Brainstorming

Wait for answers before proceeding. Do NOT ask multiple questions at once.

Step 2: Challenge assumptions

After getting answers, identify and challenge:

• Assumptions being made about users
• Technical assumptions (is this actually harder than it looks?)
• Scope assumptions (is the MVP really minimal?)
• Dependency assumptions (what external things does this rely on?)

Present challenges ONE AT A TIME. Get confirmation before moving on.

Step 3: Explore alternatives

Propose 2-3 alternative approaches:

• Simpler approach: what's the absolute minimum that proves the concept?
• Existing tool approach: is there something that already does this?
• Different framing: is the user solving the right problem?

Step 4: Present the design in chunks

Break the confirmed design into sections of max 200 words each. Present one section, get user confirmation, then next section. Do NOT dump the entire design at once.

Sections to cover:

1. Core value proposition (what it does, for who, why)
2. User journey (how they use it, step by step)
3. Technical approach (what we'll build and how)
4. MVP feature list (max 5 features, numbered)
5. Out of scope (explicit list of what we're NOT doing)

Step 5: Get sign-off

After presenting all sections: "Does this match what you have in mind?" If yes → create PROJECT_SPEC.md and hand off to writing-plans skill If no → go back to the section that's wrong

Outputs

• docs/PROJECT_SPEC.md — complete validated specification
• Clear signal to start implementation planning

Quality checks

• User has confirmed each section of the design
• MVP is truly minimal (max 5 features)
• Out of scope is explicitly documented
• Similar/competing tools have been identified
• Technical feasibility has been considered

Failure modes

• User says "yes" to everything without really reading — push back, ask them to explain it back
• Scope creep during brainstorming — write down the additions as "future" not "now"
• Technical design too early — keep this phase product/user focused, not technical

Example invocation

User: "I want to build a tool that helps people remember what they read" AI: "Great — in one sentence, what does success look like for someone using this tool?" → Follow the step-by-step process above