brainstorming-ideas

allowed-tools:

• AskUserQuestion
• Task
• TaskCreate
• TaskUpdate
• TaskList
• Read
• Grep
• Glob
• Write
• Edit
• mcp__perplexity-ask__perplexity_ask
• mcp__plugin_claude-mem_mcp-search__timeline
• mcp__plugin_claude-mem_mcp-search__search
• WebFetch
• Bash(git status *)
• Bash(git log *)
• Bash(git diff *)
• Bash(git show *) argument-hint: '[idea|plan|grill|debate] ' context: fork description: Brainstorm ideas and stress-test draft plans before coding. Use when brainstorming, exploring approaches, designing a feature/API/flow, grilling or debating a bounded plan, challenging assumptions, or resolving design-blocking terminology. NOT for implementation task breakdown. NOT for generic technology comparisons or best-practice research; use researching-web. NOT for docs updates; use documenting-code. name: brainstorming-ideas user-invocable: true

Brainstorming Ideas

Follow the base skill. This Claude overlay only defines tool use and platform-specific behavior.

Claude tool rules

• Use AskUserQuestion for every choice point. Do not write numbered menus and ask the user to type 1, 2, or 3.
• Ask one question per AskUserQuestion call.
• Use single-select for one path, multi-select for multiple risks/constraints/goals, and allowOther for custom answers.
• Use TaskCreate and TaskUpdate to track phases when the session has more than two steps.
• Use Read, Grep, and Glob before asking questions that the repo can answer.
• Use Write or Edit only after the user approves the exact design note, CONTEXT entry, or ADR target.
• Use external research tools only after the user chooses research or asks for it.
• Use claude-mem only after the user chooses project-history lookup.

Suggested interactive questions

Initial question:

• Header: Idea type
• Question: What would you like to brainstorm?
• Options: New feature, Modification, Integration, Plan grill/debate, Exploration
• Allow Other: yes

Assumptions check:

• Header: Assumptions
• Question: Which assumptions are wrong or risky?
• Options: All correct, Some wrong, Not sure, Defer this
• Allow Other: yes

Next-step checkpoint:

• Header: Next step
• Question: How should we proceed?
• Options: Explore codebase, Research solutions, Check project history, Explore then research, Skip to approaches
• Allow Other: yes

Approach choice:

• Header: Approach
• Question: Which approach fits best?
• Options: Recommended option, alternative option, minimal/YAGNI option
• Allow Other: yes

Design validation:

• Header: Validate design
• Question: Does this section look right?
• Options: Yes continue, Needs changes, Go back, Stop here
• Allow Other: yes

Implementation handoff:

• Header: Next steps
• Question: What should happen next?
• Options: Create worktree, Create plan, Save design note, Done for now
• Allow Other: yes

Optional exploration

If the user chooses codebase exploration, run a bounded read-only scan. Prefer direct Read/Grep/Glob; use a subagent only for broad scans.

Prompt shape for a broad scan:

Quick scan only. Find project structure, relevant flows, conventions, integration points, and tests for: <idea>. Return 5 bullets with file paths. Do not edit.

If no relevant code appears, say no prior implementation found; do not fabricate patterns.

Optional research

If the user chooses research, use Perplexity or WebFetch with a scoped query. Summarize sourced patterns before proposing approaches. If live retrieval is unavailable, say so and continue from local context only.

Optional project history

If the user chooses history lookup, search claude-mem for topic keywords. Summarize prior decisions and known constraints. Do not treat memory as proof when repo files contradict it.

Capture rules

• For CONTEXT.md entries, ask for approval of the exact one-sentence definition before editing.
• For ADRs, require all three: hard to reverse, surprising without context, and a real trade-off.
• For design notes, write only concise Problem, Chosen approach, Trade-offs, Open questions, and Testing strategy.

Failure handling

• If the user asks for task sequencing, state that it is outside this skill's scope.
• If the user asks for generic technology research, route to researching-web.
• If the user asks for docs-only work, route to documenting-code.
• If the user stops mid-session, offer BRAINSTORM PAUSED or a short design note.

Execute this collaborative brainstorming workflow now