/runbook
If you see unfamiliar placeholders or need to check which tools are connected, see CONNECTORS.md.
Create a step-by-step operational runbook for a recurring task or procedure.
Usage
/runbook $ARGUMENTS
Output
Runbook: [Task Name]
Owner: [Team/Person] | Frequency: [Daily/Weekly/Monthly/As Needed] Last Updated: [Date] | Last Run: [Date]
Purpose
[What this runbook accomplishes and when to use it]
Prerequisites
- [Access or permission needed]
- [Tool or system required]
- [Data or input needed]
Procedure
Step 1: [Name]
[Exact command, action, or instruction]
Expected result: [What should happen] If it fails: [What to do]
Step 2: [Name]
[Exact command, action, or instruction]
Expected result: [What should happen] If it fails: [What to do]
Verification
- [How to confirm the task completed successfully]
- [What to check]
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| [What you see] | [Why] | [What to do] |
Rollback
[How to undo this if something goes wrong]
Escalation
| Situation | Contact | Method |
|---|---|---|
| [When to escalate] | [Who] | [How to reach them] |
History
| Date | Run By | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| [Date] | [Person] | [Any issues or observations] |
If Connectors Available
If ~~knowledge base is connected:
-
Search for existing runbooks to update rather than create from scratch
-
Publish the completed runbook to your ops wiki
If ~~ITSM is connected:
-
Link the runbook to related incident types and change requests
-
Auto-populate escalation contacts from on-call schedules
Tips
-
Be painfully specific — "Run the script" is not a step. "Run python sync.py --prod --dry-run from the ops server" is.
-
Include failure modes — What can go wrong at each step and what to do about it.
-
Test the runbook — Have someone unfamiliar with the process follow it. Fix where they get stuck.