---
title: "KGraph-MCP Documentation Format Guide"
type: "meta_documentation"
version: "1.0"
created_by: "AI Development Assistant"
last_updated: "<DATE>"
---

# KGraph-MCP Documentation Format Guide

## 📋 Overview

This guide presents an optimal documentation format system for the KGraph-MCP project, designed specifically for AI-assisted development workflows. The system provides three interconnected PRD-style templates that create a comprehensive documentation hierarchy.

## 🏗️ Documentation Architecture

### **Three-Tier Documentation System**

```
Project Level (Months)
    ↓
MVP Level (Days/Weeks)  
    ↓
Sprint Level (Hours/Days)
    ↓
Task Level (Individual Files)
```

### **Template Hierarchy**

1. **Project Description Format** (`project_description_format.md`)
   - **Purpose:** High-level project charter and vision
   - **Scope:** Entire project lifecycle
   - **Audience:** Stakeholders, architects, project managers
   - **Update Frequency:** Quarterly or at major milestones

2. **MVP Description Format** (`mvp_description_format.md`)
   - **Purpose:** Epic/release planning for individual MVPs
   - **Scope:** Single MVP (typically 1-5 days for hackathons)
   - **Audience:** MVP owners, tech leads, development teams
   - **Update Frequency:** At MVP planning and completion

3. **Sprint Description Format** (`sprint_description_format.md`)
   - **Purpose:** Detailed sprint planning and execution
   - **Scope:** Individual sprints (typically 1-2 days for hackathons)
   - **Audience:** Sprint leads, developers, AI assistants
   - **Update Frequency:** At sprint start, daily standup, sprint end

## 🎯 Format Design Principles

### **AI-First Development Integration**
- **Claude/Cursor Optimized:** Each template includes specific AI assistant guidance
- **Context-Rich:** Provides comprehensive context for AI-assisted coding
- **Prompt Engineering:** Built-in prompts for common development tasks
- **Quality Gates:** Automated checks integrate with AI workflows

### **GitHub Workflow Integration**
- **Issue/Project Sync:** Metadata formats work with GitHub API
- **Conventional Commits:** Built-in commit message standards
- **CI/CD Ready:** Quality gates align with automated pipelines
- **Task Tracking:** Seamless integration with justfile recipes

### **Hackathon-Optimized Features**
- **Rapid Iteration:** Templates support fast-paced development
- **Demo-Focused:** Emphasis on demonstrable outcomes
- **Risk Mitigation:** Built-in contingency planning
- **Time-Boxing:** Clear duration estimates and constraints

## 📝 Implementation Workflow

### **Phase 1: Project Initiation**

**Step 1: Create Project Description**
```bash
# Copy project template
cp docs/templates/project_description_format.md docs/project_charter.md

# Customize for your project
# - Fill in project metadata
# - Define vision and problem statement
# - Set up MVP progression strategy
# - Establish development workflow
```

**Step 2: Set Up Development Environment**
```bash
# Create documentation structure
mkdir -p docs/{mvps,sprints,architecture,api,user}
mkdir -p docs/tasks/{mvp1,mvp2,mvp3,mvp4,mvp5}

# Set up templates directory
mkdir -p docs/templates
cp docs/templates/*.md docs/templates/
```

### **Phase 2: MVP Planning**

**Step 1: Create MVP Description**
```bash
# For each MVP (e.g., MVP3)
cp docs/templates/mvp_description_format.md docs/mvps/mvp3_description.md

# Customize MVP-specific content
# - Define MVP goal and value proposition
# - Plan sprint breakdown
# - Set success criteria
# - Define integration points
```

**Step 2: Generate Sprint Plans**
```bash
# For each sprint in the MVP (e.g., MVP3 Sprint2)
cp docs/templates/sprint_description_format.md docs/sprints/mvp3_sprint2_plan.md

# Use justfile integration
just mvp-task-create 3 2 "UI_Enhancement" "Enhance Gradio UI for PlannedStep display"
```

