git:20260301.24d26e0 to git:20260301.2e7e6b3

---

name: generating-prd-json-from-prd-md

description: Generates prd.json task tracking file from PRD.md requirements document. Use when initializing Ralph loop or when the user asks to convert PRD to JSON format for autonomous execution.

compatibility: Designed for Claude Code

metadata:

model: haiku

---

# PRD to JSON Conversion

Hybrid approach: Python script parses, AI validates and corrects.

## Workflow

1. **Dry-run parser** (Bash tool) — catch parser issues before writing

```bash

python ralph/scripts/generate_prd_json.py --dry-run

```

Check output for: declared vs parsed story count mismatch, missing stories, empty acceptance/files. If issues found, fix PRD markdown or note for manual correction in step 3.

1. **Run parser** (Bash tool)

```bash

python ralph/scripts/generate_prd_json.py

```

Script handles: PRD.md parsing, `(depends: ...)` extraction, content hashing, state preservation.

1. **Validate** (Read tool)

- Read `ralph/docs/prd.json` (script output)

- Read `docs/PRD.md` (cross-reference)

- Check against Validation Checklist

2. **Correct errors** (Write tool, if needed)

- Fix issues found

- Recompute `content_hash` if title/description/acceptance changed

- Write corrected `ralph/docs/prd.json`

3. **Report**

- Story count and status

- Corrections made

- Suggest: `make ralph_run`

## Validation Checklist

For each story, verify:

- [ ] `id` follows STORY-XXX format

- [ ] `title` is 3-7 words, matches PRD.md feature

- [ ] `description` is non-empty

- [ ] `acceptance` array is non-empty

- [ ] `files` array contains valid paths (if specified in PRD.md)

- [ ] `content_hash` is 64-char hex string

- [ ] `depends_on` references valid STORY-XXX IDs (no circular deps, no self-refs)

Cross-reference with PRD.md:

- [ ] All `#### Feature N:` headings have corresponding stories

- [ ] Story order matches PRD.md feature order

- [ ] `(depends: STORY-XXX)` syntax correctly parsed

## Common Issues to Correct

| Issue | Correction |

| ------- | ------------ |

| Empty acceptance | Extract from description or PRD.md feature |

| Invalid depends_on reference | Remove non-existent story IDs |

| Circular dependency | Remove one direction |

| Missing content_hash | Recompute from title+description+acceptance |

| Duplicate story IDs | Renumber sequentially |

## prd.json Schema

See `ralph/docs/templates/prd.json.template` for structure and fields.

## Usage

```bash

make ralph_prd_json

```

## Next Steps

```bash

make ralph_init # Validate environment

make ralph_run # Start Ralph loop

```