VBW runs on a loop. You runDocumentation Index
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/vbw:init once, then /vbw:vibe until your project is done. Every time you run /vbw:vibe, it reads ground truth from .vbw-planning/, figures out exactly where you are, and does the right thing — no flags required.
The lifecycle loop
Three modes when running /vbw:vibe
When you run /vbw:vibe, VBW auto-detects which mode applies based on what’s in .vbw-planning/. You never need to specify — but you can use explicit flags if you want control.
Greenfield — new project
Greenfield — new project
No existing codebase. VBW scaffolds
.vbw-planning/, asks about your project, and generates a phased roadmap. Then it moves straight to planning and execution./vbw:init handles the setup automatically and auto-chains to /vbw:vibe. You answer a few questions and VBW starts building.Brownfield — existing codebase
Brownfield — existing codebase
An existing codebase is detected during
/vbw:init. VBW auto-chains four workflows in sequence: it runs /vbw:map with 4 parallel Scout agents across tech stack, architecture, quality, and concerns — then uses the map data to inform skill suggestions before auto-chaining to /vbw:vibe with full codebase awareness.You run one command. VBW does the codebase analysis, planning, and execution with context baked in.Resume — picking up where you left off
Resume — picking up where you left off
Closed your terminal? Switched branches? Came back after a weekend? Run
/vbw:resume.VBW reads ground truth directly from .vbw-planning/ — STATE.md, ROADMAP.md, plans, summaries — and rebuilds your full project context. It detects interrupted builds, reconciles stale execution state, and tells you exactly what to do next. No prior /vbw:pause needed.Do not use
/clear to reset your session. It destroys your entire context — every file read, every decision made, every in-progress task. Auto-compaction is surgical; /clear is a sledgehammer. If you accidentally /clear, run /vbw:resume immediately.The .vbw-planning/ directory
All VBW state lives here. It’s the source of truth for every agent, every session, and every command.
| File | What it contains |
|---|---|
STATE.md | Current phase, execution status, and what happens next |
ROADMAP.md | All phases, their goals, dependencies, and success criteria |
PLAN.md | Task-level breakdown for the current phase (written by Lead) |
SUMMARY.md | What each Dev agent built and committed (written on plan completion) |
config.json | Your effort profile, autonomy level, concurrency settings, and model routing |
State persistence
VBW knows where you are because everything is written to disk immediately. No in-memory state. No session dependency. When you run/vbw:vibe:
- It reads
STATE.mdto find the current phase and status. - It reads
ROADMAP.mdto understand what phases exist and what’s been completed. - It reads any existing
PLAN.mdfiles to see what’s been planned. - It checks
SUMMARY.mdfiles to confirm what’s been built. - It does the right thing based on what it finds.
/vbw:vibe from any terminal, any day, and it picks up exactly where you left off. Phase 1 done? It moves to Phase 2. Phase 2 interrupted mid-execution? It resumes from the last completed task.
Execution model
How phases, plans, and tasks map to agent work — and how concurrency is controlled.
Agents
The 7 specialized agents, their tools, and the permission model that constrains them.