| name | drop-idea |
| description | Kill an idea, record it in history/dropped-history.md, move lifecycle artifacts to repo archive/ when present, update tracker and wiki. Use when the user drops, kills, or abandons an idea, or says no-go. |
Drop Idea
Use this skill when the user wants to kill an idea and record it in history/dropped-history.md, including archive handling and durable wiki notes when they matter.
Do not use Trello. Only use files in this repo.
Follow SYSTEM_OVERVIEW.md (idea statuses, archive rules), IDEA_LIFECYCLE.md (Moving to On Hold or Dropped), and the target initiative’s ideas.md.
Inputs
Resolve from the user and files:
- Idea name (required).
- Reason (required). One to three sentences for the Dropped table (why it stopped, decision basis).
- Initiative and Project if given. If the name is ambiguous, stop and ask once.
- Date (optional). Default today in
YYYY-MM-DD.
When no idea folder exists
If there is only an ideas.md row and no initiatives/[Initiative]/[Project]/[Idea]/ folder:
- Remove the row from its Project: section.
- Append a row to
history/dropped-history.md with Idea, Project, Date, Reason.
- Remove any matching row from Awaiting your approval in
DASHBOARD.md.
- Set Last initiative work when this session reflects real progress on the initiative.
- Skip filesystem archive steps unless the user asks to retain notes elsewhere.
- Summarize what you changed.
Full workflow (idea folder or artifacts exist)
Run in order.
1. Locate and verify
- Open
initiatives/[Initiative]/ideas.md.
- Find the idea under the correct Project: section.
- Confirm the user intends Dropped, not Done or On Hold. For a pause without killing, use an On Hold note in the active row instead of this skill.
2. Plan the archive bundle
- Inner folder name matches the existing
initiatives/[Initiative]/[Project]/[Idea]/ folder and the Idea column.
- Bundle path at repo root:
archive/{Prefix} - {Idea} - {YYYY-MM-DD}/ with the same Prefix rules as complete-idea (match existing initiative bundles in archive/ first).
- Add
README.md at the bundle root. State initiative, project, idea, archived date, that the project folder may remain for other ideas, and list Contents. Link any new wiki page that captures the durable narrative (for example a strategy one-pager). Follow the pattern of any existing bundles in archive/ when they exist.
3. Move lifecycle artifacts and outputs
- Move
initiatives/[Initiative]/[Project]/[Idea]/ into archive/.../[Idea]/ with a git-aware move when possible. This includes the outputs/ subfolder if one exists - finished deliverables move with the work that produced them.
- Remove the idea row from the active Project: table.
- If the user wants to keep a lightweight pitch or lesson in the wiki, add or update the right domain page before or after the move, and point the Dropped Reason and bundle README at that page.
4. Record Dropped
Add a row to history/dropped-history.md:
| Column | Content |
|---|
| Idea | Exact name |
| Project | Exact project |
| Date | YYYY-MM-DD |
| Reason | Clear rationale, plus links to archive bundle and any wiki page |
Keep ideas.md ## Dropped as a link-only section. Do not add long dropped rows to ideas.md.
5. Dashboard and links
- DASHBOARD.md - Remove any Awaiting your approval row for this idea.
- Broken links - Fix tracker links,
ideas.md links, and wiki links that still pointed at the old on-disk path. Point them at the archive bundle or new wiki pages.
6. Wiki
- log.md - Append a dated update entry describing the drop, archive path, and any wiki page added for lessons or pitch material.
- Domain pages - Update
market/, strategy/, or other domains when the drop changes assumptions or adds a named decision. Never delete pages. Retire obsolete wiki pages via wiki/.archive/ per SYSTEM_OVERVIEW.md if needed.
- index.md - Add or adjust index rows when new pages or archive pointers should be discoverable.
7. Tracker date
Update Last initiative work for that initiative when appropriate.
Completion summary (return to user)
- Idea and initiative.
- Short restatement of Reason as recorded.
- Archive bundle path, or that no folder was archived.
- Confirmation the approval queue row was cleared if it existed.
- Notable wiki updates.
Guardrails
- Dropped ideas stay on file for reference in
history/dropped-history.md. Do not erase history without explicit user request beyond normal archive moves.
- Keep Project and Idea names aligned with folders and tables.
- Do not use this skill for Done (use complete-idea) or for On Hold (keep the row and add a pause note per
IDEA_LIFECYCLE.md).