> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ironoctopus.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Features

> One change to your app, from its plan to its release.

A feature is one change to your app: a new screen, a change to how something works, or a fix. It's the unit you ask for and the unit that gets released. Each feature has its own [requirements](https://docs.ironoctopus.ai/building-blocks/requirements.md) and is built as a set of [work items](https://docs.ironoctopus.ai/building-blocks/work-items.md).

## What it contains

* **Requirements**, written as acceptance criteria, that define done.
* **Work items**, the pieces of work Iron Octopus builds and reviews.
* **Review results**, including anything sent back for rework.
* **A full history** of what was asked for, decided, built and checked.

Each feature also has an **ID**, such as `BKG-F012`, made from its project key and a number. Work items have IDs too, such as `BKG-W031`.

## Stages

Every feature moves through the same stages.

| Stage | What happens | How it moves on |
| - | - | - |
| Planning | Iron Octopus drafts the plan, requirements and work items. | You approve the plan with **Start building**. |
| Building | Iron Octopus builds the work items and reviews each one. | On its own, when every work item is done. |
| Acceptance | Iron Octopus verifies every acceptance criterion. | You approve the release with **Release feature**. |
| Released | The feature is merged into your project's main branch. | It's final. |
| Cancelled | The feature was stopped. | You can reopen it in Planning. |

A feature can also step back. From Building or Acceptance it can return to Planning, and from Acceptance it can return to Building when a requirement needs more work.

> [!NOTE]
>
> These are the default rules. You can change them, for example to let a feature start without your approval.

## After release

A released feature doesn't change. If you find a problem with it later, [report a defect](https://docs.ironoctopus.ai/building-blocks/defect-reports.md). The fix becomes a new feature that goes through the same steps, and the original stays as it was released.

## Where you see it

* On your Home page: **Needs you** when it's waiting for a decision, **In progress** while it's in Building or Acceptance, and **Recently released** afterwards.
* In the left rail, under its project, while it's active.
* On its own page, with its stage track, requirements, work items and history.

## What you can do

* [Approve its plan](https://docs.ironoctopus.ai/build/plans-and-approval.md) and start building.
* [Follow the work](https://docs.ironoctopus.ai/build/work-in-progress.md) and see what review sent back.
* [Release it](https://docs.ironoctopus.ai/build/release-a-feature.md).
* [Read its history or export it](https://docs.ironoctopus.ai/build/feature-history.md).
* Cancel it, or reopen a cancelled feature.


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