---
brief: 1
convoy: second-brain-os-v01
role: role-implementer
title: MCP create-backlog-item tool for natural language Plan/Epic/Task authoring
status: ready
priority: P0
slice_dependencies: []
recommended_model: qwen-coder
model_tier: local
workspace_id: global
---

# Brief 1 — MCP `create-backlog-item` (0.5d)

## Goal

Any agent (OpenCode/Cursor/Codex) via MCP can say "create an Epic for offline mode with 3 tasks" and it writes `plans/Plan-*/Epic-*/Task-*.md` + re-imports to `markdown_backlog_items` `packages/database/src/markdown-backlog/sync.ts:38`.

## Files

- `apps/mcp-server/src/tools/create-backlog-item.ts` NEW — zod schema `kind: plan|epic|task`, `slug`, `title`, `planSlug`, `epicSlug`, `status`, `priority`, `bodyMarkdown`, `agent_prompt`; validates frontmatter per `docs/templates/`, writes file via `exportBacklogItemToMarkdown` inverse, calls `syncMarkdownBacklogScan` or direct DB insert + `contentHash` `packages/database/src/markdown-backlog/parse.ts:1`.
- `apps/mcp-server/src/tools/index.ts` register
- `packages/database/src/markdown-backlog/parse.test.ts` add case

## Acceptance

- `mcp call create-backlog-item {workspace:"maya-workspace", kind:"task", slug:"research-prompt", planSlug:"clarity", epicSlug:"ai-tags", title:"Research prompt", bodyMarkdown:"..."}` creates `plans/Plan-clarity/Epic-ai-tags/Task-research-prompt.md` with YAML frontmatter + body, row appears in `markdown_backlog_items` without manual `pnpm import`.
- Duplicate slug under same epic → error `CONFLICT`.
- `pnpm lint && pnpm type-check && pnpm --filter @tasks/mcp-server test` (if exists) pass; `apps/mcp-server` still builds Docker.

## Prompt for implementer

You are `role-implementer` for `second-brain-os-v01` brief 1. Read `docs/decisions/2026-08-25-second-brain-os-pivot.md`, `packages/database/src/markdown-backlog/parse.ts`, `apps/mcp-server/src/tools/claim-task.ts:1` as reference. Implement exactly this brief, keep changes small, run `pnpm lint && pnpm type-check`.

## Dogfood

`claim_task` on the matching `plans/Plan-automation-foundation/.../Task-*.md` if exists (or ad-hoc) → `complete_task outcome:succeeded tokensTotal:... modelAlias:qwen-coder`.