bmad-method 6.0.0-alpha.0 → 6.0.0-alpha.2

package/bmad/bmb/workflows/create-agent/agent-architecture.md

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+# BMAD Agent Architecture Reference
+
+_LLM-Optimized Technical Documentation for Agent Building_
+
+## Core Agent Structure
+
+### Minimal Valid Agent
+
+```xml
+<!-- Powered by BMAD-CORE™ -->
+
+# Agent Name
+
+<agent id="path/to/agent.md" name="Name" title="Title" icon="🤖">
+  <persona>
+    <role>My primary function</role>
+    <identity>My background and expertise</identity>
+    <communication_style>How I interact</communication_style>
+    <principles>My core beliefs and methodology</principles>
+  </persona>
+  <menu>
+    <item cmd="*help">Show numbered menu</item>
+    <item cmd="*exit">Exit with confirmation</item>
+  </menu>
+</agent>
+```
+
+## Agent XML Schema
+
+### Root Element: `<agent>`
+
+**Required Attributes:**
+
+- `id` - Unique path identifier (e.g., "bmad/bmm/agents/analyst.md")
+- `name` - Agent's name (e.g., "Mary", "John", "Helper")
+- `title` - Professional title (e.g., "Business Analyst", "Security Engineer")
+- `icon` - Single emoji representing the agent
+
+### Core Sections
+
+#### 1. Persona Section (REQUIRED)
+
+```xml
+<persona>
+  <role>1-2 sentences: Professional title and primary expertise, use first-person voice</role>
+  <identity>2-5 sentences: Background, experience, specializations, use first-person voice</identity>
+  <communication_style>1-3 sentences: Interaction approach, tone, quirks, use first-person voice</communication_style>
+  <principles>2-5 sentences: Core beliefs, methodology, philosophy, use first-person voice</principles>
+</persona>
+```
+
+**Best Practices:**
+
+- Role: Be specific about expertise area
+- Identity: Include experience indicators (years, depth)
+- Communication: Describe HOW they interact, not just tone and quirks
+- Principles: Start with "I believe" or "I operate" for first-person voice
+
+#### 2. Critical Actions Section
+
+```xml
+<critical-actions>
+  <i>Load into memory {project-root}/bmad/{module}/config.yaml and set variables</i>
+  <i>Remember the users name is {user_name}</i>
+  <i>ALWAYS communicate in {communication_language}</i>
+  <!-- Custom initialization actions -->
+</critical-actions>
+```
+
+**For Expert Agents with Sidecars (CRITICAL):**
+
+```xml
+<critical-actions>
+  <!-- CRITICAL: Load sidecar files FIRST -->
+  <i critical="MANDATORY">Load COMPLETE file {agent-folder}/instructions.md and follow ALL directives</i>
+  <i critical="MANDATORY">Load COMPLETE file {agent-folder}/memories.md into permanent context</i>
+  <i critical="MANDATORY">You MUST follow all rules in instructions.md on EVERY interaction</i>
+
+  <!-- Standard initialization -->
+  <i>Load into memory {project-root}/bmad/{module}/config.yaml and set variables</i>
+  <i>Remember the users name is {user_name}</i>
+  <i>ALWAYS communicate in {communication_language}</i>
+
+  <!-- Domain restrictions -->
+  <i>ONLY read/write files in {user-folder}/diary/ - NO OTHER FOLDERS</i>
+</critical-actions>
+```
+
+**Common Patterns:**
+
+- Config loading for module agents
+- User context initialization
+- Language preferences
+- **Sidecar file loading (Expert agents) - MUST be explicit and CRITICAL**
+- **Domain restrictions (Expert agents) - MUST be enforced**
+
+#### 3. Menu Section (REQUIRED)
+
+```xml
+<menu>
+  <item cmd="*trigger" [attributes]>Description</item>
+</menu>
+```
+
+**Command Attributes:**
+
+- `run-workflow="{path}"` - Executes a workflow
+- `exec="{path}"` - Executes a task
+- `tmpl="{path}"` - Template reference
+- `data="{path}"` - Data file reference
+
+**Required Menu Items:**
+
+- `*help` - Always first, shows command list
