exploration-plan

name	exploration-plan
description	Structure work into plans and Beads. Three modes: plan from brainstorm, plan from scratch, or create Beads from existing plan.

/exploration-plan - Planning & Beads Creation

Turn ideas into executable plans, and plans into Beads. This skill handles the full journey from exploration to tracked work items.

The Process

1. Ask which mode - Use AskUserQuestion with the three options
2. Execute the selected mode
3. After creating plan.md - Always offer to create Beads

Mode Selection

Which planning mode?
  • Plan from brainstorm  → reads ideas/<topic>/spec.md
  • Plan from scratch     → start with just an idea
  • Create Beads from plan → reads planned/<topic>/plan.md

---

Mode 1: Plan from Brainstorm

Input: exploration/ideas/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>/spec.md Output: plan.md in same folder, then move to planned/

Steps

1. List available explorations in exploration/ideas/
2. Confirm selection with user
3. Read spec.md - Form your own view first
   • Fallback: If spec.md not found, check for legacy exploration.md
4. Ask to convene council - "Ready to send planning agents?"
5. Spawn council - 3 agents analyze sequentially (see Council section)
6. Synthesize - Combine your analysis + council input
7. Present for approval - Feature structure, sequence, implementation approach
8. Write plan.md - In the same folder
9. Move folder - ideas/<topic>/ → planned/<topic>/
10. Offer Beads - "Create these as Beads now?"

If user says yes to Beads, execute Mode 3.

---

Mode 2: Plan from Scratch

Input: User describes idea Output: planned/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>/plan.md

Steps

1. Discuss the idea - Ask clarifying questions (use AskUserQuestion)
2. Ask to convene council - Same as Mode 1
3. Spawn council - 3 agents analyze sequentially
4. Synthesize - Combine your analysis + council input
5. Present for approval - Feature structure, sequence, implementation approach
6. Create folder - exploration/planned/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>/
7. Write plan.md - No exploration.md (that's fine)
8. Offer Beads - "Create these as Beads now?"

If user says yes to Beads, execute Mode 3.

---

Mode 3: Create Beads from Plan

Input: exploration/planned/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>/plan.md Output: Beads (feature + tasks), move folder to mission/staged/

Steps

1. List available plans in exploration/planned/

2. Confirm selection with user

3. Read plan.md - Parse the feature and tasks

4. Show what will be created - List feature name + task names

5. Create Beads:

   # Get active epic
   EPIC_ID=$(bd list -t epic --status open --json | jq -r '.[0].id')
   
   # Create feature under epic
   bd create "Feature title" -t feature --parent "$EPIC_ID" -p 2
   
   # Get the feature ID just created
   FEATURE_ID=$(bd list -t feature --status open --json | jq -r '.[-1].id')
   
   # Create tasks under feature with descriptions from plan.md
   bd create "Task 1" -t task --parent "$FEATURE_ID" -p 1 -d "$(cat <<'EOF'
   **Goal:** [One sentence goal from plan]
   
   **Files:**
   - [file list from plan]
   
   **Steps:**
   1. [steps from plan]
   
   **Tests:**
   - [ ] [test criteria from plan]
   EOF
   )"
   
   bd create "Task 2" -t task --parent "$FEATURE_ID" -p 2 -d "$(cat <<'EOF'
   **Goal:** [One sentence goal from plan]
   
   **Files:**
   - [file list from plan]
   
   **Steps:**
   1. [steps from plan]
   
   **Tests:**
   - [ ] [test criteria from plan]
   EOF
   )"
   
   # Set up dependencies if specified in plan
   bd dep add <task-id> <depends-on-id>
   
   bd sync
   

   Description format: Extract from each ### Task: section in plan.md:

   • **Goal:** from task's Goal line
   • **Files:** from task's Files line
   • **Steps:** from task's Steps list
   • **Tests:** from task's Tests checklist

6. Rename and move folder - Use the feature number (e.g., 1.5 from space-agents-1.5) instead of the date: planned/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>/ → mission/staged/<feature-num>-<topic>/

7. Confirm - "Feature ready. Run /mission to begin execution."

---

The Council

Advisors, not decision makers. HOUSTON synthesizes and can override.

• space-agents:plan-task-planner - Breaks feature into tasks
• space-agents:plan-sequencer - Analyzes dependencies, execution order
• space-agents:plan-implementer - Creates TDD task breakdown per task

Spawn all 3 sequentially (NOT as background tasks). Wait for each agent to complete and return results before spawning the next. HOUSTON must have all council input before synthesizing.

---

plan.md Structure

Use explicit hierarchy that maps to Beads:

# Feature: [Feature Name]

**Goal:** [One sentence description]

## Overview

[Context, motivation, what this achieves]

## Tasks

### Task: [Task 1 Name]

**Goal:** [One sentence]
**Files:** [Create/Modify/Test]
**Depends on:** [None or other task names]

**Steps:**
1. [Step description]
2. [Step description]

**Tests:**
- [ ] [Observable behaviour or outcome to verify]
- [ ] [Another verifiable criterion]

### Task: [Task 2 Name]

**Goal:** [One sentence]
**Files:** [Create/Modify/Test]
**Depends on:** Task 1 Name

**Steps:**
1. [Step description]
2. [Step description]

**Tests:**
- [ ] [Observable behaviour or outcome to verify]
- [ ] [Another verifiable criterion]

## Sequence

1. Task 1 (no dependencies)
2. Task 2 (depends on Task 1)
3. Task 3 (can run parallel with Task 2)

## Success Criteria

- [ ] [Criterion 1]
- [ ] [Criterion 2]

Parsing rules:

• # Feature: → Creates Beads feature
• ### Task: → Creates Beads task
• **Depends on:** → Sets up bd dep add
• **Tests:** → Included in task description for Builder/Inspector

---

Folder Lifecycle

exploration/
  ideas/       ← /brainstorm creates spec.md here
  planned/     ← /plan creates plan.md, moves from ideas/

mission/
  staged/      ← /plan creates Beads, moves from exploration/planned/
  complete/    ← /land moves here when feature closes

---

Remember

• Always use AskUserQuestion for mode selection and approvals
• Council are advisors - synthesize their input, don't just accept it
• After writing plan.md, always offer to create Beads
• Move folders at each transition
• Beads auto-generates IDs