PRD Generator for TaskMaster v3.0
Smart PRD generation with deterministic operations handled by script.py. AI handles judgment (questions, content, decisions); script handles mechanics.
Script location: ~/.claude/skills/prd-taskmaster/script.py All script commands output JSON.
When to Use
Activate when user says: PRD, product requirements, taskmaster, task-driven development. Do NOT activate for: API docs, test specs, project timelines, PDF creation.
Core Principles
- Quality Over Speed: Planning is 95% of the work
- Taskmaster Required: Blocks if not detected
- Engineer-Focused: Technical depth, code examples, architecture
- Validation-Driven: 13 automated checks via script
- User Testing Checkpoints: Every 5 tasks
Workflow (12 Steps)
Step 1: Preflight & Resume Detection
python3 ~/.claude/skills/prd-taskmaster/script.py preflightReturns JSON: has_taskmaster, prd_path, task_count, tasks_completed, tasks_pending, taskmaster_method, has_claude_md, has_crash_state, crash_state.
If has_crash_state is true: Present resume options to user:
- Continue from last subtask
- Restart current task
- Resume from last checkpoint
- Start fresh
Then proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Detect Existing PRD
Use preflight JSON: if prd_path is not null and task_count > 0, an existing PRD is found.
If existing PRD found, use AskUserQuestion:
- Execute tasks from existing PRD (skip to Step 11)
- Update/refine existing PRD (edit and re-parse)
- Create new PRD (replace - backup first via
script.py backup-prd --input <path>) - Review existing PRD (display summary, then exit)
If no PRD found: Proceed to Step 3.
Step 3: Detect Taskmaster
Use preflight JSON field taskmaster_method: mcp, cli, or none.
If none: Block and show installation instructions:
- Option 1 (recommended): Install MCP Task-Master-AI
- Option 2:
npm install -g task-master-ai - Wait for user to install and confirm, then re-run:
script.py detect-taskmaster
No proceeding without taskmaster detected.
Step 4: Discovery Questions
Ask detailed questions to build comprehensive PRD. Use AskUserQuestion for structured input.
Essential (5):
- What problem does this solve? (user pain point, business impact)
- Who is the target user/audience?
- What is the proposed solution or feature?
- What are the key success metrics?
- What constraints exist? (technical, timeline, resources)
Technical (4): 6. Existing codebase or greenfield? 7. Tech stack? 8. Integration requirements? 9. Performance/scale requirements?
TaskMaster-specific (3): 10. Used taskmaster before? 11. Estimated complexity? (simple/typical/complex) 12. Timeline expectations?
Open-ended (1): 13. Anything else? (edge cases, constraints, context)
Smart defaults: If user provides minimal answers, use best guesses and document assumptions.
Step 5: Initialize Taskmaster
Only if .taskmaster/ doesn't exist (check preflight has_taskmaster).
python3 ~/.claude/skills/prd-taskmaster/script.py init-taskmaster --method <cli|mcp>For MCP: use the returned params to call mcp__task-master-ai__initialize_project. For CLI: script runs taskmaster init directly.
Step 6: Generate PRD
Load template:
python3 ~/.claude/skills/prd-taskmaster/script.py load-template --type <comprehensive|minimal>Returns JSON with content field containing the template.
AI judgment: Fill template with user's answers from Step 4:
- Replace placeholders with actual content
- Expand examples with project-specific details
- Add technical depth based on discovery answers
Write completed PRD to .taskmaster/docs/prd.md.
Step 7: Validate PRD Quality
python3 ~/.claude/skills/prd-taskmaster/script.py validate-prd --input .taskmaster/docs/prd.mdReturns JSON: score, max_score, grade, checks (13 items), warnings.
Grading: EXCELLENT (91%+), GOOD (83-90%), ACCEPTABLE (75-82%), NEEDS_WORK (<75%).
AI judgment: If warnings exist, offer user three options:
- Proceed with current PRD
- Auto-fix warnings
- Review and fix manually
If grade is NEEDS_WORK, strongly recommend fixing before proceeding.
Step 8: Parse & Expand Tasks
Calculate task count:
python3 ~/.claude/skills/prd-taskmaster/script.py calc-tasks --requirements <count>Returns recommended task count.
