Project Lifecycle Management
Master the complete development lifecycle using Claude Code's PRD and state tracking commands for systematic project execution from conception to deployment.
Strategic Framework Overview
Why Start with a Product Requirements Document?
Foundation for Success: A PRD transforms vague ideas into concrete, actionable specifications that prevent scope creep, miscommunication, and development waste.
Key Benefits:
- Clarity & Alignment - Ensures all stakeholders understand project objectives
- Risk Mitigation - Identifies potential challenges before development begins
- Resource Planning - Enables accurate time and effort estimation
- Quality Gates - Establishes clear success criteria and acceptance requirements
- Decision Framework - Provides context for technical and strategic decisions
Why Implement Phase-Based State Tracking?
Visibility & Control: Breaking complex projects into trackable phases provides granular progress visibility and enables proactive issue management.
Core Advantages:
- Progress Transparency - Real-time visibility into project advancement
- Bottleneck Identification - Quickly spot and address development blockers
- Team Coordination - Shared understanding of current priorities and dependencies
- Quality Assurance - Built-in review gates prevent technical debt accumulation
- Stakeholder Communication - Clear progress reporting for non-technical audiences
Complete Workflow Architecture
Command Deep Dive
@prd.md - Product Requirements Generator
Purpose: Transform project ideas into comprehensive product specifications using AI-assisted analysis and strategic thinking.
Command Structure
@prd.md "<PROJECT_DESCRIPTION>"Internal Process Flow
Sequential Thinking Activation - Uses MCP sequential-thinking for systematic analysis
Multi-Agent Coordination - Orchestrates four specialized advisors:
- Problem Analyst - Identifies core problems and user pain points
- Solution Architect - Designs technical approach and architecture
- Market Strategist - Analyzes competition and market positioning
- Delivery Planner - Creates timeline and milestone structure
Interactive Questioning - Fills knowledge gaps through targeted questions
Comprehensive Documentation - Generates structured PRD with all essential sections
Generated PRD Structure
- Executive Summary - Project vision and key objectives
- Problem Statement - Detailed problem analysis and user pain points
- Solution Overview - Technical approach and feature specifications
- Target Audience - User personas and market analysis
- Technical Requirements - Architecture, integrations, and constraints
- Timeline & Milestones - Development phases and delivery schedule
- Success Metrics - KPIs and acceptance criteria
- Risk Analysis - Potential challenges and mitigation strategies
@state_tracker.md - Development Workflow Orchestrator
Purpose: Create visual phase tracking that integrates with development commands for complete workflow automation.
Action Commands Overview
create (Default Action)
@state_tracker.md create "<PROJECT_NAME>"
@state_tracker.md # Uses existing PRD- PRD Integration - Automatically reads
prd.mdfor phase extraction - Phase Generation - Creates 4-8 logical development phases
- Initial State - Sets first phase as 🔄 In Progress
- Rule Establishment - Creates project tracking guidelines
start - Begin Phase Work
@state_tracker.md start 1 # Start specific phase
@state_tracker.md start # Start next planned phase- State Update - Marks target phase as 🔄 In Progress
- Code Generation - Invokes
@code.mdwith phase description - Progress Tracking - Updates tracker with timestamps
- Context Transfer - Passes phase requirements to implementation
continue - Resume Development
@state_tracker.md continue- Current Phase Detection - Identifies active work
- Context Analysis - Evaluates progress and blockers
- Tool Selection - Chooses appropriate next action:
@ask.mdfor architectural guidance when blocked@code.mdfor continued implementation
- Status Updates - Refreshes phase notes with current progress
skip - Handle Dependencies
@state_tracker.md skip 3 "API documentation pending"- Documented Skipping - Marks phase as ⏭️ Skipped with reason
- Automatic Advancement - Moves to next available planned phase
- Progress Recalculation - Updates overall completion percentage
- Dependency Tracking - Maintains skip reasons for future reference
