discovery

name	discovery
description	Pre-requirements product discovery gate (roadmap check, research loop, feature brief)
version	1.0.0
depends_on	@feature v8
changes	[{"Initial release":"4 phases, 3 routing tracks (Obvious / Competitive / Novel)"}]

@discovery - Product Discovery Gate

Validate before specifying. Answer "should we build this?" before "how should we build this?"

---

EXECUTE THIS NOW

When user invokes @discovery "feature description" or when @feature invokes it (unless --quick):

Phase 1: Roadmap Pre-Check

1. Extract 3-5 high-signal keywords from the feature description (nouns + domain verbs — NOT generic terms like "add", "update", "implement").
2. If memory search returns > 10 results, reduce to 2 most specific terms.

sdp memory stats   # warn if index > 24h old
sdp memory search "<keyword1> <keyword2> <keyword3>"

3. Analyze results for:

   • Features in ROADMAP.md covering same domain terms
   • Workstream files with matching Scope Files or goals
   • Existing docs/drafts/idea-*.md that cover similar territory

4. Present Overlap Report (HIGH and MEDIUM confidence only; log LOW to file):

   Found N potentially related items:
   [HIGH] Rework Loop — covers [summary]. Similarity reason: [1 sentence]
   [MEDIUM] 00-008-02 — touches [same module]. Overlap type: [data model / API / user flow]
   

5. User resolution (single question):

   • A) These are different — proceed to Phase 2
   • B) This extends existing workstream — incorporate and modify
   • C) This supersedes existing workstream — flag for later review (propose: set status to 'deferred')
   • D) Show me more detail before deciding

Gate: Proceed only after user resolves.

Mode --quiet: Phase 1 only, then stop. Output: overlap report only.

---

Phase 2: Signal Check (~30 seconds)

1. Ask 2 questions:

   • "What user problem does this solve and for whom?"
   • "Do you know of existing solutions (libraries, tools, competitors)?"

2. Run web search: "{feature_name} existing solutions 2026"

3. Route to track:

Condition	Track
User answers both confidently AND search finds ≥1 clear prior art	OBVIOUS
User answers but search shows competitive landscape	COMPETITIVE
User uncertain on Q1 OR search shows no clear prior art	NOVEL

4. Soft override for OBVIOUS: "You're on the Obvious track. Type 'research' to switch to Competitive."

Mode --skip-research: Phase 1+2 only, then stop. Output: overlap report + route decision.

---

Phase 3: Product Research (track-dependent)

OBVIOUS Track

• Skip to @idea --quiet (invoked by @feature).
• No discovery brief generated.

COMPETITIVE Track (single research pass)

1. Web searches:

   "{feature_name} best practices {year}"
   "{feature_category} open source alternatives"
   "how does [top competitor] implement {feature_name}"
   

2. Synthesize:

   • Alternatives comparison table (≥3 alternatives)
   • Build-vs-adopt recommendation with rationale
   • Primary differentiator in one sentence

3. Ask 3 targeted questions:

   • Differentiation (what makes yours different?)
   • Constraints (what rules out the adopt option?)
   • Must-haves vs nice-to-haves

4. Convergence criteria (all 3 must be met):

   • ✓ ≥3 alternatives identified
   • ✓ Build-vs-adopt decision stated
   • ✓ Primary differentiator articulated in one sentence

NOVEL Track (iterative loop, max 3 iterations)

Each iteration targets one of Cagan's four risks:

Iteration	Expert Role	Risk	Web Search Focus
1	Product PM	Value risk — is this a real problem worth solving?	user pain points, demand signals
2	Tech Lead	Feasibility risk — can we build this well?	technical patterns, implementation complexity
3	DevRel/Strategist	Strategic fit risk — does this belong in the product?	roadmap alignment, user segment fit

Per iteration: form hypothesis → 1-2 web searches → simulate expert (use @think internally) → ask user ONE clarifying question → update risk score.

JTBD Convergence: Loop stops when the user can articulate the feature in Jobs-to-be-Done format: "When [situation], I want to [motivation], so I can [outcome]" AND all 3 risk scores ≥ 3/5 (total ≥ 9/15).

---

Phase 4: Feature Brief (COMPETITIVE and NOVEL tracks only)

Generate docs/drafts/discovery-{slug}.md:

## Feature Brief: {Name}

### Opportunity Statement
When [situation], [user segment] want to [motivation], so they can [outcome].

### Market Context
- Existing alternatives: [table]
- Build rationale: [why build vs adopt]
- Differentiation: [one sentence]

### Validated Assumptions
- Value risk: [score]/5 — [evidence]
- Feasibility risk: [score]/5 — [evidence]
- Strategic fit: [score]/5 — [evidence]

### Open Questions
- [Q1]: [answer or "unresolved"]

### Research Context (for @idea)
- Alternatives: [list]
- Key constraints: [list]
- Pre-answered cycles: [Vision ✓, Problem ✓, ...]

---

Modes

Mode	Phases	Output
Default	1–4	Full discovery brief
--quiet	1 only	Overlap report
--skip-research	1+2	Overlap report + route decision

---

When to Use

• Standalone: @discovery "auth" — pre-check only, produces discovery brief, stops
• Via @feature: @feature "auth" invokes @discovery before @idea (unless --quick)

---

Output

Primary: docs/drafts/discovery-{slug}.md (COMPETITIVE / NOVEL tracks)

Secondary: Overlap report (presented to user); route decision (OBVIOUS / COMPETITIVE / NOVEL)

---

Next Steps

• OBVIOUS: @feature continues to @idea --quiet
• COMPETITIVE / NOVEL: @feature passes discovery brief to @idea with --spec docs/drafts/discovery-{slug}.md

---

See Also

• @feature - Orchestrator that invokes @discovery
• @idea - Requirements gathering (receives discovery output as --spec)
• @think - Internal expert simulation for NOVEL track