Universal factory worker for creating Stories. Supports two modes:
-
CREATE MODE: Epic has no Stories → create from IDEAL plan (5-10 Stories)
-
ADD MODE: Epic has Stories → append new Story(s) from user request
Invoked by ln-220-story-coordinator (Phase 5a for CREATE, Phase 5c for ADD).
When Invoked
1. ln-220-story-coordinator CREATE MODE (Phase 5a):
-
Epic has NO existing Stories (Linear query count = 0)
-
IDEAL plan generated (Phase 3)
-
Standards Research completed by ln-001 (Phase 2)
-
Parameters:
epicData,idealPlan,standardsResearch,teamId,autoApprove
2. ln-220-story-coordinator ADD MODE (Phase 5c):
-
Epic HAS existing Stories, user wants to ADD more (not replan)
-
Single Story or few Stories from user request
-
Parameters:
epicData,appendMode: true,newStoryDescription,standardsResearch,teamId
Input Parameters
For CREATE MODE (from ln-220-story-coordinator Phase 5a):
{
epicData: {id, title, description},
idealPlan: [
{
number: "US004",
title: "Register OAuth client",
statement: {persona, capability, value},
ac: [GWT scenarios],
technicalNotes: {architecture, integrations, performance},
estimatedHours: 12,
testCounts: {e2e: 2, integration: 5, unit: 11}
}
],
standardsResearch: "OAuth 2.0 (RFC 6749)...",
teamId: "team-id",
autoApprove: true
}
For ADD MODE (from ln-220-story-coordinator Phase 5c with appendMode):
{
epicData: {id, title, description},
appendMode: true, // Signals ADD MODE - append to existing
newStoryDescription: "User's request for new Story",
standardsResearch: "Focused research for new Story only",
teamId: "team-id",
autoApprove: false // User confirmation recommended
}
-
appendMode:
truesignals ADD MODE - append to existing Stories -
newStoryDescription: User's request for new Story(s) to add
-
NO idealPlan - creates only what user requested (single Story or few)
Workflow
[!NOTE] ADD MODE (appendMode: true): When adding Stories to existing Epic, workflow is simplified:
-
Phase 1: Generate only requested Story(s) from
newStoryDescription -
Skip full IDEAL plan comparison
-
Standards Research is focused only on new Story topics
-
Other phases proceed normally (INVEST, Preview, Create)
Phase 1: Generate Story Documents
Load story template (see "Template Loading" section) and use 8 sections.
For EACH Story in IDEAL plan:
| 1. Story Statement | As a [persona] / I want [capability] / So that [value]
| 2. Context | Current Situation (from Epic Scope Out) / Desired Outcome (from Epic Success Criteria)
| 3. AC | Copy AC from idealPlan (3-5 GWT scenarios)
| 4. Tasks | Placeholder: "Tasks created via ln-300-task-coordinator after ln-310-story-validator"
| 5. Test Strategy | Copy test counts from idealPlan, Risk-Based Testing note
| 6. Technical Notes | INSERT Standards Research in Library Research subsection
| 7. DoD | Standard checklist from template
| 8. Dependencies | Empty OR "Depends On: US00X" if ordering implies dependency
Output: Array of N complete Story documents (5-10) with Standards Research inserted.
Phase 2: Validate INVEST
For EACH Story, check:
| Independent | No circular dependencies | ✅ | ❌ STOP
| Negotiable | AC focus on WHAT not HOW | ✅ | ❌ STOP
| Valuable | Clear "So that" value | ✅ | ❌ STOP
| Estimable | 6-20 hours | ✅ | ❌ STOP
| Small | 3-5 AC, 10-28 tests | ✅ | ❌ STOP
| Testable | Measurable AC (GWT format) | ✅ | ❌ STOP
Error if ANY Story fails → Report to orchestrator, stop execution.
Phase 3: Show Preview
STORY CREATION PREVIEW for Epic 7: OAuth Authentication
Will create 5 Stories:
1. US004: Register OAuth client
Persona: Third-party developer | Capability: Register app, get credentials
Value: Can integrate with API | AC: 4 | Estimate: 12h | Tests: 18
2. US005: Request access token
Persona: API client | Capability: Exchange credentials for token
Value: Authenticate to API | AC: 5 | Estimate: 18h | Tests: 24
... (3 more)
Total: 5 Stories, 62h, 90 tests
Standards Research: OAuth 2.0 (RFC 6749), RFC 7636 (PKCE), RFC 7009 (Revocation)
Story ordering: Dependency-aware (US004 → US005 → US006)
INVEST validation: ✓
Type "confirm" to create.