state - Manual State Management
@state_tracker.md state 1 completed
@state_tracker.md state 2 blocked- Validation - Ensures valid phase numbers and state transitions
- State Transition - Updates phase to new emoji state
- Progress Update - Recalculates project completion percentage
- Timestamp Logging - Records when and why state changed
review - Quality Assurance
@state_tracker.md review 1- Review Initiation - Marks phase as 🔍 Under Review
- Code Analysis - Invokes
@review.mdfor comprehensive evaluation - Results Integration - Appends findings to phase documentation
- Final Assessment - Sets ✅ Completed or ⚠️ Blocked based on review
help - Status & Guidance
@state_tracker.md help- Current State Analysis - Shows all phase statuses and progress
- Available Actions - Lists relevant next steps
- Command Examples - Provides specific command suggestions
- Blocker Identification - Highlights issues requiring attention
Emoji State System
Primary States
- 📋 Planned - Phase defined, ready to start
- 🔄 In Progress - Active development work
- ✅ Completed - Phase finished and validated
- 🚀 Deployed - Phase delivered to production
Management States
- ⚠️ Blocked - Waiting for dependencies or issue resolution
- 🔍 Under Review - Quality assurance in progress
- ⏭️ Skipped - Intentionally bypassed with documented reason
- ❌ Cancelled - Phase deprioritized or removed
Valid Transitions
📋 → 🔄 → ✅ → 🔍 → ✅ → 🚀 (Normal flow)
🔄 → ⚠️ → 🔄 → ✅ (Blocker resolution)
📋 → ⏭️ (Dependency skip)
Any → ❌ (Cancellation)Real-World Implementation Examples
SaaS Product Development
# 1. Strategic Planning
@prd.md "TaskFlow - Advanced Task Management Platform"
# 2. Development Setup
@state_tracker.md create
# 3. Phase Execution
@state_tracker.md start 1 # Architecture phase
@state_tracker.md continue # Implement core systems
@state_tracker.md state 1 completed
@state_tracker.md review 1 # Quality assurance
# 4. Next Phase
@state_tracker.md start 2 # Backend developmentMobile App Project
# Handle external dependencies
@state_tracker.md skip 3 "App Store approval process pending"
@state_tracker.md start 4 # Continue with backend work
# Later resume skipped phase
@state_tracker.md state 3 planned
@state_tracker.md start 3Enterprise Integration
# Blocker management
@state_tracker.md state 2 blocked
@state_tracker.md continue # Get architectural guidance
# System invokes @ask.md for technical direction
@state_tracker.md state 2 progress
@state_tracker.md continue # Resume implementationIntegration Benefits
🎯 Strategic Alignment
- PRD ensures all development serves business objectives
- Phase tracking maintains focus on deliverable outcomes
- Regular reviews validate progress against initial requirements
⚡ Development Velocity
- Automated tool integration reduces context switching
- Clear phase boundaries prevent scope creep
- Built-in quality gates catch issues early
🤝 Team Coordination
- Shared visibility into project state and priorities
- Standardized workflow across team members
- Clear communication points for stakeholder updates
📊 Quality Assurance
- Systematic review process for all completed work
- Integrated testing and validation at phase boundaries
- Technical debt prevention through regular quality checks
🔄 Adaptive Management
- Flexible handling of changing requirements
- Graceful dependency management with skip/resume
- Real-time project health monitoring
Best Practices
PRD Creation
- Be Specific - Detailed requirements prevent misinterpretation
- Include Context - Business rationale for technical decisions
- Plan for Change - Flexible architecture and scope management
- Define Success - Clear metrics and acceptance criteria
State Tracking
- Single Active Phase - Maintain focus by limiting work in progress
- Regular Updates - Keep state current during development
- Document Blockers - Clear communication about impediments
- Review Everything - No phase advances without quality validation
Workflow Integration
- Trust the Process - Let automated tool integration guide workflow
- Maintain Context - Use phase descriptions to inform implementation
- Communicate Changes - Update state tracker during team meetings
- Celebrate Progress - Acknowledge completed phases and milestones
This systematic approach transforms chaotic development into predictable, high-quality project delivery through structured planning and intelligent workflow automation.