Headless Mode

Load this file when invoked headless. Follow it for the whole run.

Detection

Headless when any of: caller sets headless: true (or harness equivalent); invocation is from another skill or non-interactive runner; {workflow.activation_steps_prepend} declares it; first message is an automation context pre-supplying inputs. Ambiguous → default interactive.

Inputs

Free-form structured payload in the first message:

• intent — "create", "update", or "validate". If absent, infer from the artifact set.
• Create: the ticket path (initiative-*.md, epic-*.md, story-*.md, bug-*.md, spike-*.md), read in full, or with no ticket a PRD, brief, requirements list, design-thinking output, or prior UX (text, path, or URL); plus brand / platform / accessibility notes; doc_workspace if a specific run folder is required.
• Update: existing workspace containing DESIGN.md + EXPERIENCE.md (or path to either) + change signal.
• Validate: existing workspace containing DESIGN.md + EXPERIENCE.md (or path to either). Workspace defaults to the spines' containing directory.

Inferences → assumptions[]. Gaps needing a human decision → open_questions[]. Do not invent persona, brand, accessibility, or scope detail.

Creative tools default off in headless. Caller can override; artifacts land in .working/ and are not promoted unless the caller signals.

Behavior

Do not ask. Do not greet. Complete the intent from what's provided, what exists in {doc_workspace}, and any ticket under {output_folder}/{active_initiative}/, read in full. If intent stays ambiguous after inference, halt with status: "blocked" and a one-sentence reason.

status:

• "complete" — stands on its own.
• "partial" — artifact produced but open_questions[] non-empty or critical inputs inferred.
• "blocked" — no artifact produced.

End with the JSON response (an example of each payload is in assets/headless-schemas.md). intent reflects detected intent. Omit keys for artifacts not produced.

Mode-specific overrides

Update. Apply the change. Log it via uv run {project-root}/_bmad/scripts/memlog.py append --workspace {doc_workspace} --type change --text "<change + rationale>". Surface conflicts in conflicts_with_prior_decisions[].

Validate. Always write both validation-report.html and validation-report.md regardless of finding count. Always include "offer_to_update": true. Skip the browser-open step.