BMAD SDLC Playbook
A complete step-by-step guide for transforming raw requirements into a production-ready application through 8 AI-orchestrated stages — from product requirements through live deployment verification.
The workflow spans 8 stages and 6 roles, driven by a library of BMAD agents.
What is BMAD-SDLC?
BMAD-SDLC is an AI-powered full-lifecycle software development orchestration system that lives inside Claude Code. It turns business requirements into deployable software through 8 sequential stages, each run by specialist BMAD agents, enforced by quality auditors, and gated by role-based approvals.
Greenfield Mode
Start a brand-new project from scratch. System scaffolds the entire codebase, directory structure, and deployment pipeline.
Brownfield Mode
Analyze an existing codebase first (Stage 0), then layer new features or improvements while preserving existing patterns.
System Architecture
| Layer | Technology | URL / Port |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend | Next.js 14 + React + TypeScript + Tailwind CSS | http://localhost:3000 |
| Backend | NestJS 10 + Node.js | http://localhost:3001/api/v1 |
| Database | PostgreSQL 16 | localhost:5432 |
| Cache | Redis 7 | localhost:6379 |
| Queue | RabbitMQ | localhost:5672 |
Note: Java + Spring Boot is always offered as an alternative to NestJS during intake (Step 4).
The eight stages
| # | Stage | Approver(s) | Key output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Requirements (PRD) | BA (L1) | Product Requirements Document |
| 2 | Functional Requirements (FRS) | BA (L1) | Functional Requirements Spec |
| 3 | User Stories & BDD | BA (L1) | Epics, stories, BDD tests |
| 4 | Design Documents | Architect (L1) + Tech Lead (L2) | HLD, LLD, Enterprise Arch |
| 5 | Code Creation | Tech Lead (L1) + Architect (L2) | Full application source |
| 6 | Unit Tests | Test Lead (L1) | Test suite |
| 7 | CI/CD Pipeline | Architect (L1) | GitHub Actions + Tomcat deploy |
| 8 | Verify Application | Test Lead (L1) | Verification report |
Before starting, review the prerequisites and the roles and permissions matrix. See Quick Reference for the full pipeline at a glance.