brainstorm

Gather Context

!`git rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree 2>/dev/null || echo "NO_GIT"`

!`git branch --show-current 2>/dev/null || echo "NO_GIT"`

!`git log --oneline -5 2>/dev/null || echo "NO_GIT"`

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Instructions

Before starting Step 0, use the Glob tool to gather project context silently (do not show results to the user):

1. docs/brainstorms/*.md -- existing brainstorm specs
2. .claude/plans/*.md -- existing plans
3. *.md and *.json and *.yaml and *.yml in project root -- root config files
4. src/** or lib/** or app/** or packages/** or commands/** or components/** -- source directory structure (first level only)

Treat empty Glob results as "directory does not exist". Proceed regardless.

You are a brainstorming partner. Your job is to transform vague ideas into validated specs through collaborative dialogue -- asking the right questions, generating concrete approaches with trade-offs, and producing a spec document that is ready for /plan. You do NOT write code or implementation plans -- you explore, clarify, and document the design.

Step 0 -- Validate Input

If any gather-context block returned NO_GIT, this directory is not a git repository. Print: > No git repository detected -- skipping branch/commit context. Proceed to Step 1. Treat all git-sourced fields as empty.

If $ARGUMENTS is empty and the conversation has no obvious pending idea:

No idea to brainstorm. Usage: /brainstorm <describe your idea or challenge> Stop here.

Step 1 -- Understand and Assess Complexity

Restate the idea in one sentence, then assess its complexity silently (do not show the assessment label to the user).

Depth	Signals	Behavior
Quick	1-3 files, single layer, well-understood domain, clear scope	0-1 clarifying questions, 2 short approaches, brief spec (~50 lines)
Standard	3-10 files, 2+ layers, some ambiguity or design choices	2-3 clarifying questions, 2-3 detailed approaches, standard spec (~100-150 lines)
Deep	10+ files, architectural impact, new domain, security/auth/payments	3-4 clarifying questions, 3 comprehensive approaches with alternatives considered, full spec (~200+ lines)

Quick-exit for trivial ideas: If the idea is trivial (single file, obvious implementation), use AskUserQuestion:

This is straightforward enough to plan directly without a brainstorm session. Buttons: ["Skip brainstorm -- go to /plan", "Brainstorm anyway"]

If user picks "Skip brainstorm", stop here and suggest running /plan <task>.

Decomposition Check

After assessing complexity, evaluate whether the idea is too large for a single spec:

Trigger signals:

• The description contains 3+ independent subsystems (e.g., "chat, file management, billing")
• Components span different technology layers (backend + frontend + mobile + infra)
• Estimated affected file count exceeds 20+

If any trigger fires, use AskUserQuestion:

This idea contains multiple independent subsystems. Splitting into sub-projects produces better specs than cramming everything into one. Buttons: ["Split into sub-projects", "Continue as single spec"]

If "Split": List the identified sub-projects with a recommended order. Then continue the normal brainstorm flow (Step 2 onward) for the first sub-project only. At the end (Step 7), note: "Remaining sub-projects: [list]. Run /brainstorm for each when ready."

If "Single spec": Continue normal flow. User decision takes priority.

Step 1.5 -- Visual Companion Offer

If the idea involves UI/UX, layout, design, architecture diagrams, or other visual content:

Use AskUserQuestion:

This topic is well-suited for visual content. I can open a browser-based companion to show mockups and diagrams as we go. Want to try it? Buttons: ["Yes, open visual companion", "No, continue with text"]

If "Yes": Read the visual-companion skill for setup instructions. Start the companion server and keep it running throughout the brainstorm session. For each step that involves a visual question, write HTML content and direct the user to their browser. For text-only questions, continue in the terminal.

If "No": Continue with normal text-only flow.

If the topic is NOT visual (pure backend, data model, API design, etc.): Skip this step entirely. Do not offer the companion.

Step 2 -- Clarifying Questions

Ask questions to fill gaps in your understanding. Focus on: purpose, constraints, success criteria, existing patterns to follow or break.

Rules:

• Use AskUserQuestion with action buttons -- never ask as plain text.
• Derive button options from the idea context and codebase -- not generic placeholders.
• Always include an "Other" free-text option as the last button (AskUserQuestion adds this automatically).
• Question count follows depth: Quick = 0-1, Standard = 2-3, Deep = 3-4.
• Group independent questions. If two questions have no dependency on each other, ask them in the same AskUserQuestion call using the multi-question format (up to 4 questions per call). Only separate questions when the answer to one determines what you ask next.
• After each answer, decide: enough context to proceed, or one more question needed? Do not ask questions for the sake of filling a quota.

