brainstorming
IMMEDIATELY USE THIS SKILL when creating or develop anything and before writing code or implementation plans - refines rough ideas into fully-formed designs through structured Socratic questioning, alternative exploration, and incremental validation
When & Why to Use This Skill
This Claude skill streamlines the transition from vague concepts to robust technical designs through a structured Socratic process. It emphasizes iterative validation, alternative exploration, and architectural clarity, ensuring that software projects are built on a solid, well-vetted foundation before implementation begins.
Use Cases
- Conceptualizing new software features by refining rough ideas into detailed architectural blueprints through structured questioning.
- Evaluating multiple technical approaches and trade-offs to select the most efficient and scalable solution for a specific development problem.
- Validating complex system designs incrementally to identify potential constraints, data flow issues, and edge cases early in the development lifecycle.
| name | Brainstorming |
|---|---|
| description | IMMEDIATELY USE THIS SKILL when creating or develop anything and before writing code or implementation plans - refines rough ideas into fully-formed designs through structured Socratic questioning, alternative exploration, and incremental validation |
Brainstorming Ideas Into Designs
Overview
Transform rough ideas into fully-formed designs through structured questioning and alternative exploration.
Core principle: Ask questions to understand, explore alternatives, present design incrementally for validation.
Announce at start: "I'm using the Nori Brainstorming skill to refine your idea into a design."
The Process
Phase 1: Understanding
- Check current project state in working directory
- Ask ONE question at a time to refine the idea
- Prefer multiple choice when possible
- Gather: Purpose, constraints, success criteria
Phase 2: Exploration
- Propose 2-3 different approaches
- For each: Core architecture, trade-offs, complexity assessment
- Ask your human partner which approach resonates
Phase 3: Design Presentation
- Present in 200-300 word sections
- Cover: Architecture, components, data flow, error handling, testing
- Ask after each section: "Does this look right so far?"
Phase 4: Worktree Setup (for implementation)
When design is approved and implementation will follow:
- Announce: "I'm using the Using Git Worktrees skill to set up an isolated workspace."
- Switch to /home/clifford/Documents/source/nori/cli/skills/using-git-worktrees
- Follow that skill's process for directory selection, safety verification, and setup
- Return here when worktree ready
Phase 5: Planning Handoff
Ask: "Ready to create the implementation plan?"
When your human partner confirms (any affirmative response):
- Announce: "I'm using the Writing Plans skill to create the implementation plan."
- Switch to /home/clifford/Documents/source/nori/cli/skills/writing-plans skill
- Create detailed plan in the worktree
When to Revisit Earlier Phases
You can and should go backward when:
- Partner reveals new constraint during Phase 2 or 3 → Return to Phase 1 to understand it
- Validation shows fundamental gap in requirements → Return to Phase 1
- Partner questions approach during Phase 3 → Return to Phase 2 to explore alternatives
- Something doesn't make sense → Go back and clarify
Don't force forward linearly when going backward would give better results.
Remember
- One question per message during Phase 1
- Apply YAGNI ruthlessly
- Explore 2-3 alternatives before settling
- Present incrementally, validate as you go
- Go backward when needed - flexibility > rigid progression
- Announce skill usage at start