### **Phase 3: Sprint Execution**

**Step 1: Daily Development Workflow**
```bash
# Morning: Review sprint plan
cat docs/sprints/mvp3_sprint2_plan.md

# During development: Reference AI assistant guidance
# Use task-specific Claude/Cursor prompts from sprint plan

# Evening: Update progress metrics
# Update task status in sprint document
```

**Step 2: Quality Gates Integration**
```bash
# Built into justfile recipes
just lint     # ruff check
just format   # black formatting  
just type-check  # mypy validation
just test     # pytest with coverage
```

## 🛠️ Customization Guidelines

### **Project-Specific Adaptations**

**For Hackathon Projects:**
- Reduce planning overhead in templates
- Focus on demo-ready deliverables
- Emphasize rapid iteration cycles
- Include sponsor technology integration

**For Production Projects:**
- Add security and compliance sections
- Include more detailed architecture reviews
- Expand testing and quality requirements
- Add deployment and maintenance planning

**For Research Projects:**
- Include hypothesis and experimentation sections
- Add literature review and reference sections
- Include data collection and analysis plans
- Add publication and presentation planning

### **AI Assistant Integration Patterns**

**Claude/Cursor Prompt Templates:**
```markdown
## AI Assistant Guidance for Task <TASK_ID>

### Context Setting
```
You are helping develop the KGraph-MCP project, specifically working on <TASK_DESCRIPTION>. 

Key context:
- Current MVP: <MVP_NUMBER> (<MVP_GOAL>)
- Current Sprint: <SPRINT_NUMBER> (<SPRINT_GOAL>)
- Task Type: <FOUNDATION|FEATURE|INTEGRATION|TESTING>
- Dependencies: <LIST_OF_DEPENDENCIES>
```

### Development Focus
- Primary files to modify: <FILE_LIST>
- Key patterns to follow: <PATTERN_LIST>
- Testing approach: <TESTING_STRATEGY>
- Integration requirements: <INTEGRATION_POINTS>

### Quality Standards
- Code style: Ruff + Black + MyPy
- Test coverage: >=80%
- Commit format: Conventional Commits
- Documentation: Docstrings + type hints
```

**GitHub Integration Patterns:**
```yaml
# In project_description_format.md metadata
github_integration:
  project_id: 11
  issue_template: "docs/templates/task_template.md"
  commit_convention: "conventional_commits"
  ci_pipeline: ".github/workflows/ci.yml"
  
# In mvp_description_format.md
mvp_tracking:
  milestone: "MVP<N>"
  epic_label: "epic:mvp<N>"
  sprint_labels: ["sprint:1", "sprint:2", "sprint:3"]
  
# In sprint_description_format.md  
sprint_automation:
  task_creation: "just mvp-task-create <MVP> <SPRINT> <NAME>"
  progress_tracking: "just tasks-status-update"
  completion_check: "just sprint-validate <MVP> <SPRINT>"
```

## 📊 Usage Examples

### **Example 1: Starting MVP3**

**Step 1: Create MVP3 Description**
```bash
# Copy template and customize
cp docs/templates/mvp_description_format.md docs/mvps/mvp3_interactive_execution.md

# Key customizations:
# - mvp_id: "3"
# - mvp_name: "Interactive Prompt Filling & Simulated Execution"  
# - duration_estimate: "3_days"
# - total_sprints: 5
# - primary_track: "Track 3: Agentic Demo"
```

**Step 2: Plan Sprint Breakdown**
```yaml
# In mvp3_interactive_execution.md
sprint_roadmap:
  - sprint: 1
    name: "Dynamic UI Foundation"
    duration: "6_hours"
    primary_goal: "Generate dynamic input fields"
    key_deliverables: ["Dynamic field generation", "Input collection"]
  
  - sprint: 2  
    name: "User Input Integration"
    duration: "8_hours"
    primary_goal: "Collect and validate user inputs"
    key_deliverables: ["Input validation", "Executor integration"]
```

### **Example 2: Executing Sprint Planning**

**Step 1: Create Sprint Plan**
```bash
cp docs/templates/sprint_description_format.md docs/sprints/mvp3_sprint1_dynamic_ui.md
```