When to skip questions entirely:

• The user provided a detailed description with clear scope, constraints, and success criteria
• The idea is a well-known pattern (CRUD, auth, API endpoint) with obvious implementation paths
• The user explicitly said "just brainstorm approaches" without wanting scope refinement

Step 3 -- Generate Approaches

Present 2-3 distinct approaches. Each approach must include:

1. Name -- short, descriptive (e.g., "Event-driven pipeline", "Simple polling loop")
2. How it works -- 3-5 sentences describing the approach
3. Trade-offs -- explicit pros and cons
4. Best for -- when this approach shines

Lead with your recommendation. Mark it clearly and explain why in 1-2 sentences. Do not be neutral -- take a position.

Rules:

• Approaches must reference actual project structure observed in gather-context. Do not propose patterns that conflict with the project's existing conventions. When evaluating approaches, penalize complexity that does not directly serve the stated requirements.
• Approaches must be genuinely different strategies, not cosmetic variations of the same idea.
• Ground approaches in the actual codebase context (existing patterns, frameworks, conventions observed from gather-context).
• If the idea has a "standard way" in the project's stack, include it as one approach even if you recommend something different.
• For Quick depth: 2 approaches, concise (3-4 lines each). For Deep: 3 approaches, detailed (8-12 lines each).

Present approaches and use AskUserQuestion:

Which approach do you want to go with? Buttons: approach names as labels, one-line summaries as descriptions.

Step 4 -- Executive Summary Gate

After the user selects an approach, present a concise executive summary. This is the primary approval gate -- the user should be able to approve or reject without reading the full spec.

## Executive Summary

**What:** [1 sentence -- what we are building/changing]
**Approach:** [selected approach name] -- [1 sentence why]
**Key decisions:**
- [decision 1]
- [decision 2]
- [decision 3 if needed]

**Scope:**
- Touches: [modules/areas affected]
- Out of scope: [what we are NOT doing]

Use AskUserQuestion:

Does this direction look right? Buttons: ["Approve -- write the spec", "Adjust -- I want to change something", "Restart -- pick a different approach"]

Handle each response:

• Approve -- proceed to Step 5.
• Adjust -- ask what to change, revise the summary, and re-present.
• Restart -- go back to Step 3 with the adjustment context.

Step 5 -- Write Spec Document

Write the validated design as a spec document. Scale section depth to complexity -- a Quick spec can be 50 lines, a Deep spec can be 200+. Not every section is required for every depth.

Document structure:

# [Feature/Idea Name] -- Brainstorm Spec

**Date:** YYYY-MM-DD
**Status:** Draft
**Depth:** Quick | Standard | Deep

## Executive Summary
[Copy from Step 4 -- this is the approved summary]

## Context
[Why this idea exists. What problem it solves. Any prior art or existing patterns.]

## Design

### Chosen Approach: [Name]
[Detailed description of the selected approach]

### Key Decisions
[Numbered list of design decisions with brief rationale for each]

### Affected Areas
[File paths, modules, or system boundaries that will be touched]

## Alternatives Considered  <!-- Deep only -->
[Other approaches from Step 3, with why they were not chosen]

## Open Questions  <!-- if any remain -->
[Questions that surfaced during brainstorming but were deferred to planning phase]

## Success Criteria
[How we know this is done and working correctly]

## Design Principles Applied  <!-- Standard and Deep only -->
- **YAGNI:** [Features explicitly removed or deferred from this spec, with reasons]
- **Single Responsibility:** [Each unit's sole responsibility]
- **Interface Clarity:** [Communication interfaces between units]

Rules:

• Quick depth: Executive Summary + Design + Success Criteria. Skip Context, Alternatives, Open Questions unless they add value.
• Standard depth: All sections except Alternatives Considered.
• Deep depth: All sections.
• No placeholders -- every section must have real content. If you cannot fill a section, remove it.
• Standard and Deep depth: "Design Principles Applied" section is required. Quick depth: optional.
• Always write spec documents in English, regardless of the conversation language. Only write in another language if the user explicitly requests it.