+- `*exit` - Always last, exits agent
+
+## Advanced Agent Patterns
+
+### Activation Rules (OPTIONAL)
+
+```xml
+<activation critical="true">
+  <initialization critical="true" sequential="MANDATORY">
+    <step n="1">Load configuration</step>
+    <step n="2">Apply overrides</step>
+    <step n="3">Execute critical actions</step>
+    <step n="4" critical="BLOCKING">Show greeting with menu</step>
+    <step n="5" critical="BLOCKING">AWAIT user input</step>
+  </initialization>
+  <command-resolution critical="true">
+    <rule>Numeric input → Execute command at cmd_map[n]</rule>
+    <rule>Text input → Fuzzy match against commands</rule>
+  </command-resolution>
+</activation>
+```
+
+### Expert Agent Sidecar Pattern
+
+```xml
+<!-- DO NOT use sidecar-resources tag - Instead use critical-actions -->
+<!-- Sidecar files MUST be loaded explicitly in critical-actions -->
+
+<!-- Example Expert Agent with Diary domain -->
+<agent id="diary-keeper" name="Personal Assistant" title="Diary Keeper" icon="📔">
+  <critical-actions>
+    <!-- MANDATORY: Load all sidecar files -->
+    <i critical="MANDATORY">Load COMPLETE file {agent-folder}/diary-rules.md</i>
+    <i critical="MANDATORY">Load COMPLETE file {agent-folder}/user-memories.md</i>
+    <i critical="MANDATORY">Follow ALL rules from diary-rules.md</i>
+
+    <!-- Domain restriction -->
+    <i critical="MANDATORY">ONLY access files in {user-folder}/diary/</i>
+    <i critical="MANDATORY">NEVER access files outside diary folder</i>
+  </critical-actions>
+
+  <persona>...</persona>
+  <menu>...</menu>
+</agent>
+```
+
+### Module Agent Integration
+
+```xml
+<module-integration>
+  <module-path>{project-root}/bmad/{module-code}</module-path>
+  <config-source>{module-path}/config.yaml</config-source>
+  <workflows-path>{project-root}/bmad/{module-code}/workflows</workflows-path>
+</module-integration>
+```
+
+## Variable System
+
+### System Variables
+
+- `{project-root}` - Root directory of project
+- `{user_name}` - User's name from config
+- `{communication_language}` - Language preference
+- `{date}` - Current date
+- `{module}` - Current module code
+
+### Config Variables
+
+Format: `{config_source}:variable_name`
+Example: `{config_source}:output_folder`
+
+### Path Construction
+
+```
+Good: {project-root}/bmad/{module}/agents/
+Bad:  /absolute/path/to/agents/
+Bad:  ../../../relative/paths/
+```
+
+## Command Patterns
+
+### Workflow Commands
+
+```xml
+<!-- Full path -->
+<item cmd="*create-prd" run-workflow="{project-root}/bmad/bmm/workflows/prd/workflow.yaml">
+  Create Product Requirements Document
+</item>
+
+<!-- Placeholder for future -->
+<item cmd="*analyze" run-workflow="todo">
+  Perform analysis (workflow to be created)
+</item>
+```
+
+### Task Commands
+
+```xml
+<item cmd="*validate" exec="{project-root}/bmad/core/tasks/validate-workflow.xml">
+  Validate document
+</item>
+```
+
+### Template Commands
+
+```xml
+<item cmd="*brief"
+   exec="{project-root}/bmad/core/tasks/create-doc.md"
+   tmpl="{project-root}/bmad/bmm/templates/brief.md">
+  Create project brief
+</item>
+```
+
+### Data-Driven Commands
+
+```xml
+<item cmd="*standup"
+   exec="{project-root}/bmad/bmm/tasks/daily-standup.xml"
+   data="{project-root}/bmad/_cfg/agent-manifest.csv">
+  Run daily standup
+</item>
+```
+
+## Agent Type Specific Patterns
+
+### Simple Agent
+
+- Self-contained logic
+- Minimal or no external dependencies
+- May have embedded functions
+- Good for utilities and converters
+
+### Expert Agent
+
+- Domain-specific with sidecar resources
+- Restricted access patterns
+- Memory/context files
+- Good for specialized domains
+
+### Module Agent
+
+- Full integration with module
