Unified Analytics & Velocity Tracking

Status: ✅ Complete · Priority: High · Created: 2025-11-04 · Tags: ux, visualization, analytics, launch, v0.2.0

Split into sub-specs for Context Economy - See detailed sections below

Overview

Consolidate analytics commands and add velocity tracking to measure SDD effectiveness.

What Was Built

1. ✅ Timestamp tracking → created_at, updated_at, completed_at, transitions in frontmatter
2. ✅ Velocity metrics → Cycle time, throughput, WIP tracking in utils/velocity.ts
3. ✅ Enhanced stats command → Added --velocity, --timeline, --full flags
4. ✅ Board enhancements → Integrated velocity summary into board view
5. ❌ Dashboard command → Not implemented (functionality merged into enhanced stats and board instead)

Why Now?

• v0.2.0 launch requires polished, cohesive UX
• Analytics commands overlap in purpose (both show trends/metrics)
• Need single entry point for "show me project health"
• Velocity is critical metric for SDD adoption - proves if specs help or hinder

Before vs After

Before (v0.1.x):

lean-spec stats      # Basic metrics only
lean-spec timeline   # Separate timeline view
lean-spec board      # Basic Kanban
# No velocity tracking
# No timestamp precision

After (v0.2.0):

# Enhanced Stats Command
lean-spec stats              # Simplified view with insights
lean-spec stats --timeline   # Add timeline section
lean-spec stats --velocity   # Cycle time analysis
lean-spec stats --full       # Everything combined

# Enhanced Board Command  
lean-spec board              # Now includes velocity summary

# Timeline Command
lean-spec timeline           # Still works (not deprecated)

# Velocity tracking active
# Precise timestamps in frontmatter

Implemented Features

✅ 1. Timestamp Tracking (Foundation)

Precise timestamps alongside existing dates enable velocity metrics:

• created_at, updated_at, completed_at (ISO 8601) - IMPLEMENTED
• Optional transitions array for stage duration tracking - IMPLEMENTED
• Backward compatible (infer from dates if missing) - IMPLEMENTED
• Auto-enrichment on create/update operations - IMPLEMENTED

✅ 2. Velocity Metrics

Comprehensive velocity tracking implemented in src/utils/velocity.ts:

• Cycle Time: Created → Completed (avg, median, P90) - IMPLEMENTED
• Lead Time: Time in each status from transitions - IMPLEMENTED
• Throughput: Specs/week with trend indicators - IMPLEMENTED
• WIP Tracking: Current and historical WIP averages - IMPLEMENTED

✅ 3. Enhanced Stats Command

Completely redesigned stats command with multiple views:

• lean-spec stats → New simplified view with insights (default) - IMPLEMENTED
• lean-spec stats --timeline → Add timeline section - IMPLEMENTED
• lean-spec stats --velocity → Show cycle time analysis - IMPLEMENTED
• lean-spec stats --full → Everything combined (old analytics style) - IMPLEMENTED
• Smart insights and completion tracking - IMPLEMENTED

✅ 4. Board Command Enhancements

Integrated velocity metrics into board view:

• Shows velocity summary (cycle time, throughput, WIP) - IMPLEMENTED
• Completion rate and project health - IMPLEMENTED

❌ 5. Dashboard Command (Not Implemented)

Decision: Instead of creating a separate dashboard command, the functionality was distributed:

• Enhanced stats command provides comprehensive analytics
• Enhanced board command shows velocity summary
• This keeps the CLI simpler and more focused

Quick Reference

Command Comparison

Stats Output Examples

Simplified view (default):

lean-spec stats
# Shows: Overview, Status, Priority Focus, Needs Attention, Velocity Summary

Velocity analysis:

lean-spec stats --velocity
# Shows: Cycle Time, Lead Time, Throughput, WIP metrics

Full analytics:

lean-spec stats --full
# Shows: Everything combined (stats + timeline + velocity)

Sub-Specs

Detailed information split for Context Economy (<400 lines per file):

• DESIGN.md - Architecture, timestamp tracking, command structure
• RATIONALE.md - Why velocity matters, design decisions, alternatives
• IMPLEMENTATION.md - Step-by-step implementation plan with phases
• TESTING.md - Comprehensive test strategy and success criteria
• ACTUAL-IMPLEMENTATION.md - Final implementation details and outcomes

Success Criteria (Achieved)

✅ User Experience:

• Stats command now provides clear project insights with simplified default view
• Needs Attention section highlights critical issues
• Velocity metrics prove SDD effectiveness
• No breaking changes for existing users

✅ Technical:

• Fast render performance with single spec load
• Backward compatible (old stats behavior available with --full)
• Clean separation: velocity.ts, completion.ts, insights.ts utilities
• Comprehensive test coverage

✅ Business:

• Velocity metrics demonstrate SDD value objectively
• Enhanced board/stats commands improve v0.2.0 launch demo
• Clear analytics for teams to track improvement

Dependencies

None - standalone feature for v0.2.0

Implementation Notes

Why Velocity Metrics Matter

Velocity is SDD's feedback loop:

• Proves whether specs accelerate or slow development
• Identifies workflow bottlenecks
• Tracks team learning curve
• Makes SDD adoption measurable
• Provides objective data for process improvement

Design Decisions

Why no separate dashboard command?

• Decided against lean-spec defaulting to dashboard (keeps help accessible)
• Enhanced stats and board commands provide comprehensive views
• Simpler CLI surface area (fewer commands to learn)
• Functionality distributed where it makes most sense

Why keep timeline command?

• Originally planned for deprecation
• Decided to keep it as dedicated historical view
• No user confusion since stats/timeline serve different use cases
• No breaking changes needed

Future Enhancements

• Custom velocity targets via config
• More granular lead time tracking (by spec type/priority)
• Velocity trend predictions
• Export capabilities (JSON, CSV)
• Integration with CI/CD for automated tracking