How to Make Quick Fixes in Brownfield Projects

Not everything requires the full BMad method or even Quick Flow. For bug fixes, refactorings, or small targeted changes, you can work directly with the agent.

When to Use This

Bug fixes
Small refactorings
Targeted code improvements
Learning about your codebase
One-off changes that don’t need planning

Steps

1. Load an Agent

For quick fixes, you can use:

DEV agent - For implementation-focused work
Quick Flow Solo Dev - For slightly larger changes that still need a tech-spec

2. Describe the Change

Simply tell the agent what you need:

Fix the login validation bug that allows empty passwords

Refactor the UserService to use async/await instead of callbacks

3. Let the Agent Work

The agent will:

Analyze the relevant code
Propose a solution
Implement the change
Run tests (if available)

4. Review and Commit

Review the changes made and commit when satisfied.

Learning Your Codebase

This approach is also excellent for exploring unfamiliar code:

Explain how the authentication system works in this codebase

Show me where error handling happens in the API layer

LLMs are excellent at interpreting and analyzing code—whether it was AI-generated or not. Use the agent to:

Learn about your project
Understand how things are built
Explore unfamiliar parts of the codebase

When to Upgrade to Formal Planning

Consider using Quick Flow or full BMad Method when:

The change affects multiple files or systems
You’re unsure about the scope
The fix keeps growing in complexity
You need documentation for the change