Brainstorming

Run before writing-plans. Goal: surface the right approach before committing to it.

Phase 1: Socratic Questioning (max 5 questions)

Ask questions that reveal hidden requirements or constraints:

• "What happens when [edge case]?"
• "What's the most important constraint — speed, reliability, or simplicity?"
• "What would make this solution a failure?"
• "Is there an existing pattern in the codebase we should follow?"
• "Who is the user and what do they actually need?"

If the user uses project-specific terms, check .ohc/PROJECT.md first. Also read optional domain docs (CONTEXT.md / CONTEXT-MAP.md) when present. If they attach outside authoritative docs in non-OHC layouts, run document-intake so naming aligns with glossary rules in skills/writing-plans/references/domain-docs.md. For greenfield framing, optionally use references/product-brief-template.md. Sharpen overloaded terms before designing.

Clarity Scoring Rubric

Before brainstorming, internally score the user's initial request:

• Vague (0-25%) → Need 3+ clarifying questions.
• Unclear (25-50%) → Need 1-2 clarifying questions.
• Clear (50-75%) → Confirm understanding, proceed with 0-1 questions.
• Precise (75-100%) → Skip questions, go straight to Phase 2.

Stop asking questions when the request reaches Clear (50-75%) or higher. You must understand the problem well enough to design for it.

Phase 2: Idea Expansion

Generate 3 approaches. Go broad first — don't self-censor. Include at least one "boring but reliable" and one "creative but risky" approach.

## Approach A: [Name] — [simple/fast/scalable/etc]
Description: [2 sentences]
Pros: [2-3 bullets]
Cons: [2-3 bullets]
Best when: [conditions]
Estimate: Xh

## Approach B: [Name]
...

## Recommendation: [A/B/C]
[2-3 sentences explaining why this fits the current situation]

Phase 3: Confirmation

Present to user. Get explicit confirmation before moving to writing-plans. "Does this match what you were thinking? Any constraints I'm missing?"

See references/brainstorm-formats.md for alternative formats. See references/domain-docs.md for glossary and ADR-aware brainstorming.