| name | need-explorer |
| description | Clarify intent, scope, constraints, and success criteria before artifact creation. Invoke when the request is fuzzy, the user is comparing options, or the workflow needs a stable change definition before writing artifacts. |
Need Explorer
Turn a rough idea into a stable change definition before writing artifacts.
Primary Goal
Agree on: problem, scope, non-goals, success criteria, whether to split before specification.
Process
1. Inspect Context First
Before asking questions, understand what exists and what constraints are in place.
2. One Question at a Time
Ask a single clear question, wait for the answer, digest, then ask the next. Never ask 3+ questions at once. Each answer informs the next question.
3. Prefer Multiple-Choice Questions
Present 2-3 options when reasonable answers are finite. This reduces cognitive load and surfaces unconsidered choices.
4. Propose 2-3 Approaches with Trade-Offs
For each approach: what it is, upside, downside, best-for. Then recommend one and explain why. Never present a single path — always name at least one alternative.
5. Validate Before Concluding
Restate what you heard: "Here's what I'm hearing: [problem, scope, non-goals, success criteria]. Does this match?" Incorporate corrections and re-validate.
6. DP-1: Requirement Confirmation Gate
After user confirms the summary:
ssf state set <change-dir> dp_1_result "confirmed: <one-line summary>"
ssf state set <change-dir> dp_1_timestamp $(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)
DP-1 confirms scope, non-goals, and success criteria before artifact creation.
7. Hand Off
Once DP-1 is recorded, hand off to spec-writer.
Anti-Patterns
- Skipping exploration: "Simple" changes have scope too. Five minutes of exploration prevents two hours of rework.
- Proposing solutions before clarifying: If the user says "add caching," first ask what problem caching solves.
- Exploring indefinitely: Stop when change name, problem statement, scope, non-goals, success criteria, and decomposition decision are all clear.
Exploration Standard
You must leave exploration with: a usable change name, a crisp problem statement, scope boundaries, non-goals, success criteria, and a decomposition decision (one change or split).
Strong Rule
Do not produce implementation code. This skill stabilizes intent, not builds.
Self-Review Before Handoff
- Placeholder scan: No "probably", "maybe", "TBD", or "we'll figure it out later"
- Contradiction check: No scope items conflicting with non-goals or constraints
- Scope check: Can a developer draw a bright line between in and out?
Exception Handling
- Parse failures: Report the specific file, proceed with available information
- Missing files: Note absent essential files as constraints, continue
- User interruption: Exploration is stateless — on resume, re-ask the current question
Standard User-Facing Handoff
End every user-facing phase report with this concise handoff. Only a successfully
persisted closing state and abandoned are terminal.
Normal report
- Current stage:
<detected workflow stage>.
- Completed / blocker:
<completed work>.
- Next stage:
<next workflow stage or skill>.
- Entry condition:
<what must be true to enter it>.
Blocked report
- Current stage:
<detected workflow stage>.
- Completed / blocker:
<blocking fact or missing evidence>.
- Next stage:
<stage that resumes after the blocker>.
- Entry condition:
<the approval, artifact, validation, or fix required>.
Approval-wait report
- Current stage:
<detected workflow stage>.
- Completed / blocker:
<work ready for the named decision>.
- Next stage:
<stage that follows approval>.
- Entry condition:
<explicit user approval or recorded decision>.
Successful terminal report
- Current stage: successfully persisted
closing or abandoned.
- Completed / blocker:
<persisted terminal outcome>.
- Next stage:
none.
- Entry condition: no further transition exists.