For MCP:
mcp__task-master-ai__parse_prd: input=".taskmaster/docs/prd.md", numTasks=<recommended>, research=true
mcp__task-master-ai__expand_all: research=trueFor CLI:
taskmaster parse-prd --input .taskmaster/docs/prd.md --research --num-tasks <recommended>
taskmaster expand-all --researchStep 9: Insert User Test Tasks
python3 ~/.claude/skills/prd-taskmaster/script.py gen-test-tasks --total <task_count>Returns array of USER-TEST task definitions with title, description, dependencies, template.
For each task in the array:
- MCP:
mcp__task-master-ai__add_taskwith title, description, details=template, dependencies, priority=high - CLI:
taskmaster add-task --title="..." --description="..." --dependencies="..." --priority=high
Step 10: Setup Tracking Scripts
python3 ~/.claude/skills/prd-taskmaster/script.py gen-scripts --output-dir .taskmaster/scriptsCreates 5 scripts: track-time.py, rollback.sh, learn-accuracy.py, security-audit.py, execution-state.py.
Step 10.5: Generate CLAUDE.md
Pre-check: Use Glob to check if ./CLAUDE.md exists. If it exists, skip.
If generating:
- Load template:
script.py load-templatewon't work here -- use Read tool on~/.claude/skills/prd-taskmaster/templates/CLAUDE.md.template - AI judgment: Replace placeholders with project-specific values from discovery:
- {{PROJECT_NAME}}, {{TECH_STACK}}, {{ARCHITECTURE_OVERVIEW}} - {{KEY_DEPENDENCIES}}, {{TESTING_FRAMEWORK}}, {{DEV_ENVIRONMENT}}, {{TEST_COMMAND}}
- Write to
./CLAUDE.md - Ask if user uses Codex -- if yes and no
codex.md, write identical copy
Step 11: Choose Next Action
Use AskUserQuestion:
Question: "PRD and tasks ready. How to proceed?"
- Show TaskMaster Commands (default): Display command reference, then exit skill
- Autonomous Execution: Ask follow-up for execution mode
If Autonomous Execution selected, ask execution mode:
- Sequential to Checkpoint (recommended): Tasks one-by-one until next USER-TEST
- Parallel to Checkpoint: Independent tasks in parallel until USER-TEST
- Full Autonomous: All tasks parallel, skip user validation
- Manual Control: User decides each task
AI judgment: Recommend mode based on context:
- First-time/critical: Sequential
- Experienced/non-critical: Parallel
- Trusted/time-critical: Full Autonomous
- Complex/learning: Manual
Step 12: Summary & Start
If Handoff: Display PRD location, task counts, key requirements, validation score, task phases, user test checkpoints, and TaskMaster commands. Then exit skill.
If Autonomous: Display same summary plus execution mode, then begin execution using the selected mode's rules.
Execution Mode Rules
All Modes Include
- DateTime tracking:
python3.taskmaster/scripts/track-time.py start|complete <task_id> [subtask_id] - Progress logging:
python3 ~/.claude/skills/prd-taskmaster/script.py log-progress --task-id <id> --title "..." --duration "..." --subtasks "..." --tests "..." --issues "..." - Git policy: Branch per task (
task-{id}-{slug}), sub-branch per subtask, merge to main with checkpoint tag - Rollback: If user says "rollback to task X", run
bash.taskmaster/scripts/rollback.sh X - State tracking:
python3.taskmaster/scripts/execution-state.py start|complete|checkpoint <task_id>
Sequential to Checkpoint
Execute tasks one-by-one. For each task:
- Start time tracking
- Create feature branch
- For each subtask: create sub-branch, implement, test, commit, merge to task branch
- Complete time tracking
- Log progress
- Merge to main, create checkpoint tag
- Stop at next USER-TEST for user validation
Parallel to Checkpoint
Same as sequential but launch up to 3 concurrent independent tasks. Handle merge conflicts automatically. Stop at USER-TEST.
Full Autonomous
Maximum parallelization (up to 5 concurrent). Auto-complete USER-TEST tasks. Only stop when ALL tasks complete.
Manual Control
Wait for user commands: "next task", "task {id}", "status", "parallel {id1,id2}".
Tips
- More detail in discovery = better PRD
- Quantify goals: not "improve UX" but "increase NPS from 45 to 60"
- USER-TEST checkpoints catch issues early
- Git checkpoints allow easy rollback
- Use
script.py validate-prdat any time to re-check PRD quality