Skip to content

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

bash
@prd.md "<PROJECT_DESCRIPTION>"

Internal Process Flow

  1. Sequential Thinking Activation - Uses MCP sequential-thinking for systematic analysis

  2. 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
  3. Interactive Questioning - Fills knowledge gaps through targeted questions

  4. 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)
bash
@state_tracker.md create "<PROJECT_NAME>"
@state_tracker.md                          # Uses existing PRD
  • PRD Integration - Automatically reads prd.md for 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
bash
@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.md with phase description
  • Progress Tracking - Updates tracker with timestamps
  • Context Transfer - Passes phase requirements to implementation
continue - Resume Development
bash
@state_tracker.md continue
  • Current Phase Detection - Identifies active work
  • Context Analysis - Evaluates progress and blockers
  • Tool Selection - Chooses appropriate next action:
    • @ask.md for architectural guidance when blocked
    • @code.md for continued implementation
  • Status Updates - Refreshes phase notes with current progress
skip - Handle Dependencies
bash
@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
bash
@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
bash
@state_tracker.md review 1
  • Review Initiation - Marks phase as 🔍 Under Review
  • Code Analysis - Invokes @review.md for comprehensive evaluation
  • Results Integration - Appends findings to phase documentation
  • Final Assessment - Sets ✅ Completed or ⚠️ Blocked based on review
help - Status & Guidance
bash
@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

bash
# 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 development

Mobile App Project

bash
# 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 3

Enterprise Integration

bash
# 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 implementation

Integration 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.

Released under2025 MIT License.