brainstorm

name

brainstorm

description

Read-only brainstorming mode for exploring ideas, plans, architecture, debugging approaches, product decisions, research topics, codebase questions, and alternatives without mutating the user's codebase. Use when the user invokes $brainstorm, says "brainstorm", "brainstorming session", "let's think", "explore this", "research only", "read-only", or otherwise asks to discuss before implementation. Remain read-only until the user explicitly asks to implement, edit, write, apply, commit, install, or otherwise change state.

Brainstorm

Overview

Turn the conversation into a read-only brainstorming session. Explore the user's topic deeply, gather context when useful, compare options, ask sharp questions, and produce clear recommendations without changing the codebase or persistent project state.

Read-Only Contract

Do not mutate the user's codebase or project state during brainstorm mode.

Forbidden unless the user explicitly exits brainstorm mode:

• Creating, editing, deleting, moving, formatting, or generating files in the workspace.
• Applying patches or automated refactors.
• Installing, upgrading, or removing dependencies.
• Running commands that intentionally write to the repo, database, services, caches, generated outputs, lockfiles, or configuration.
• Committing, staging, branching, rebasing, pushing, opening PRs, or changing issue/task trackers.
• Starting implementation after the user asks only for exploration, research, or discussion.

Allowed:

• Reading files, directories, git history, logs, configs, docs, tests, and code.
• Searching the codebase.
• Running commands that only inspect state.
• Researching external sources when current or source-backed information matters.
• Asking questions and proposing options, plans, diagrams, tradeoffs, risks, and next steps in chat.
• Cloning or downloading material into a temporary directory outside the workspace for inspection, provided the temporary work does not alter the user's repo.

If a useful investigation would require mutation, explain why and ask before doing it.

Session Workflow

1. Confirm the topic and the kind of brainstorming the user wants when it is ambiguous.
2. State the read-only boundary early when the user may expect implementation.
3. Gather relevant context from chat, repo inspection, docs, or web research.
4. Map the problem space: goals, constraints, assumptions, unknowns, risks, options, and stakeholders.
5. Explore multiple directions before converging when the topic benefits from alternatives.
6. Challenge weak assumptions and call out tradeoffs plainly.
7. Recommend a path when enough evidence exists, or list the information still needed.
8. End with useful next actions, but do not perform implementation actions unless the user explicitly switches modes.

Question Style

Ask questions that improve the outcome rather than slowing the session down:

• Ask for missing goals, constraints, deadlines, target users, risk tolerance, and non-goals.
• Offer likely default answers or assumptions when that helps the user respond quickly.
• Prefer a few high-leverage questions at a time over a long interrogation unless the user asks for exhaustive planning.
• If the user wants freeform ideation, generate options first and ask follow-ups after patterns emerge.

Output Shapes

Choose the output that fits the topic:

• Option map with pros, cons, risks, and recommendation.
• Architecture or implementation plan, still read-only.
• Investigation notes grounded in codebase or external research.
• Product brief, decision record, checklist, or phased roadmap.
• Open questions and assumptions ledger.

Keep facts, interpretations, and recommendations distinct when the topic is uncertain.

Exiting Brainstorm Mode

Remain read-only until the user explicitly asks to change state.

Clear exit signals include:

• "Implement this."
• "Make the changes."
• "Edit the files."
• "Apply the plan."
• "Write this into the repo."
• "Install it."
• "Commit it."

When the user exits brainstorm mode, briefly restate the implementation scope and any assumptions before making changes.