Brainstorming Skill

This skill is a required step before any creative work, transforming ideas into complete design specifications through collaborative dialogue.

Core Principles

Design First

Before user approval of the design document, do NOT:

• Invoke any implementation skills
• Write any code
• Set up project scaffolding
• Take any implementation actions

Session State Management

Use a unified session state file to track progress:

• Path: design/.session-state.md
• Template: references/session-state-template.md

When to Operate:

• Skill activation → Create state file
• After user confirmation → Update state file
• At the start of each dialogue round → Read state file to restore context
• After each phase completion → Update state file

Termination Condition

The only way to terminate this skill is to invoke the writing-plan skill and pass the specification document path.

Workflow

Phase 1: Explore Background

Goal: Understand current project status and assess requirement scope.

Actions:

1. Invoke project-context skill to get user profile
2. Read project context (if exists): design/context/project-context.md
3. Check project file structure
4. Assess if requirements involve multiple independent subsystems
5. Proactively update user profile (if new preferences or technical background identified)

Scope Check:

• If request involves multiple independent subsystems, assist user in breaking down into sub-projects
• Each sub-project undergoes brainstorming independently

Completion Criteria: Project tech stack and existing structure understood, requirement scope confirmed, user profile updated (if changed)

Phase 2: Confirm Requirements

Goal: Understand goals, constraints, and success criteria one by one.

Rules:

• Ask only one question per message
• Prefer multiple-choice format

Core Question List (in order):

Completion Criteria: Goal positioning clear, constraints identified, success criteria verifiable

Phase 3: Solution Selection

Goal: Provide 2-3 different solutions with trade-off analysis.

Actions:

1. Propose 2-3 different solutions
2. Explain pros and cons of each solution
3. Provide recommended solution with reasoning

Completion Criteria: User has selected a solution

Reference: references/tech-selection-guide.md

Phase 4: Design Document

Goal: Write validated design into specification document.

Actions:

1. Create specification document: design/specs/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>-design.md
2. Include all confirmed content
3. Ensure no TODOs, TBDs, or placeholders

Document Structure:

Completion Criteria: Document written to specified path, no placeholder content

Reference: references/spec-template.md

Phase 5: Handover

Goal: Obtain user approval, invoke writing-plan skill.

Actions:

1. Present specification document path to user
2. Request user review and confirmation
3. If user approves, invoke writing-plan skill

Standard Phrase:

"The specification document has been written and submitted to <path>. Please review it. Once confirmed, I will begin creating the implementation plan."

Invocation Format:

Invoke writing-plan skill, specification document path: <path>

Termination: After this phase completes, this skill ends.

Reference Guide

FAQ

User insists on skipping design and implementing directly?

Response:

"I understand you want to move quickly. The design document can be brief, but it needs to be documented and approved by you. This ensures we have consensus on the goals and avoids rework later."

What if the project scope is too large?

Handling:

1. Mark as multi-subsystem project
2. Assist user in breaking down into independent sub-projects
3. Start brainstorming for the first sub-project
4. Each sub-project goes through specification → planning → implementation cycle independently

How to recover after dialogue interruption?

Handling:

1. Read session state file design/.session-state.md
2. Continue execution based on "Next Step"