architecture
- Story context path variables in BMGD module
- PRD workflow descriptions (epics moved to Phase 3)
## For Users
The Frame Expert commands are gone. In their place:
- Need architecture diagrams? Ask `/architect`
- Need process flows? Ask `/pm`
- Need wireframes? Ask `/ux-designer`
- Need documentation visuals? Ask `/tech-writer`
Each expert creates diagrams in their domain, with their context, using
their judgment.
This is how real teams work.
BMad CORE + BMad Method
🚨 Alpha Version Notice
v6-alpha is near-beta quality—stable and vastly improved over v4, but documentation is still being refined. New videos coming soon to the BMadCode YouTube channel—subscribe for updates! (There is no v5).
Getting Started:
- Install v6 Alpha:
npx bmad-method install- Install stable v4:
npx bmad-method@latest install- Not sure what to do? Load any agent and run
*workflow-initfor guided setup- v4 Users: View v4 documentation or upgrade guide
Universal Human-AI Collaboration Platform
BMad-CORE (Collaboration Optimized Reflection Engine) amplifies human potential through specialized AI agents. Unlike tools that replace thinking, BMad-CORE guides reflective workflows that bring out your best ideas and AI's full capabilities.
The BMad-CORE powers the BMad Method (probably why you're here!), but you can also use BMad Builder to create custom agents, workflows, and modules for any domain—software development, business strategy, creativity, learning, and more.
🎯 Human Amplification • 🎨 Domain Agnostic • ⚡ Agent-Powered
Table of Contents
- BMad CORE + BMad Method
What is BMad-CORE?
Foundation framework powering all BMad modules:
- Agent Orchestration - Specialized AI personas with domain expertise
- Workflow Engine - Guided multi-step processes with built-in best practices
- Modular Architecture - Extend with domain-specific modules (BMM, BMB, CIS, custom)
- IDE Integration - Works with Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code, and more
- Update-Safe Customization - Your configs persist through all updates
v6 Core Enhancements
- 🎨 Agent Customization - Modify names, roles, personalities via
{bmad_folder}/_cfg/agents/→ Customization Guide - 🌐 Multi-Language - Independent language settings for communication and output
- 👤 Personalization - Agents adapt to your name, skill level, and preferences
- 🔄 Persistent Config - Customizations survive module updates
- ⚙️ Flexible Settings - Configure per-module or globally
- 📦 Web Bundles - Share agents in Gemini Gems and Custom GPTs → Web Bundles Guide
C.O.R.E. Philosophy
- Collaboration: Human-AI partnership leveraging complementary strengths
- Optimized: Battle-tested processes for maximum effectiveness
- Reflection: Strategic questioning that unlocks breakthrough solutions
- Engine: Framework orchestrating 19+ specialized agents and 50+ workflows
BMad-CORE doesn't give you answers—it helps you discover better solutions through guided reflection.
Modules
BMad Method (BMM) - AI-Driven Agile Development
Revolutionary AI-driven agile framework for software and game development. Automatically adapts from single bug fixes to enterprise-scale systems.
v6 Highlights
🎯 Scale-Adaptive Intelligence (3 Planning Tracks)
Automatically adjusts planning depth and documentation based on project needs:
- Quick Flow Track: Fast implementation (tech-spec only) - bug fixes, small features, clear scope
- BMad Method Track: Full planning (PRD + Architecture + UX) - products, platforms, complex features
- Enterprise Method Track: Extended planning (BMad Method + Security/DevOps/Test) - enterprise requirements, compliance
🏗️ Four-Phase Methodology
- Phase 1: Analysis (Optional) - Brainstorming, research, product briefs
- Phase 2: Planning (Required) - Scale-adaptive PRD/tech-spec/GDD
- Phase 3: Solutioning (Track-dependent) - Architecture, (Coming soon: security, DevOps, test strategy)
- Phase 4: Implementation (Iterative) - Story-centric development with just-in-time context
📊 View Complete Workflow Diagram - Visual flowchart showing all phases, agents, and decision points for the BMad Method (Standard Greenfield track)
🤖 12 Specialized Agents
PM • Analyst • Architect • Scrum Master • Developer • Test Architect (TEA) • UX Designer • Technical Writer • Game Designer • Game Developer • Game Architect • BMad Master (Orchestrator)
📚 Documentation
- Complete Documentation Hub - Start here for all BMM guides
- Quick Start Guide - Get building in 15 minutes
- Agents Guide - Meet all 12 agents (45 min read)
- 34 Workflow Guides - Complete phase-by-phase reference
- BMM Module Overview - Module structure and quick links
🚀 Quick Start
After installation (see Installation below), choose your path:
Three Planning Tracks:
-
⚡ Quick Flow Track - Bug fixes and small features
- 🐛 Bug fixes in minutes
- ✨ Small features (2-3 related changes)
- 🚀 Rapid prototyping
- → Quick Spec Flow Guide
-
📋 BMad Method Track - Products and platforms
- Complete planning (PRD/GDD)
- Architecture decisions
- Story-centric implementation
- → Complete Quick Start Guide
-
🏢 Brownfield Projects - Add to existing codebases
- Document existing code first
- Then choose Quick Flow or BMad Method
- → Brownfield Guide
Not sure which path? Run *workflow-init and let BMM analyze your project goal and recommend the right track.