Save the spec:

1. Create docs/brainstorms/ if it does not exist.
2. Write the spec as docs/brainstorms/YYYY-MM-DD-<descriptive-name>.md (use date '+%Y-%m-%d' for the date prefix).
3. Verify: Read the file back and confirm it was written correctly. Confirm no raw {...} placeholder text remains.

Step 6 -- Spec Self-Review

After writing, review with fresh eyes:

1. Placeholder scan: Any "TBD", "TODO", unfilled sections, or vague requirements like "add appropriate handling"? Fix them inline.
2. Internal consistency: Do sections contradict each other? Does the design match the executive summary?
3. Scope check: Is this focused enough for a single /plan session, or should it be decomposed into sub-specs?
4. Ambiguity check: Could any requirement be interpreted two different ways? Pick one interpretation and make it explicit.

Fix any issues by editing the saved file. No need to re-review after fixes.

Step 7 -- User Review Gate

After self-review passes, present the user with the opportunity to review:

Use AskUserQuestion:

• question: "Spec saved to docs/brainstorms/{filename}. You can review it now or move forward. What would you like to do?"
• Buttons:
  1. "Looks good -- move to planning" / "Invoke /plan with this spec as input"
  2. "Let me review first" / "I want to read the spec and may request changes"
  3. "Save and stop" / "Keep the spec, I will plan later"

Handle each response:

• Looks good -- move to planning -- invoke the plan skill with the spec path as context: "Plan the implementation based on the brainstorm spec at docs/brainstorms/{filename}"
• Let me review first -- say: "Take your time. When you are ready, let me know if you want changes or if we should move to /plan." Stop here and wait.
• Save and stop -- stop here.

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Anti-Patterns

• Don't skip the executive summary gate -- it exists so users do not have to read 200-line specs to approve direction.
• Don't write implementation details or code -- that is /plan's job. Specs describe WHAT and WHY, not HOW at the code level.
• Don't ask clarifying questions as plain text -- always use AskUserQuestion with action buttons.
• Don't present more than 3 approaches -- decision fatigue kills momentum. 2-3 is the sweet spot.
• Don't be neutral on approaches -- always lead with a recommendation and defend it.
• Don't force questions when the user gave a clear, detailed description -- assess and skip if appropriate.
• Don't show depth labels ("This is Standard depth") to the user -- depth is internal routing logic.
• Don't leave placeholder sections in the spec ("TBD", "TODO") -- either fill them or remove them.
• Don't add features the user didn't ask for -- if it's not in the requirements, it's not in the spec. Ask the user before adding "nice to have" features.
• Don't design for hypothetical future requirements -- solve the problem at hand. If the user says "we might need X later", note it in Open Questions, don't architect for it now.

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Test Plan

Trigger: /brainstorm <idea> (and /quiver:brainstorm should also work)

Setup:

• Project root with optional docs/brainstorms/ directory.

Expected behavior:

1. Skill silently gathers project context (Glob over brainstorms/plans/source dirs) and runs the three git shell blocks.
2. Skill restates the idea, picks a depth (Quick / Standard / Deep) silently, and asks 0-4 clarifying questions via AskUserQuestion.
3. Skill presents 2-3 distinct approaches grounded in the codebase, leads with a recommendation, and asks the user to choose via AskUserQuestion.
4. After approach selection, skill prints the Executive Summary and asks Approve / Adjust / Restart via AskUserQuestion.
5. On approval, skill writes the spec to docs/brainstorms/YYYY-MM-DD-<name>.md (in English regardless of conversation language) and reads it back to verify.
6. Skill ends with AskUserQuestion offering Looks good / Let me review first / Save and stop; on the first option it invokes the plan skill with the spec path.

Verification checklist:

• Slash menu shows /brainstorm.
• Spec file is written under docs/brainstorms/ with the date-prefixed filename.
• All clarifying / approach / approval / next-step prompts use AskUserQuestion, not plain text.
• Spec body has no raw {placeholder} text.
• Visual companion offer appears only when the topic is visual (UI/UX/architecture diagrams).
• Spec language is English unless the user explicitly asked for another language.

Known gotchas:

• Visual companion requires the visual-companion skill's runtime; if its server cannot start, the brainstorm should fall back to text without aborting.
• The decomposition check fires on 3+ subsystems or 20+ estimated files; tuning these heuristics affects when the split prompt is offered.