---

name: create-prd-json description: Converts a PRD markdown file into prd.json format for Ralph to execute autonomously. user_invocable: true

Create PRD JSON

Convert a Product Requirements Document into JSON for Ralph.

Input

Look for PRD files in prds/ directory:

1. prds/*.md files
2. User specifies a file

If multiple PRDs exist, ask which one to convert.

Conversion Rules

Story Sizing (Critical)

Each story MUST complete in ONE Ralph iteration (one context window).

Right-sized:

• Add a database column
• Create a single UI component
• Add one API endpoint
• Add form validation
• Update a server action

Too large (must split):

Copy❌ "Build entire auth system"
✅ "Add login form"
✅ "Add email validation"
✅ "Add auth server action"

Dependency Ordering

Stories execute sequentially by priority:

1. Database/schema changes
2. Backend logic
3. API endpoints
4. UI components

Cross-PRD Dependencies (Critical)

Ralph respects dependsOn to sequence PRDs. Before generating JSON:

1. Scan existing PRDs — Read all prds/*.json to know what features exist
2. Detect dependencies — Look for references in the markdown PRD:
   • Explicit: "See elevenlabs-integration.md", "Depends on morning brief"
   • Implicit: Story notes mentioning other features
   • Technical: Uses tables/APIs defined in another PRD
3. Populate dependsOn — Array of PRD names (without .json extension)

Examples of dependency detection:

Copy# In evening-ritual.md:
"See `elevenlabs-integration.md` for shared infrastructure"
→ dependsOn: ["elevenlabs-integration"]

"Depends on morning brief feature for regeneration"
→ dependsOn: ["elevenlabs-integration", "morning-brief"]

If no dependencies detected:

Copy"dependsOn": []

Acceptance Criteria (Critical)

Must be explicit and verifiable:

Good:

Copy- Email/password fields present
- Validates email format
- Shows error on invalid input
- Typecheck passes
- Verify at localhost:3000/login

Bad:

Copy- Users can log in (vague)
- Works correctly (vague)
- Good UX (subjective)

Required in every story:

• "Typecheck passes"
• "Lint passes"

Required for UI stories:

• "Verify at localhost:3000/[path]"

Output Format

Generate prds/[feature-name].json:

Copy{
  "projectName": "Feature Name",
  "branchName": "ralph/feature-name",
  "description": "Brief description",
  "dependsOn": ["other-feature", "another-feature"],
  "status": "pending",
  "completedAt": null,
  "userStories": [
    {
      "id": "US-001",
      "title": "Add login form",
      "description": "As a user, I want to see a login form so I can authenticate",
      "acceptanceCriteria": [
        "Email/password fields present",
        "Form submits on enter",
        "Typecheck passes",
        "Lint passes",
        "Verify at localhost:3000/login"
      ],
      "priority": 1,
      "passes": false,
      "notes": ""
    }
  ]
}

Process

1. Scan existing PRDs — Read prds/*.json to understand the dependency landscape
2. Read the PRD markdown file from prds/
3. Derive feature name from filename (e.g., prds/auth-flow.md → auth-flow)
4. Detect dependencies — Check for references to other PRDs in the markdown
5. Break into right-sized stories starting at US-001
6. Order by dependency (set priority)
7. Add explicit acceptance criteria
8. Save to prds/[feature-name].json

Pre-Save Checklist

Before saving, verify:

• Each story completable in one iteration
• Stories ordered by dependency
• All criteria include "Typecheck passes"
• UI stories include "Verify at localhost:3000/..."
• No vague criteria ("works", "good", "correct")
• Story IDs are sequential (US-001, US-002, ...)
• dependsOn is populated (empty array if no dependencies)
• Dependencies reference existing PRD names (without extension)

After Conversion

CopyCreated prds/[feature-name].json with [N] stories
Dependencies: [list or "none"]
Branch: ralph/[feature-name]

Run: /ralph