| name | new-decision |
| description | Scaffold a new decision file with the canonical structure — title, context, options, constraints, stakeholders, timeline, open questions — ready to feed to /decision:analyze. Use this when the user describes a decision verbally rather than handing over an existing decision file. |
New Decision
Creates a structured decision document the framework analyses can operate on.
Procedure
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Resolve output location. From $DATA_ROOT/config.json, read outputs.mode and outputs.local_root (or outputs.repo_path). The decision file goes to <root>/queue/<YYYY-MM-DD>-<slug>.md until it's processed (then analyze will move it into a workspace).
If the queue directory doesn't exist, create it.
-
Interview the user. Walk through:
- Title — short, decision-shaped ("Switch payments processor", "Take the contract role").
- Context — what's the situation, why is this decision live now?
- Options — list 2-5 concrete options. Reject "do something or don't" framings — push for at least 3 distinct paths.
- Constraints — hard requirements (budget, timeline, ethical, contractual, capacity).
- Stakeholders — who's affected, who has influence, who has veto.
- Timeline — when does this need to be decided? When do consequences land?
- Open questions — what's still unknown that the user wishes they knew.
Ask one section at a time. Don't fire all six questions at once.
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Write the decision file:
# Decision: <Title>
**Date drafted:** <DD/MM/YY>
## Context
...
## Options
1. **<Option A name>** — <one-line>. <expanded>.
2. **<Option B name>** — ...
3. **<Option C name>** — ...
## Constraints
- ...
## Stakeholders
- ...
## Timeline
- Decision deadline: ...
- Consequences land: ...
## Open questions
- ...
-
Confirm the file path and offer to immediately run /decision:analyze <path>.
Notes
- A decision file with fewer than 2 options can still be analyzed (e.g., "should I do X or not"), but flag this — many frameworks degrade when there's no comparator.
- Keep options balanced in detail. If one option has a paragraph and the others have a sentence, the analysis will be biased.