brainstorming

name	brainstorming
description	Collaborative design refinement that transforms rough ideas into fully-formed specifications through Socratic questioning. Explores alternatives, validates incrementally, and presents designs in digestible chunks for feedback. Use before writing code or implementation plans when requirements are unclear or multiple approaches exist. Do NOT use when requirements are already well-defined, you're implementing a known pattern, or making small changes - proceed directly to implementation instead.
inputs	[{"from":"any","field":"topic","required":false}]
outputs	[{"field":"design_document","type":"file_path"},{"field":"github_issue","type":"issue_number"}]
next_skills	["pop-writing-plans","pop-subagent-driven"]
workflow	{"id":"brainstorming","name":"Brainstorming Workflow","version":1,"description":"Transform rough ideas into fully-formed designs","steps":[{"id":"github_check","description":"Check for existing related work in GitHub","type":"skill","skill":"pop-knowledge-lookup","next":"existing_work_decision"},{"id":"existing_work_decision","description":"Decide how to proceed with existing work","type":"user_decision","question":"Found existing work. How should we proceed?","header":"Existing","options":"[Truncated]","next_map":"[Truncated]"},{"id":"gather_context","description":"Understand the idea through questions","type":"agent","agent":"code-explorer","next":"approach_decision"},{"id":"approach_decision","description":"Choose implementation approach","type":"user_decision","question":"Which approach should we take?","header":"Approach","options":"[Truncated]","next_map":"[Truncated]"},{"id":"present_design","description":"Present design in sections for validation","type":"skill","skill":"pop-auto-docs","next":"next_step_decision"},{"id":"next_step_decision","description":"Decide what to do after design","type":"user_decision","question":"Design complete. What's next?","header":"Next Step","options":"[Truncated]","next_map":"[Truncated]"},{"id":"create_plan","description":"Generate implementation plan","type":"skill","skill":"pop-writing-plans","next":"complete"},{"id":"create_issue","description":"Create GitHub issue from design","type":"skill","skill":"pop-research-capture","next":"complete"},{"id":"complete","description":"Brainstorming workflow complete","type":"terminal"}]}

Brainstorming Ideas Into Designs

Overview

Help turn ideas into fully formed designs and specs through natural collaborative dialogue.

Start by understanding the current project context, then ask questions one at a time to refine the idea. Once you understand what you're building, present the design in small sections (200-300 words), checking after each section whether it looks right so far.

Announce at start: "I'm using the brainstorming skill to refine this idea into a design."

Step 0: GitHub-First Check (Required)

BEFORE brainstorming, verify this work hasn't been done or planned:

1. Search GitHub Issues

# Search for existing/related issues
gh issue list --search "<topic keywords>" --state all --json number,title,state --limit 10

2. Search Existing Skills and Code

# Search for related skills
grep -r "<keywords>" packages/plugin/skills/ --include="SKILL.md" -l

# Search for related utilities
grep -r "<keywords>" packages/plugin/hooks/utils/ --include="*.py" -l

3. Check Upstream Context

# Check if another skill passed context to us
from popkit_shared.utils.skill_context import load_skill_context

ctx = load_skill_context()
if ctx and ctx.previous_output:
    # Use existing context instead of re-asking
    topic = ctx.previous_output.get("topic")
    existing_decisions = ctx.shared_decisions

4. Present Findings via AskUserQuestion

If related issues or code found:

Use AskUserQuestion tool with:
- question: "Found existing work related to '<topic>'. How should we proceed?"
- header: "Existing"
- options:
  - label: "Use existing"
    description: "Build on what's already there"
  - label: "Enhance"
    description: "Extend existing with new features"
  - label: "Start fresh"
    description: "Create new (explain why existing doesn't fit)"
- multiSelect: false

Only proceed to brainstorming after completing this check.

User Interaction Pattern