Chief Feature Workflow
Create and implement new features in Chief-managed projects using the Chief CLI. Use when asked to create a new PRD, implement a feature with Chief, set up a...
Description
name: chief-feature description: > Create and implement new features in Chief-managed projects using the Chief CLI. Use when asked to create a new PRD, implement a feature with Chief, set up a worktree and branch for a new feature, or open a PR for a Chief-implemented feature. Triggers on phrases like "create a new PRD", "implement this feature with Chief", "run Chief for a feature", "new feature request", or any workflow involving Chief's interactive PRD creation and AI-driven implementation loop.
Chief Feature Workflow
Chief is an AI-driven development loop: reads a prd.json, implements user stories one by one via Claude Code, commits each, and tracks progress.
Full Workflow
1. Clone / verify repo
Confirm the project is cloned locally.
2. Create a new PRD
Run interactively in the project root:
cd <project>
chief new <prd-name>
Chief launches Claude Code in PRD-writer mode. It will ask clarifying questions with lettered options. Provide:
- The full feature description / spec
- Answers to clarifying questions (e.g. "1A, 2C, 3D")
When Chief asks "Do you want to create prd.md?" — approve (option 1 or 2).
Chief converts prd.md → prd.json on /exit. Watch for:
✓ PRD converted successfully
Files land at: .chief/prds/<prd-name>/prd.md and prd.json
3. Create a worktree + branch
git worktree add ../<project>-<prd-name> -b feat/<prd-name>
mkdir -p ../<project>-<prd-name>/.chief/prds/<prd-name>
cp .chief/prds/<prd-name>/prd.{md,json} ../<project>-<prd-name>/.chief/prds/<prd-name>/
4. Commit the PRD
cd ../<project>-<prd-name>
git add .chief/prds/<prd-name>/prd.md
git commit -m "docs: add <prd-name> PRD"
Only commit prd.md — prd.json is typically gitignored.
5. Delegate to a subagent (recommended for long runs)
Instead of running Chief manually and polling, spawn a subagent to handle the full implementation autonomously:
Spawn a subagent with this task:
- Working directory: ~/<project>-<prd-name>
- Run `chief <prd-name>` with pty:true
- Press `s` to start the loop
- Approve bash prompts with `1` + Enter (or `2` to always allow)
- If stuck on a prompt, send hex `0d` (Enter)
- Poll until all stories show ✓ (100%)
- Commit progress.md, push, open PR
- Announce the PR URL when done
The subagent runs fully isolated and auto-announces on completion. You can spawn multiple subagents in parallel — one per PRD/worktree — for concurrent feature development.
Parallel runs: 2–3 concurrent subagents is the practical sweet spot. Each Chief run is API-heavy (runs Claude Code under the hood), so more than 3 parallel runs risks rate limits and high cost.
5b. Run Chief manually (alternative)
If you prefer to supervise directly:
chief <prd-name>
Press s in the TUI to start. Chief works through stories in priority order, runs verification (make test, pnpm typecheck, etc.), commits each passing story, and updates progress.md.
Monitor via process(action=poll) on the PTY session. Watch for **US-00X is complete**.
6. Commit progress + push
git add .chief/prds/<prd-name>/progress.md
git commit -m "docs: add <prd-name> progress"
git push -u origin feat/<prd-name>
7. Open a PR
gh pr create \
--title "feat: <prd-name>" \
--body "Implements the <prd-name> PRD. See .chief/prds/<prd-name>/prd.md for spec." \
--base main
8. Clean up the worktree
After the PR is merged:
cd <project>
git worktree remove ../<project>-<prd-name>
git branch -d feat/<prd-name>
Use
git worktree remove --forceif the directory has uncommitted changes.
Tips
- TUI bash prompts: use
1(Yes) or2(Yes, always allow) - If stuck on a permission prompt, send
hex: ["0d"]viaprocess(send-keys) - If a story fails, Chief retries or logs the failure in
progress.md prd.jsonis typically gitignored — only commitprd.mdandprogress.md- Chief resumes automatically from the last completed story if restarted
Reference
See references/chief-commands.md for CLI commands, TUI keyboard shortcuts, and official links.
About Chief
Chief is an open-source AI-driven development loop built by minicodemonkey.
- Website: https://chiefloop.com/
- GitHub: https://github.com/minicodemonkey/chief
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