+- Multiple workflows and tasks
+- Config-driven behavior
+- Good for professional tools
+
+## Common Anti-Patterns to Avoid
+
+### ❌ Bad Practices
+
+```xml
+<!-- Missing required persona elements -->
+<persona>
+  <role>Helper</role>
+  <!-- Missing identity, style, principles -->
+</persona>
+
+<!-- Hard-coded paths -->
+<item cmd="*run" exec="/Users/john/project/task.md">
+
+<!-- No help command -->
+<menu>
+  <item cmd="*do-something">Action</item>
+  <!-- Missing *help -->
+</menu>
+
+<!-- Duplicate command triggers -->
+<item cmd="*analyze">First</item>
+<item cmd="*analyze">Second</item>
+```
+
+### ✅ Good Practices
+
+```xml
+<!-- Complete persona -->
+<persona>
+  <role>Data Analysis Expert</role>
+  <identity>Senior analyst with 10+ years...</identity>
+  <communication_style>Analytical and precise...</communication_style>
+  <principles>I believe in data-driven...</principles>
+</persona>
+
+<!-- Variable-based paths -->
+<item cmd="*run" exec="{project-root}/bmad/module/task.md">
+
+<!-- Required commands present -->
+<menu>
+  <item cmd="*help">Show commands</item>
+  <item cmd="*analyze">Perform analysis</item>
+  <item cmd="*exit">Exit</item>
+</menu>
+```
+
+## Agent Lifecycle
+
+### 1. Initialization
+
+1. Load agent file
+2. Parse XML structure
+3. Load critical-actions
+4. Apply config overrides
+5. Present greeting
+
+### 2. Command Loop
+
+1. Show numbered menu
+2. Await user input
+3. Resolve command
+4. Execute action
+5. Return to menu
+
+### 3. Termination
+
+1. User enters \*exit
+2. Cleanup if needed
+3. Exit persona
+
+## Testing Checklist
+
+Before deploying an agent:
+
+- [ ] Valid XML structure
+- [ ] All persona elements present
+- [ ] *help and *exit commands exist
+- [ ] All paths use variables
+- [ ] No duplicate commands
+- [ ] Config loading works
+- [ ] Commands execute properly
+
+## LLM Building Tips
+
+When building agents:
+
+1. Start with agent type (Simple/Expert/Module)
+2. Define complete persona first
+3. Add standard critical-actions
+4. Include *help and *exit
+5. Add domain commands
+6. Test command execution
+7. Validate with checklist
+
+## Integration Points
+
+### With Workflows
+
+- Agents invoke workflows via run-workflow
+- Workflows can be incomplete (marked "todo")
+- Workflow paths must be valid or "todo"
+
+**Workflow Interaction Styles** (BMAD v6 default):
+
+- **Intent-based + Interactive**: Workflows adapt to user context and skill level
+- Workflows collaborate with users, not just extract data
+- See workflow-creation-guide.md "Instruction Styles" section for details
+- When creating workflows for your agent, default to intent-based unless you need prescriptive control
+
+### With Tasks
+
+- Tasks are single operations
+- Executed via exec attribute
+- Can include data files
+
+### With Templates
+
+- Templates define document structure
+- Used with create-doc task
+- Variables passed through
+
+## Quick Reference
+
+### Minimal Commands
+
+```xml
+<menu>
+  <item cmd="*help">Show numbered cmd list</item>
+  <item cmd="*exit">Exit with confirmation</item>
+</menu>
+```
+
+### Standard Critical Actions
+
+```xml
+<critical-actions>
+  <i>Load into memory {project-root}/bmad/{module}/config.yaml</i>
+  <i>Remember the users name is {user_name}</i>
+  <i>ALWAYS communicate in {communication_language}</i>
+</critical-actions>
+```
+
+### Module Agent Pattern
+
+```xml
+<agent id="bmad/{module}/agents/{name}.md"
+       name="{Name}"
+       title="{Title}"
+       icon="{emoji}">
+  <persona>...</persona>
+  <critical-actions>...</critical-actions>
+  <menu>
+    <item cmd="*help">...</item>
+    <item cmd="*{command}" run-workflow="{path}">...</item>
+    <item cmd="*exit">...</item>
+  </menu>
+</agent>
+```