spec-issues-create

Spec Issues Skill

Generate GitHub issue drafts from spec documents following the project's issue management framework.

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When to Use

Use when you need to create GitHub issues from:

• Spec documents (./specs/)
• Any structured work breakdown ready for issue tracking

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Workflow

Step 1: Validate Input Path

Parse path from command argument and verify:

# User provides path like:
# ./specs/active/my-feature
# ./specs/archive/nested-view-refactor

Validate directory exists and contains appropriate files.

Step 2: Detect Issue Type

Spec indicators:

• Has spec.md
• Has tasks.md
• Has context.md

Issue type detection:

1. Read spec.md frontmatter for issue_type field:

   ---
   issue_type: [Initiative|Feature|Task]
   created: [Date]
   status: Active
   ---
   

2. If issue_type present in frontmatter:

   • Skip type selection question
   • Use frontmatter value directly for template selection

3. If issue_type absent:

   • Fall back to current detection logic (spec overview analysis)
   • Consider asking user to classify

Template selection based on issue_type:

• Initiative → templates/initiative.md
• Feature → templates/feature.md
• Task → templates/task.md

Read appropriate files based on detected type.

Step 3: Create Issue Drafts Directory

mkdir -p "$SOURCE_DIR/drafts/issues"

Structure created:

./specs/archive/{spec-name}/drafts/issues/
├── initiative-{spec-name}.md
├── issue-001-{short-description}.md
├── issue-002-{short-description}.md
└── ...

Step 4: Generate Issue Draft Files

Create issue markdown files using templates:

Initiative file: initiative-{name}.md

• Use templates/initiative.md
• Map spec overview → initiative overview
• Map success criteria → acceptance criteria
• Include YAML frontmatter with metadata

Feature/Task files: issue-{NNN}-{description}.md

• Use templates/feature.md or templates/task.md
• Extract from spec phases or tasks
• Sequential numbering: 001, 002, 003
• Include YAML frontmatter

Key points:

• YAML frontmatter contains: title, labels, milestone, assignees
• Frontmatter serves as reference metadata
• Content extracted from spec documents

Step 5: Generate gh CLI Script

Create bash script using scripts/create-issue.sh:

• Parse YAML frontmatter from draft files
• Generate gh issue create commands
• Capture issue numbers for sub-issue linking
• Use gh sub-issue add for hierarchy
• Include helper function to extract YAML fields

Script structure:

#!/bin/bash
# Extract YAML → gh issue create → capture numbers → link sub-issues

Step 6: Provide Metadata Configuration Checklist

Include instructions for setting fields via GitHub web UI:

• Priority (Critical/High/Medium/Low)
• Status (Backlog/To Do/In Progress/etc.)
• Sprint/Iteration
• Complexity estimation
• Milestone/Release

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Content Transformation

See mapping-guide.md for detailed rules on:

• Mapping spec content to issue hierarchy (Initiative → Feature → Task)
• Issue title patterns for each type
• Component label detection from file paths
• Priority and complexity mapping
• Cross-linking patterns

Quick summary:

• Specs: phases → Features, task breakdown → Tasks
• Titles follow verb-noun pattern, increasing specificity by level

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Templates

• templates/initiative.md - Initiative issue template with YAML
• templates/feature.md - Feature issue template with YAML
• templates/task.md - Task issue template with YAML

Scripts

generate-issues.py: Automates draft generation from specs. Parses content, creates issue files with YAML frontmatter. create-issue.sh: Creates actual GitHub issues from drafts using gh CLI.

Requirement: Install gh sub-issue extension: gh extension install yahsan2/gh-sub-issue

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Success Criteria

• Drafts directory created: {source}/drafts/issues/
• Initiative file with complete overview
• Feature/task files with proper templates
• gh CLI script with issue creation commands
• Metadata checklist provided

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Integration

Workflow:

1. Complete spec
2. Invoke this skill with source path
3. Review generated draft files
4. Run gh CLI script to create issues
5. Set metadata via GitHub web UI

Related:

• Command: /spec.issues
• Tools: gh CLI, gh sub-issue extension