**Step 2: Customize Sprint Details**
```yaml
# In mvp3_sprint1_dynamic_ui.md
sprint_metadata:
  sprint_id: "3_S1"
  sprint_name: "Dynamic UI Foundation"
  mvp_parent: "MVP3: Interactive Prompt Filling & Simulated Execution"
  duration_estimate: "6_hours"
  
technical_approach:
  implementation_strategy: "TDD with Gradio component generation"
  design_patterns: ["Factory Pattern", "Observer Pattern"]
  
task_organization:
  total_tasks: 3
  task_methodology: "tdd_with_ai_assistance"
  parallel_workstreams: 1
```

**Step 3: Define Tasks with AI Guidance**
```yaml
# Task example in sprint plan
task_3_1:
  objective: "Implement dynamic Gradio input field generation"
  files_to_modify: ["app.py", "agents/planner.py"]
  ai_assistant_guidance: |
    For Claude/Cursor IDE:
    - Focus areas: Gradio component factory pattern
    - Key patterns: Dynamic UI generation based on MCPPrompt.input_variables
    - Testing approach: Mock MCPPrompt objects with various input_variables
    - Integration points: Connect with existing handle_find_tools function
```

## 🔄 Maintenance and Evolution

### **Template Updates**
- **Version Control:** Track template versions in frontmatter
- **Backward Compatibility:** Maintain compatibility with existing documents
- **Regular Review:** Quarterly review of template effectiveness
- **Community Feedback:** Incorporate lessons learned from usage

### **Process Improvement**
- **Metrics Collection:** Track documentation quality and usage
- **Automation Enhancement:** Improve justfile recipe integration
- **AI Assistant Optimization:** Refine AI guidance patterns
- **Tool Integration:** Enhance GitHub and CI/CD integration

### **Scaling Considerations**
- **Team Growth:** Adapt templates for larger development teams  
- **Project Complexity:** Scale templates for more complex projects
- **Multi-Project Use:** Abstract common patterns for reuse
- **Enterprise Features:** Add compliance and governance sections

## 📚 Best Practices

### **Documentation Quality**
1. **Completeness:** Fill all template sections thoroughly
2. **Specificity:** Use concrete, measurable criteria
3. **Consistency:** Follow naming and formatting conventions
4. **Timeliness:** Update documents promptly as work progresses

### **AI Assistant Optimization**
1. **Context Richness:** Provide comprehensive context in AI guidance sections
2. **Pattern Consistency:** Use consistent prompt engineering patterns
3. **Quality Standards:** Include quality gates in all AI interactions
4. **Feedback Loops:** Capture and improve AI assistance effectiveness

### **Team Collaboration**
1. **Shared Understanding:** Ensure all team members understand template structure
2. **Review Process:** Establish document review and approval workflows
3. **Communication:** Use templates as basis for team communication
4. **Knowledge Transfer:** Use templates for onboarding and handoffs

## 🔗 Integration Points

### **Existing KGraph-MCP Tools**
- **Justfile Recipes:** Templates integrate with existing `just` commands
- **GitHub Projects:** Metadata aligns with project management workflow
- **CI/CD Pipeline:** Quality gates sync with automated validation
- **Task Management:** Links to `docs/tasks/` directory structure

### **Development Workflow**
- **Planning:** Templates support sprint and MVP planning
- **Execution:** AI guidance improves development velocity
- **Quality:** Built-in quality gates ensure code standards
- **Retrospectives:** Templates capture lessons learned

---

## 🚀 Getting Started

### **Quick Start Checklist**
- [ ] Copy all three templates to your `docs/templates/` directory
- [ ] Create initial project description document
- [ ] Set up documentation directory structure
- [ ] Configure justfile integration for task creation
- [ ] Train team on template usage and customization
- [ ] Start with first MVP description and sprint plan

### **Success Metrics**
- **Documentation Coverage:** All projects, MVPs, and sprints documented
- **AI Assistance Quality:** Improved development velocity with AI
- **Team Satisfaction:** Positive feedback on documentation usefulness
- **Delivery Success:** On-time, quality deliverables aligned with plans

---

**Next Steps:** Choose your first project and begin with the Project Description Format template. Customize it for your specific needs and establish the foundation for systematic, AI-assisted development documentation.