| name | idsk - Ideas |
| description | Procedure for working with ideas. Captures the idea precisely, assesses novelty and feasibility, identifies the core insight, finds connections, and determines next steps. |
| output | {"format":"prose"} |
Ideas
Input: $ARGUMENTS
Step 1: Capture the Idea Precisely
Write the idea in one clear sentence. If you can't, it's not clear enough yet.
THE IDEA: [One sentence — no jargon, no hand-waving]
LONGER VERSION: [2-3 sentences if the one-liner loses important nuance]
ORIGIN: [Where did this idea come from? What triggered it?]
Step 2: Assess Novelty
Is this actually new, or a rediscovery?
NOVELTY CHECK:
- Has this been tried before? [yes / no / unsure]
- If yes: [by whom, what happened]
- What's different this time? [new technology, new context, new angle]
- Is the novelty in the idea itself or in its application? [idea / application / combination]
NOVELTY RATING: [Truly novel / New combination / New application / Rediscovery / Already exists]
If already exists: that's fine. Understanding prior art makes the idea stronger. Note what exists and continue.
Step 3: Assess Feasibility
FEASIBILITY CHECK:
- What would it take to try this? [resources, time, skills]
- What's the biggest obstacle? [technical, social, economic, regulatory]
- Is the obstacle solvable? [yes, with effort / maybe / probably not]
- Smallest possible test: [how to validate with minimum investment]
FEASIBILITY RATING: [Easy to try / Moderate effort / Hard but possible / Currently infeasible]
Step 4: Identify the Core Insight
Strip away the implementation. What's the underlying insight?
CORE INSIGHT: [The fundamental observation or principle behind the idea]
WHY IT MATTERS: [What changes if this insight is true]
WHAT IT DEPENDS ON: [Key assumption that must hold]
The core insight is often more valuable than the specific idea. It can generate multiple implementations.
Step 5: Find Connections
CONNECTS TO:
- [Related idea, domain, or trend 1] — connection: [how they relate]
- [Related idea, domain, or trend 2] — connection: [how they relate]
- [Related idea, domain, or trend 3] — connection: [how they relate]
STRENGTHENED BY: [What other ideas or trends make this one stronger]
THREATENED BY: [What developments would make this idea irrelevant]
Step 6: Determine Next Step
THE IDEA IS: [Worth pursuing / Worth developing / Worth sharing / Worth shelving]
RECOMMENDED NEXT STEP:
| Verdict | Next Step |
|---|
| Worth pursuing | Define smallest test and run it |
| Worth developing | Flesh out the details, find collaborators |
| Worth sharing | Write it up, get feedback from [specific audience] |
| Worth shelving | Record it clearly, revisit when [condition] changes |
SPECIFIC NEXT ACTION: [One concrete thing to do with this idea]
Integration
Use with:
/vldt -> Validate the idea's core assumptions/plsk -> Turn the idea into a plan/bldk -> Build a prototype to test the idea/thnk -> Choose the right analytical lens for the idea
