Documentation to Implementation
Learn how to transform comprehensive documentation into actionable GitHub issues and development tickets using AI assistance.
From Docs to Tickets
Well-written documentation is the foundation for successful implementation. Converting docs into specific, actionable tickets ensures nothing gets lost in translation.
Why This Matters
- Clear scope - Developers know exactly what to build
- Trackable progress - Each ticket represents measurable progress
- Parallel work - Multiple developers can work simultaneously
- Quality assurance - Each ticket has defined completion criteria
Step 1: Breaking Down Features
Use AI to decompose large features into manageable development tasks.
Feature Breakdown Prompt
Based on this feature documentation:
[paste feature documentation]
Break this down into individual development tickets that:
Can be completed in 1-3 days each
Have clear acceptance criteria
Include technical requirements
Are ordered by dependencies
Can be assigned to different developers Format each ticket with:
Title
Description
Acceptance criteria
Technical notes
Dependencies
Estimated effort (Small/Medium/Large)
Example Breakdown
markdown
Time Tracking Feature → Development Tickets
Ticket 1: Basic Timer UI Component
Description: Create a reusable timer component with start/stop/pause functionality
Acceptance Criteria:
Display current elapsed time (HH:MM:SS format)
Start button begins timing
Stop button ends timing and resets
Pause button temporarily stops timing
Visual state indicators for each mode Technical Notes:
Use React hooks for state management
Include TypeScript interfaces
Add unit tests for timer logic
Responsive design for mobile Dependencies: None
Effort: Small
Ticket 2: Timer State Management
Description: Implement Redux store for timer state
Acceptance Criteria:
Actions for start/stop/pause/reset timer
Store current timer state and elapsed time
Persist timer state across page refreshes
Handle multiple project timers Technical Notes:
Use Redux Toolkit
Implement local storage persistence
Add middleware for automatic saving
Type-safe action creators Dependencies: Ticket 1
Effort: Medium
Step 2: Creating GitHub Issues
Transform tickets into properly formatted GitHub issues.
GitHub Issue Template
Use this documentation to create GitHub issues:
[paste ticket information]
Format each issue as:
Title: [Clear, actionable title]
Description:
Brief overview of what needs to be implemented
Acceptance Criteria:
[ ] Specific, testable requirements
[ ] Each item should be verifiable
[ ] Include edge cases Technical Requirements:
Technology/framework specifics
Performance requirements
Security considerations Definition of Done:
[ ] Code is reviewed and approved
[ ] Tests are written and passing
[ ] Documentation is updated
[ ] Feature is deployed to staging Labels: [feature/bug/enhancement], [frontend/backend], [priority]
Assignee: [if known]
Milestone: [sprint/release]
Estimated: [story points or hours]
Example GitHub Issue
markdown
Title: Implement Timer UI Component with Start/Stop/Pause
Description:
Create a reusable timer component that allows users to track time for different projects. This is the foundational UI component for the time tracking feature.
Acceptance Criteria:
[ ] Display elapsed time in HH:MM:SS format
[ ] Start button begins timer and changes to "Stop" state
[ ] Stop button ends timer and resets to 00:00:00
[ ] Pause button temporarily stops timer, resume continues from paused time
[ ] Visual indicators show current timer state (running/paused/stopped)
[ ] Component is responsive and works on mobile devices
[ ] Timer updates every second when running Technical Requirements:
Built with React and TypeScript
Use React hooks for local state management
Implement useEffect for timer intervals
Include proper cleanup to prevent memory leaks
Follow existing component styling patterns
Add PropTypes or TypeScript interfaces Definition of Done:
[ ] Code is reviewed and approved by team lead
[ ] Unit tests cover timer logic and state changes
[ ] Component is documented in Storybook
[ ] Accessibility requirements met (ARIA labels, keyboard navigation)
[ ] Cross-browser testing completed
[ ] Feature deployed to staging environment Labels: feature, frontend, timer, priority-high
Milestone: Sprint 1 - Core Timer Functionality
Estimated: 5 story points
Step 3: Project Management Integration
Use AI to help organize tickets into sprints and project boards.
Sprint Planning Prompt
Given these development tickets:
[list of tickets]
Help me organize them into 2-week sprints considering:
Dependencies between tickets
Team capacity (3 developers)
Risk and complexity
User value delivery Suggest:
Sprint breakdown
Parallel work opportunities
Risk mitigation strategies
Milestone goals
Example Sprint Organization
markdown
Sprint Planning for Time Tracking Feature
Sprint 1 (2 weeks) - Foundation
Goal: Basic timer functionality working
Tickets:
Timer UI Component (Dev A) - 5 points
Timer State Management (Dev B) - 8 points
Project Selection Component (Dev C) - 3 points
API endpoint design (All devs) - 2 points Total: 18 points
Risk: Medium (new state management pattern)
Sprint 2 (2 weeks) - Data Persistence
Goal: Timers persist and can be managed
Tickets:
Database schema implementation (Dev A) - 5 points
Timer API endpoints (Dev B) - 8 points
Timer history view (Dev C) - 5 points Total: 18 points
Risk: Low (well-defined requirements)
Step 4: Agile Workflow Integration
Set up workflows that connect documentation to execution.
Story Mapping
Epic: Time Tracking System
User Journey: Freelancer tracks billable hours
├── Start work session
│ ├── Select project
│ ├── Start timer
│ └── Add description
├── Manage active session
│ ├── Pause/resume timer
│ ├── Switch projects
│ └── Edit description
└── Complete session
├── Stop timer
├── Review time entry
└── Save to project
Definition of Ready (for tickets)
Definition of Done (for tickets)
Advanced Techniques
Automated Issue Creation
Use AI to generate GitHub issues directly from documentation:
python
Example script using GitHub API
import openai
import github
def create_issues_from_docs(documentation):
# Use AI to break down documentation
tickets = ai_breakdown_features(documentation)
# Create GitHub issues
for ticket in tickets:
issue = repo.create_issue(
title=ticket['title'],
body=ticket['description'],
labels=ticket['labels'],
milestone=ticket['milestone']
)
print(f"Created issue #{issue.number}: {ticket['title']}")
Cross-Reference Documentation
Link issues back to original documentation:
markdown
Related Documentation:
[Feature Specification](link-to-feature-doc)
[Technical Requirements](link-to-tech-spec)
[User Stories](link-to-user-stories) Parent Epic: #123 Time Tracking System
Related Issues: #124, #125, #126
Best Practices
1. Maintain Traceability
2. Right-Size Tickets
3. Include Context
4. Plan for Testing
Tools and Integrations
Project Management Tools
Automation Opportunities
Measuring Success
Velocity Tracking
Quality Metrics
Process Improvement
Common Pitfalls
Next Steps
With your tickets created: