# epic-breakdown-advisor

Breaks down unwieldy epics into vertical user stories through Richard Lawrence's Humanizing Work patterns. Useful when a backlog item feels too large for sprint planning.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 2900 installs · ★ 7673
- Author: deanpeters
- License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills/tree/HEAD/skills/epic-breakdown-advisor/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-16
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/epic-breakdown-advisor

## What it does

The advisor runs an interactive assessment session. It begins by collecting your raw backlog item, target persona, and acceptance criteria. Next, it tests the item against INVEST requirements. If the story delivers no visible outcome to the user, the skill stops the breakdown and asks to combine the work instead.

Once validated, the tool cycles through 9 sequential patterns to find a fit. These cover workflow steps, CRUD operations, business rules, and deferring performance work. The workflow creates end-to-end vertical slices across architectural boundaries rather than splitting backend from frontend. A full walk-through takes between 20 and 30 minutes.

Vague acceptance criteria will stall the session during initial validation. You will need clear pass conditions before you run this prompt.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill epic-breakdown-advisor -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/epic-breakdown-advisor/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/epic-breakdown-advisor/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill epic-breakdown-advisor -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/epic-breakdown-advisor/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill epic-breakdown-advisor -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/epic-breakdown-advisor/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills epic-breakdown-advisor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/epic-breakdown-advisor/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill epic-breakdown-advisor -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --path skills/epic-breakdown-advisor
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/epic-breakdown-advisor/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill epic-breakdown-advisor -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills/tree/HEAD/skills/epic-breakdown-advisor/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- Split oversized epics into sprint-sized vertical stories
- Eliminate low-value work before team estimation
- Stop teams from creating purely technical frontend or backend stories
- Select a structured splitting pattern for ambiguous workflows

## Example prompts
- Split this epic: customer checkout with card payments and invoice generation
- Help me break down a reporting export epic ahead of sprint planning
- Find the right story splitting pattern for our user moderation flow

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From the same set: [deanpeters/product-manager-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/deanpeters/product-manager-skills.md) — 69 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md