idea

name	idea
description	Captures ideas into structured nuggets for later evaluation. Use when the user says "I have an idea" or "note this down." Also activate when a specific actionable concept crystallizes during conversation. For reviewing and processing the intake queue (sparks + raw ideas), use triage instead. Not for deep exploration (use brainstorm) or shaping (use shape).
version	2.0.0-alpha.5

Idea

Capture ideas quickly with minimal friction.

Input: $ARGUMENTS

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Contents

• Critical Rules
• Verification
• Quick Reference
• Purpose
• Process
• Idea Lifecycle
• Guardrails
• Related Skills

Critical Rules

• Speed over completeness -- capture quickly, shape later
• 2-3 questions maximum -- don't turn capture into an interview
• Infer metadata automatically -- don't ask for tags, title, or links
• One idea per captured row/artifact -- keep them atomic
• No shaping here -- that's what /shape is for
• Capture through loaf idea capture --title ... when SQLite state is initialized; log notable context with loaf journal log

Verification

• Idea appears in loaf idea list / loaf idea show
• Status is open/raw according to the active backend
• If promoted from a spark, loaf spark promote records the relationship

Quick Reference

Status	Meaning
raw	Just captured, unprocessed
shaping	Being developed via /shape or /brainstorm
shaped	Converted to SPEC, idea file archived
archived	Decided not to pursue, kept for reference

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Purpose

Ideas are raw nuggets -- unprocessed, unshaped, but worth remembering. The goal is speed of capture, not thoroughness. Shape later via /shape.

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Process

Step 1: Parse Input

If $ARGUMENTS contains the idea, capture directly.

If $ARGUMENTS is empty, ask at most 2-3 questions: core idea, problem/opportunity, immediate constraints.

Step 2: Capture Idea

Use the CLI capture path:

loaf idea capture --title "..."

In SQLite-backed mode, the row is stored in SQLite and no .agents/ideas/ markdown file is created. The idea template is retained only for markdown-only compatibility and historical restore review.

Step 3: Create and Announce

1. Generate timestamp: date -u +"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ"
2. Run loaf idea capture --title "..." with the inferred title
3. Announce the captured idea alias with next steps

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Idea Lifecycle

raw -> shaping -> shaped (becomes SPEC) -> archived

Status	Meaning
raw	Just captured, unprocessed
shaping	Being developed via /shape or /brainstorm
shaped	Converted to SPEC, idea file archived
archived	Decided not to pursue, kept for reference

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Guardrails

1. Speed over completeness -- capture quickly, shape later
2. 2-3 questions max -- don't turn this into an interview
3. Infer, don't ask -- metadata should be automatic
4. One idea per captured row/artifact -- keep them atomic
5. No shaping here -- that's what /shape is for

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Related Skills

• triage -- Review and process the intake queue (sparks + raw ideas)
• shape -- Develop an idea into a SPEC
• brainstorm -- Deep thinking on an idea or problem space
• research -- Investigate before capturing