create-epic

Create Epic

Epic name: Provided via arguments (already hyphenated)

Step 1: Check if epic exists

Check if .lisa/epics/<name>/.state exists.

If exists:

Epic '<name>' already exists.

Use /lisa:epic-status <name> to see status, or /lisa:continue <name> to resume.

STOP.

Step 2: Create epic structure

Create directory .lisa/epics/<name>/ and write .lisa/epics/<name>/.state:

{
  "name": "<name>",
  "currentPhase": "spec",
  "specComplete": false,
  "researchComplete": false,
  "planComplete": false,
  "executeComplete": false,
  "lastUpdated": "<ISO timestamp>"
}

Also ensure .lisa/ exists and create .lisa/config.jsonc if it doesn't exist:

{
  // Lisa Configuration
  "execution": {
    "maxRetries": 3,
    "maxParallelTasks": 1
  },
  "git": {
    "completionMode": "none",
    "branchPrefix": "epic/",
    "autoPush": true
  },
  "yolo": {
    "defaultMaxIterations": 100
  }
}

Step 3: Interactive spec conversation

Have a natural conversation to cover:

1. Goal - What are we building? Why?
2. Scope - What's included? What's explicitly out of scope?
3. Acceptance Criteria - How do we know it's done? Make these verifiable.
4. Technical Constraints - Specific tech, patterns, limitations? Do tests exist?

Be conversational. Ask clarifying questions. Push back if scope is too large or vague. Keep concise — aim for 20-50 lines total in the final spec.

Step 4: Save spec

Show the spec and ask:

Here's the spec:

[formatted spec content]

Ready to save to .lisa/epics/<name>/spec.md?

On confirmation, save:

# Epic: <name>

## Goal
[What we're building and why - 1-2 sentences]

## Scope
- [Included item]
- [Included item]

### Out of Scope
- [Excluded item]

## Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] [Measurable criterion]
- [ ] [Measurable criterion]

## Technical Constraints
- [Constraints or "None"]

Update .state:

{
  "specComplete": true,
  "currentPhase": "spec",
  "lastUpdated": "<ISO timestamp>"
}

Step 5: Show next steps and STOP

Spec saved to .lisa/epics/<name>/spec.md

Next steps:
  • /lisa:continue <name> - Continue to research phase (interactive, with checkpoints)
  • /lisa:yolo <name> - Auto-execute all remaining phases
  • /lisa:list-epics - See all your epics

DO NOT continue automatically. STOP here and wait for the user.