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mindforge-add-backlog

mindforge-add-backlog captures unscheduled ideas into a project's backlog parking lot using 999.x phase numbering. Use this skill when you have a potentially valuable concept that needs exploration but isn't ready for active planning, it creates a phase directory, adds structured metadata to ROADMAP.md, and allows the item to accumulate context before promotion to a real milestone.

Install in Claude Code
Copy
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sairam0424/MindForge /tmp/mindforge-add-backlog && cp -r /tmp/mindforge-add-backlog/.agent/skills/mindforge-add-backlog ~/.claude/skills/mindforge-add-backlog
Then start a new Claude Code session; the skill loads automatically.

SKILL.md

<objective>
Add a backlog item to the roadmap using 999.x numbering. Backlog items are
unsequenced ideas that aren't ready for active planning — they live outside
the normal phase sequence and accumulate context over time.
</objective>

<process>

1. **Read ROADMAP.md** to find existing backlog entries:
   ```bash
   cat .planning/ROADMAP.md
   ```

2. **Find next backlog number:**
   ```bash
   NEXT=$(node ".agent/bin/mindforge-tools.cjs" phase next-decimal 999 --raw)
   ```
   If no 999.x phases exist, start at 999.1.

3. **Create the phase directory:**
   ```bash
   SLUG=$(node ".agent/bin/mindforge-tools.cjs" generate-slug "$ARGUMENTS")
   mkdir -p ".planning/phases/${NEXT}-${SLUG}"
   touch ".planning/phases/${NEXT}-${SLUG}/.gitkeep"
   ```

4. **Add to ROADMAP.md** under a `## Backlog` section. If the section doesn't exist, create it at the end:

   ```markdown
   ## Backlog

   ### Phase {NEXT}: {description} (BACKLOG)

   **Goal:** [Captured for future planning]
   **Requirements:** TBD
   **Plans:** 0 plans

   Plans:
   - [ ] TBD (promote with /mindforge-review-backlog when ready)
   ```

5. **Commit:**
   ```bash
   node ".agent/bin/mindforge-tools.cjs" commit "docs: add backlog item ${NEXT} — ${ARGUMENTS}" --files .planning/ROADMAP.md ".planning/phases/${NEXT}-${SLUG}/.gitkeep"
   ```

6. **Report:**
   ```
   ## 📋 Backlog Item Added

   Phase {NEXT}: {description}
   Directory: .planning/phases/{NEXT}-{slug}/

   This item lives in the backlog parking lot.
   Use /mindforge-discuss-phase {NEXT} to explore it further.
   Use /mindforge-review-backlog to promote items to active milestone.
   ```

</process>

<notes>
- 999.x numbering keeps backlog items out of the active phase sequence
- Phase directories are created immediately, so /mindforge-discuss-phase and /mindforge-plan-phase work on them
- No `Depends on:` field — backlog items are unsequenced by definition
- Sparse numbering is fine (999.1, 999.3) — always uses next-decimal
</notes>