Backlog Awareness

Automatically check the project backlog when the user discusses feature ideas, priorities, or planned work.

When to Use

Invoke this skill when the user:

• Proposes new functionality: "We should add...", "It would be nice if...", "What if we..."
• Asks about planned work: "What features are planned?", "Is X in the backlog?"
• Discusses priorities: "What should we work on next?", "What's most important?"
• Mentions a specific feature by name that might be tracked

Instructions

Step 1: Load the Backlog

Read: docs/planning/backlog.json

If the file doesn't exist, inform the user:

No backlog found at docs/planning/backlog.json.
Use /feature-capture to start tracking features.

Step 2: Analyze User Intent

Determine what the user is asking about:

• New idea: Check if it's already tracked
• Status query: Find matching items
• Priority question: Show items by priority

Step 3: Search for Matches

For new ideas or feature mentions:

1. Search items array for matching:

   • name (partial match, case-insensitive)
   • problemStatement (keyword match)
   • affectedAreas (if user mentions specific areas)

2. Categorize results:

   • Exact matches (same feature exists)
   • Related items (similar features or same area)

Step 4: Respond Appropriately

If feature exists in backlog:

This feature is already tracked:

**[name]** (ID: [id])
- Status: [status]
- Priority: [priority]
- Problem: [problemStatement]

[If status is "backlog"]: Ready to start? Use `/feature-plan [id]`
[If status is "in-progress"]: Currently being worked on.
[If status is "completed"]: Already completed on [completedAt].

If related items exist:

Related items in backlog:
- [name] ([id]) - [status] - [brief description]

Your idea might be:
- An extension of [related item]
- A separate feature worth tracking

Add as new item? Use `/feature-capture`

If not tracked:

This isn't tracked in the backlog yet.

To add it: `/feature-capture`

Output Format

Keep responses concise. Show:

• Matching/related backlog items (if any)
• Current status of matches
• Clear next action (implement existing or add new)

Integration Notes

This skill works with:

• /feature-capture - Suggest when idea isn't tracked
• /feature-plan - Suggest when item is ready to start
• status-dashboard skill - For broader status queries