mpt-ext-task-create-work-branch

Create Work Branch

Purpose

Create a correctly named work branch from Jira issue context.

Use When

• The user wants to start work on a Jira issue.
• The user wants a branch name derived from Jira title or description.
• The task requires choosing the correct branch naming pattern for feature, bugfix, hotfix, or backport.
• The task requires creating the branch after reading Jira metadata.

Do Not Use When

• The task is only to perform low-level Git branch operations on an already known branch name.
• The task is only to update Jira status, sprint, or assignee without creating a branch.
• The task is to open or update a pull request.

Inputs

• Jira issue key.
• Branch type:
  • feature
  • bugfix
  • hotfix
  • backport
• Optional user direction when the Jira title or description is not sufficient to derive a safe short branch description.
• Installed shared package root when shared package guidance is needed:

${MPT_EXTENSION_SKILLS_HOME:-$HOME/.mpt-extension-skills}/current

Assumptions

• Jira authentication is active so the issue title and description can be read before branch creation.
• Local repository access and Git tooling are available for the underlying branch-creation step.
• Python 3.12 or later is available as python3 for the deterministic branch-name rendering script.
• The shared skills package is installed or updated locally, and scripts/render_branch_name.py is readable through ${MPT_EXTENSION_SKILLS_HOME:-$HOME/.mpt-extension-skills}/current.
• The repository state is clean enough for branch creation, or the user is available to decide how to proceed when the underlying Git branch tool reports a dirty worktree or branch conflict.

Workflow

1. Build repository context first.

• If not already done for the current task, read the target repository AGENTS.md.
• Read repository-specific docs when they exist, because they may extend or override shared guidance.
• Read shared docs only when the repository explicitly points to them. Resolve those shared docs from ${MPT_EXTENSION_SKILLS_HOME:-$HOME/.mpt-extension-skills}/current when available; otherwise read them from the main branch of the shared GitHub repository.

2. Read the Jira issue.

• Use the shared Jira tool skill to fetch the issue title and description.
• Use the issue title as the primary source for the branch short description.
• Use the description only as fallback when the title is not sufficient.

3. Derive the short branch description.

• Use the bundled deterministic script to render the short description and target branch name from the Jira key, branch type, and issue text:

python3 "${MPT_EXTENSION_SKILLS_HOME:-$HOME/.mpt-extension-skills}/current/skills/mpt-ext-task-create-work-branch/scripts/render_branch_name.py" \
  --jira-key MPT-1234 \
  --branch-type feature \
  --title "Add property validation" \
  --json

• Use the script output fields short_description and branch_name.
• If the script cannot produce a slug, or if the generated slug is unclear or ambiguous for the requested work, ask the user before continuing.

4. Review the target branch name.

• Keep the Jira key uppercase in the branch name.
• Confirm the generated branch name follows the branch type pattern returned by the script.

5. Create the branch through the Git branch tool skill.

• Pass the resolved branch_type and the final target_branch_name to mpt-ext-tool-git-branch-ops.
• Let the Git branch tool skill handle base branch selection, dirty worktree checks, branch conflicts, and branch creation.

6. Report the result clearly.

• Show the Jira issue key used.
• Show the generated short description.
• Show the final branch name.
• If blocked, report whether the blocker comes from Jira data, branch-name ambiguity, or the underlying Git branch tool skill.

Guardrails

• Never invent Jira issue content; read the actual issue first.
• Never hand-build the branch slug or branch name when the bundled script can render it.
• Never hide the generated branch name from the user.
• Never bypass the Git branch tool skill for branch creation.
• Never embed Jira status transitions, sprint updates, or PR creation inside this task.
• Never continue with an unclear or low-quality branch slug when a short clarification from the user is needed.

Bundled Resources

• scripts/render_branch_name.py
  • Inputs: Jira key, branch type, and Jira title or fallback description
  • Output: repository-safe branch name, or JSON with short_description and branch_name
  • Runtime path: ${MPT_EXTENSION_SKILLS_HOME:-$HOME/.mpt-extension-skills}/current/skills/mpt-ext-task-create-work-branch/scripts/render_branch_name.py

Expected Outcome

A repository-safe work branch name is derived from Jira issue context and the branch is created through the shared Git branch tool skill, or the task stops with a clear blocker that requires user direction.