Phase 4: User Confirmation
If autoApprove=true: Skip confirmation → Phase 5 Otherwise: Wait for "confirm"
Phase 5: Create in Linear + Update Kanban
Create Linear Issues:
for each Story:
create_issue({
title: Story.number + ": " + Story.title,
description: Story.generated_document,
project: epicData.id,
team: teamId,
labels: ["user-story"],
state: "Backlog"
})
Update kanban_board.md:
Epic Grouping Algorithm:
-
Find
### Backlog -
Search
**Epic {epicNumber}: {epicTitle}**
Found: use existing Epic group
-
NOT found: create
**Epic N: Epic Title** -
Add Stories under Epic (2-space indent, 📖 emoji)
Format:
**Epic 7: OAuth Authentication**
📖 [ID: US004 Register OAuth client](url)
_(tasks not created yet)_
📖 [ID: US005 Request access token](url)
_(tasks not created yet)_
Update Epic Story Counters table:
-
Last Story: US008
-
Next Story: US009
Return:
STORIES CREATED for Epic 7: OAuth Authentication
✓ Created 5 Stories in Linear:
1. [ID: US004 Register OAuth client](url)
2. [ID: US005 Request access token](url)
3. [ID: US006 Validate access token](url)
4. [ID: US007 Refresh expired token](url)
5. [ID: US008 Revoke token](url)
✓ kanban_board.md updated (Backlog + Epic Story Counters)
✓ Standards Research included: OAuth 2.0, RFC 7636 PKCE, RFC 7009 Revocation
Total: 5 Stories, 62h, 90 tests
NEXT STEPS:
1. Run ln-310-story-validator to validate Stories (Backlog → Todo)
2. Use ln-300-task-coordinator to create tasks
Critical Rules
| Standards Research Insertion | MUST insert in EVERY Story Technical Notes → Library Research
| INVEST Validation | All Stories must pass before creation (stop if ANY fails)
| Template Ownership | This skill owns story_template_universal.md in references/
| Epic Grouping | Reuse Epic header if exists (search by Epic number), don't duplicate
| Story Numbering | Sequential across ALL Epics (read Next Story from kanban_board.md)
| No Code | Descriptions contain approach ONLY, not code
Definition of Done
✅ Phase 1:
All N Stories have 8 sections Standards Research inserted in Technical Notes → Library Research
✅ Phase 2:
All Stories pass INVEST validation
✅ Phase 3:
Preview shown (summaries, totals, Standards Research, ordering)
✅ Phase 4:
autoApprove=true OR user confirmed
✅ Phase 5:
All N Stories created in Linear (project=Epic, labels=user-story, state=Backlog) kanban_board.md updated (Backlog + Epic Story Counters) Summary returned (URLs + next steps)
Template Loading
Template: story_template.md
Loading Logic:
-
Check if
docs/templates/story_template.mdexists in target project -
IF NOT EXISTS: a. Create
docs/templates/directory if missing b. Copyshared/templates/story_template.md→docs/templates/story_template.mdc. Replace placeholders in the LOCAL copy:
{{TEAM_ID}} → from docs/tasks/kanban_board.md
-
{{DOCS_PATH}}→ "docs" (standard) -
Use LOCAL copy (
docs/templates/story_template.md) for all operations
Rationale: Templates are copied to target project on first use, ensuring:
-
Project independence (no dependency on skills repository)
-
Customization possible (project can modify local templates)
-
Placeholder replacement happens once at copy time
Reference Files
story_template.md
Location: shared/templates/story_template.md (centralized)
Local Copy: docs/templates/story_template.md (in target project)
Purpose: Universal Story template (8 sections)
Template Version: 9.0.0
Integration
Called by: ln-220-story-coordinator
-
Phase 5a (CREATE MODE, count = 0) - full IDEAL plan
-
Phase 5c (ADD MODE, count ≥ 1, appendMode) - user-requested Story(s)
Returns:
-
Success: Story URLs + summary + next steps
-
Error: "Story USXXX violates INVEST: [details]"
Worker does NOT:
-
Query Linear for Epic (already in context)
-
Analyze Epic complexity (orchestrator Phase 3)
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Research standards (orchestrator Phase 2 delegates to ln-001)
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Build IDEAL plan (receives from orchestrator)
Version: 3.0.0 Last Updated: 2025-12-23