exploration

name	exploration
description	Exploration-mode prompt scaffold. Use when the option space isn't mapped yet — generate distinct alternatives, surface unknowns, challenge assumptions. The output is a list of options with evidence, not a recommendation. Invoke with /exploration.
lifecycle	experimental

Exploration Mode

Load the full template from ~/projects/animus/packages/forge/prompts/modes/exploration.md and use it as the structural contract for the output you produce.

Process

1. Gather INPUTS from the user. If any are missing, ask for them before proceeding. Do not guess. Required slots:

   • objective — what the user is trying to decide
   • context — known facts, non-negotiable constraints
   • assumptions — what the user currently believes (flag for challenge)
   • evidence base — docs, data, prior decisions to draw from
   • exclusions — already-rejected paths, out-of-scope options

2. Produce the output in the exact OUTPUT FORMAT specified in exploration.md:

   • Option table: id | name | premise | cheapest proof | biggest risk
   • Three highest-leverage unknowns (with cheap tests)
   • Three stated assumptions that may not hold (with tests)
   • One-paragraph synthesis of the option space

3. Honor the FAILURE CONDITIONS — before emitting, self-check:

   • Any two options that are variants of the same idea → collapse or replace
   • "It depends" without naming the variable → re-state explicitly
   • Recommending a winner → stop, you're in the wrong mode
   • No unknowns surfaced → suspicious, re-examine

Anti-pattern

Do not blend this with Evaluation mode. Exploration generates and names; it does not rank or decide. If the user wants a pick, they should invoke /evaluation on the output of this session.

Build-mode goal-loop — disengage

Exploration is the opposite of building. On entry, clear any active goal so the autonomous loop cannot fire during divergent thinking — delete the .goal-active sentinel at the repo root if present:

root=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null) && [ -n "$root" ] && rm -f "$root/.goal-active"

Scoring

If the user wants to score this output against the personal-quality rubric, suggest:

animus-forge eval run <suite> --rubric personal-quality --prompt-version exploration-v1

Weights that matter most for Exploration outputs: precision (specific options, not generic), evidence_quality (options tied to inputs), actionability (each unknown has a cheap test).