| name | discover-product |
| description | Runs Meridian product discovery — interviews, codebase context, and docs/discovery/product-brief.md before scope is locked. Use with /discover before or alongside init. |
| allowed-tools | Read, Glob, Grep, Bash, Edit, Write |
Discover product (Meridian PO)
Selective reading
| File | When to read |
|---|
.agent/references/templates/discovery-folder-guide.md | Mandatory before Write |
.agent/references/templates/init-interview-guide.md | When context thin — interview gate |
references/product-brief-template.md | Mandatory before Write |
docs/discovery/product-brief.md | Existing brief |
docs/inventory/as-is.md | Mode B — existing codebase |
docs/00_scope.md, docs/03_user_types.md | Avoid contradicting approved content |
When to trigger
- Vague product idea — "I want to build X"
- Before
/init-meridian on greenfield (recommended)
- After Mode B inventory — reconcile product intent with as-is
/discover workflow- Manager says discovery, product brief, PO, personas, jobs-to-be-done
Do not use for implementation, US, or architecture — route to correct workflow.
Modes
| Mode | Situation | Procedure |
|---|
| A — Greenfield | Idea, no or thin docs/ | Interview → write/update product-brief.md |
| B — Existing code | Code + optional inventory | Read repo + inventory → brief explains intent vs reality |
| C — Deepen | Brief or scope thin | Expand sections; resolve open questions |
If docs/ missing → create only docs/discovery/ + product-brief.md (minimal tree). Recommend /init-meridian next for full governance.
Procedure
- Read guides + template + existing artifacts.
- Detect mode A | B | C from repo and
$ARGUMENTS.
- Run Socratic questions (max 5) — skip answered items.
- Write or update
docs/discovery/product-brief.md from template.
- Mode B: fill Evidence with inventory/code pointers; mark assumptions.
- If
$ARGUMENTS contains promote and manager confirmed → draft updates to 00_scope.md / 03_user_types.md (stay draft; never approved).
update-decisions-log when product direction materially changes.
Promotion (optional)
When brief status is ready for scope and manager asks:
- Copy Problem, in/out, assumptions, risks →
00_scope.md sections (merge, do not duplicate epic bodies).
- Copy user table →
03_user_types.md profiles.
- Leave
product-brief.md as history — do not delete unless manager archives.
Validations before saving
- Problem and Users sections have real sentences
- Out of scope (candidates) non-empty
- Assumptions labeled where evidence weak
- No
EPIC-XX files created in this skill
Output
Discovery complete:
Mode: greenfield | existing | deepen
File: docs/discovery/product-brief.md
Status: draft | ready for scope
Open questions:
Epic candidates:
Next: /init-meridian | promote to 00_scope | /discover again | product-owner review