📚 Learn More: Scale Adaptive System - How BMM adapts across three planning tracks
BMad Builder (BMB) - Create Custom Solutions
Build your own agents, workflows, and modules using the BMad-CORE framework.
What You Can Build:
- Custom Agents - Domain experts with specialized knowledge
- Guided Workflows - Multi-step processes for any task
- Complete Modules - Full solutions for specific domains
- Three Agent Types - Full module, hybrid, or standalone
Perfect For: Creating domain-specific solutions (legal, medical, finance, education, creative, etc.) or extending BMM with custom development workflows.
Install Custom Agents:
# Install and personalize standalone agents
npx bmad agent-install
Includes reference agents you can copy, customize, and install with personalized behavior. → Custom Agent Installation Guide
Documentation:
- BMB Module Overview - Complete reference
- Custom Agent Installation - Install standalone simple and expert agents
- Create Agent Workflow - Build custom agents
- Create Workflow - Design guided processes
- Create Module - Package complete solutions
Creative Intelligence Suite (CIS) - Innovation & Creativity
AI-powered creative facilitation using proven methodologies and techniques.
5 Interactive Workflows:
- Brainstorming - Generate and refine ideas with 30+ techniques
- Design Thinking - Human-centered problem solving
- Problem Solving - Systematic breakthrough techniques
- Innovation Strategy - Disruptive business model thinking
- Storytelling - Compelling narrative frameworks
5 Specialized Agents: Each with unique facilitation styles and domain expertise
Shared Resource: CIS workflows are used by other modules (BMM's brainstorm-project uses CIS brainstorming)
Documentation:
- CIS Module Overview - Complete reference
- CIS Workflows Guide - All 5 creative workflows
Installation
Prerequisites: Node.js v20+ (Download)
# v6 Alpha (recommended for new projects)
npx bmad-method@alpha install
# Stable v4 (production)
npx bmad-method install
The installer provides:
- Module Selection - Choose BMM, BMB, CIS (or all)
- Configuration - Your name, language preferences, game dev options
- IDE Integration - Automatic setup for your IDE
Installation creates:
your-project/
└── {bmad_folder}/
├── core/ # Core framework + BMad Master agent
├── bmm/ # BMad Method (12 agents, 34 workflows)
├── bmb/ # BMad Builder (1 agent, 7 workflows)
├── cis/ # Creative Intelligence (5 agents, 5 workflows)
└── _cfg/ # Your customizations (survives updates)
└── agents/ # Agent customization files
Next Steps:
- Load any agent in your IDE
- Run
*workflow-initto set up your project workflow path - Follow the Quick Start guide above to choose your planning track
Alternative: Web Bundles - Download pre-built agent bundles for use in Claude Projects, ChatGPT, or Gemini without installation (automatically updated on every commit to main)
🎯 Working with Agents & Commands
Multiple Ways to Execute Workflows:
BMad is flexible - you can execute workflows in several ways depending on your preference and IDE:
Method 1: Agent Menu (Recommended for Beginners)
- Load an agent in your IDE (see IDE-specific instructions)
- Wait for the menu to appear showing available workflows
- Tell the agent what to run using natural language or shortcuts:
- Natural: "Run workflow-init"
- Shortcut:
*workflow-init - Menu number: "Run option 2"
Method 2: Direct Slash Commands
Execute workflows directly using slash commands:
/bmad:bmm:workflows:workflow-init
/bmad:bmm:workflows:prd
/bmad:bmm:workflows:dev-story
Tip: While you can run these without loading an agent first, loading an agent is still recommended - it can make a difference with certain workflows.
