expand

name	expand
description	Use when asked to expand a stub or sparse note in the Obsidian vault through a targeted interview process. Reads the note, identifies gaps, asks batched questions, then rewrites the note in place with a structured expanded version. Invoke with /expand [note name or path].

Skill: /expand [note name]

Expand a stub vault note into a structured document through a targeted interview — questions batched by theme, answers drive structure, unresolved items become open questions.

Don't: invoke if the note doesn't exist — create a stub first. Don't invent answers to unresolved questions — carry them forward as open questions in the note.

Steps

1. Find and read the note

   • Search the vault: obsidian search query='[note name]'
   • Read the full contents: obsidian read file='[Note Name]'
   • If not found: stop and tell Shane to create a stub note first

2. Analyze gaps

   • Identify what's present: explicit claims, named concepts, examples, open questions
   • Identify what's missing: definitions, examples, edge cases, stakeholders, success criteria, failure modes, intended audience, next actions
   • Note which gaps are blockers (can't structure the doc without them) vs. enriching (nice to have)

3. Ask the first batch of targeted questions

   • Group questions by theme (e.g. "On the core concept:", "On the audience:", "On failure modes:")
   • Ask 4–6 questions max per round — don't firehose
   • Lead with blockers; save enriching questions for later rounds
   • Wait for responses before proceeding

4. Ask follow-up rounds as needed

   • After each response, assess remaining gaps
   • Continue until enough is known to write a coherent structured document
   • Flag when you have enough: "I think I have enough to expand this — want me to proceed?"

5. Rewrite the note in place

   • Use obsidian create name='[Note Name]' content='...' silent to overwrite the note
   • Note: obsidian CLI create overwrites if the note exists. If it doesn't support overwrite, fall back to the Write tool at the full vault path (this is an accepted exception — no obsidian CLI command can overwrite arbitrary content)
   • Structure the expanded note with:
     • A clear title (H1)
     • A brief framing statement (what this is, who it's for)
     • Sections derived from the interview — let content dictate structure, don't force a template
     • An Open Questions section at the bottom for anything unresolved
   • Preserve any original language worth keeping; don't sanitize Shane's voice out of it

6. Confirm completion

   • Tell Shane the note has been updated
   • Highlight any open questions that are load-bearing (i.e. will block the next step if unresolved)

Interview Principles

• Ask about the why before the how — motivation and audience unlock most structural decisions
• When an example exists (like a PA flow or AGENTS.md), use it as an anchor: "Is X like [example], or different in this way?"
• If an answer reveals a new gap, pursue it in the same round rather than waiting
• Carry unresolved items forward as open questions in the note — don't invent answers

Notes

• This skill is note-targeted. The note must exist before invoking — a stub is enough.
• The expanded note replaces the stub in place; no new file is created unless Shane asks
• If the note is already well-developed, say so and ask what specifically needs expanding