How to Install BMad

Step-by-step guide to installing BMad in your project

Use the npx bmad-method install command to set up BMad in your project with your choice of modules and AI tools.

If you want to use a non interactive installer and provide all install options on the command line, see Non-Interactive Installation.

When to Use This

• Starting a new project with BMad
• Adding BMad to an existing codebase
• Update the existing BMad Installation

Prerequisites

• Node.js 20+ (required for the installer)
• Git (recommended)
• AI tool (Claude Code, Cursor, or similar)

Steps

1. Run the Installer

npx bmad-method install

Bleeding edge: To install the latest from the main branch (may be unstable):

npx github:bmad-code-org/BMAD-METHOD install

If you are getting a stale beta version, use:

npx bmad-method@6.0.1 install

2. Choose Installation Location

The installer will ask where to install BMad files:

• Current directory (recommended for new projects if you created the directory yourself and ran from within the directory)
• Custom path

3. Select Your AI Tools

Pick which AI tools you use:

• Claude Code
• Cursor
• Others

Each tool has its own way of integrating commands. The installer creates tiny prompt files to activate workflows and agents — it just puts them where your tool expects to find them.

4. Choose Modules

The installer shows available modules. Select whichever ones you need — most users just want BMad Method (the software development module).

Available modules:

• BMad Method (BMM) — Core framework with 34+ workflows
• BMad Builder (BMB) — Create custom BMad agents and workflows
• Test Architect (TEA) — Risk-based test strategy and automation
• Game Dev Studio (BMGD) — Game development workflows (Unity, Unreal, Godot)
• Creative Intelligence Suite (CIS) — Innovation, brainstorming, design thinking

5. Follow the Prompts

The installer guides you through the rest — custom content, settings, etc.

What You Get

your-project/
├── _bmad/
│   ├── bmm/            # Your selected modules
│   │   └── config.yaml # Module settings (if you ever need to change them)
│   ├── core/           # Required core module
│   └── ...
├── _bmad-output/       # Generated artifacts
├── .claude/            # Claude Code commands (if using Claude Code)
└── .cursor/            # Cursor commands (if using Cursor)

Verify Installation

Run /bmad-help to verify everything works and see what to do next.

BMad-Help is your intelligent guide that will:

• Confirm your installation is working
• Show what’s available based on your installed modules
• Recommend your first step

You can also ask it questions:

/bmad-help I just installed, what should I do first?
/bmad-help What are my options for a SaaS project?

Troubleshooting

Installer throws an error — Copy-paste the output into your AI assistant and let it figure it out.

Installer worked but something doesn’t work later — Your AI needs BMad context to help. See How to Get Answers About BMad for how to point your AI at the right sources.

Next Steps

• Run /bmad-help to see what’s next
• Customize agents and workflows
• Set up project context