Benefits:
- ✅ Mix and match any agent with any workflow
- ✅ Run workflows not in the loaded agent's menu
- ✅ Faster access for experienced users who know the command names
Method 3: Party Mode Execution
Run workflows with multi-agent collaboration:
- Start party mode:
/bmad:core:workflows:party-mode - Execute any workflow - the entire team collaborates on it
- Get diverse perspectives from multiple specialized agents
Perfect for: Strategic decisions, complex workflows, cross-functional tasks
📌 IDE-Specific Note:
Slash command format varies by IDE:
- Claude Code:
/bmad:bmm:workflows:prd- Cursor/Windsurf: May use different syntax - check your IDE's documentation
- VS Code with Copilot Chat: Syntax may differ
See IDE Integration Guides for your specific IDE's command format.
Key Features
🎨 Update-Safe Customization
Modify agents without touching core files:
- Override agent names, personalities, expertise via
{bmad_folder}/_cfg/agents/ - Customizations persist through all updates
- Multi-language support (communication + output)
- Module-level or global configuration
🚀 Intelligent Installation
Smart setup that adapts to your environment:
- Auto-detects v4 installations for smooth upgrades
- Configures IDE integrations (Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code)
- Resolves cross-module dependencies
- Generates unified agent/workflow manifests
📁 Clean Architecture
Everything in one place:
- Single
{bmad_folder}/folder (no scattered files, default folder name is .bmad) - Modules live side-by-side (core, bmm, bmb, cis)
- Your configs in
_cfg/(survives updates) - Easy to version control or exclude
📄 Document Sharding (Advanced)
Optional optimization for large projects (BMad Method and Enterprise tracks):
- Massive Token Savings - Phase 4 workflows load only needed sections (90%+ reduction)
- Automatic Support - All workflows handle whole or sharded documents seamlessly
- Easy Setup - Built-in tool splits documents by headings
- Smart Discovery - Workflows auto-detect format
Documentation
Module Documentation:
- BMM Complete Documentation Hub - All BMM guides, FAQs, troubleshooting
- BMB Module Reference - Build custom agents and workflows
- CIS Workflows Guide - Creative facilitation workflows
Customization & Sharing:
- Agent Customization Guide - Customize agent names, personas, and behaviors
- Web Bundles for Gemini & GPT - Use BMad agents in Gemini Gems and Custom GPTs
Additional Resources:
- Documentation Index - All project documentation
- v4 to v6 Upgrade Guide - Migration instructions
- CLI Tool Guide - Installer and build tool reference
- Contributing Guide - How to contribute
Community & Support
- 💬 Discord Community - Get help, share projects (#general-dev, #bugs-issues)
- 🐛 GitHub Issues - Report bugs, request features
- 🎥 YouTube Channel - Video tutorials and walkthroughs
- ⭐ Star this repo - Stay updated on releases
Development & Quality Checks
For contributors working on the BMAD codebase:
Requirements: Node.js 22+ (see .nvmrc). Run nvm use to switch to the correct version.
Testing & Validation
# Run all quality checks (comprehensive - use before pushing)
npm test
# Individual test suites
npm run test:schemas # Agent schema validation (fixture-based)
npm run test:install # Installation component tests (compilation)
npm run validate:schemas # YAML schema validation
npm run validate:bundles # Web bundle integrity
Code Quality
# Lint check
npm run lint
# Auto-fix linting issues
npm run lint:fix
# Format check
npm run format:check
# Auto-format all files
npm run format:fix
Build & Development
# Bundle for web deployment
npm run bundle
# Test local installation
npm run install:bmad
Pre-commit Hook: Auto-fixes changed files (lint-staged) + validates everything (npm test) CI: GitHub Actions runs all quality checks in parallel on every PR
Contributing
We welcome contributions! See CONTRIBUTING.md for:
- Code contribution guidelines
- Documentation improvements
- Module development
- Issue reporting
License
MIT License - See LICENSE for details
Trademarks: BMAD™ and BMAD-METHOD™ are trademarks of BMad Code, LLC.
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