| name | question-ladder |
| description | Use when uncertainty remains and the minimum useful sequence of questions should be asked. |
question-ladder
Lifecycle stage: INTAKE
Trigger
Use when missing answers block product, design, or engineering decisions.
When not to use
Do not use when this trigger is absent; choose the command or skill that owns the requested state, artifact, and verification gate.
Inputs
- User request or current artifact.
- Known constraints and context.
- Relevant evidence or source links, if available.
- Current Agent Brain state.
Procedure
- State the current state and target artifact.
- Identify missing blockers and ask at most three blocking questions.
- Separate facts, assumptions, hypotheses, and open questions.
- Apply the anti-rationalization table below.
- Produce the required artifact: Open Questions plus assumptions.
- Add evidence, risks, decision, and next state.
Anti-Rationalization
| Shortcut | Rebuttal |
|---|
| "This is obvious." | Write the assumption and evidence. If you cannot, it is not obvious. |
| "We can do this later." | If the missing step changes the decision, do it now or state the risk. |
| "The user wants speed." | Reduce scope; do not skip the quality bar. |
| "This does not need verification." | Every important claim or behavior needs proof. |
Verification
- Required artifact exists and is named.
- Facts, assumptions, and open questions are separated.
- Evidence or evidence gaps are explicit.
- Next state is stated.
- Stop conditions are honored.
Output Artifact
Open Questions plus assumptions
The artifact should be concise, auditable, and include evidence, blockers, and next action so another agent can resume.
Failure Modes
- Producing advice instead of an artifact.
- Accepting user assumptions without challenge.
- Skipping evidence because the task feels simple.
- Recommending an agent when a simpler system is enough.
- Hiding risks or open questions.
Example
Trigger: uncertainty remains after retrievable evidence has been checked. Action: ask the smallest useful next question or choose the safest documented default in noninteractive mode. Output artifact: intake or grill artifact with blockers and next action. Verification: cite evidence checked, why the question changes action, and stop condition if no answer is available.
A plan is blocked by "needs approval." The ladder should ask the smallest next question first: what side effect is approval-gated, what safe read-only alternative exists, what assumption can unblock planning, and what evidence would change the route.
