---
name: brainstorming
description: Use when creating or developing anything new. Refines rough ideas into fully-formed designs through Socratic questioning before writing code.
category: meta
token_budget: 1200
---

# Skill: Brainstorming

## The Golden Rule
**No code until the design is solid.** Brainstorming transforms vague ideas into clear specifications.

## Process

### Phase 1: Understand the Goal
Ask clarifying questions:
- What problem are we solving?
- Who is the user?
- What does success look like?
- What are the constraints?

### Phase 2: Explore Alternatives
For every approach, consider:
- What are 3 alternative ways to solve this?
- What are the tradeoffs of each?
- Which aligns best with existing patterns?

### Phase 3: Challenge Assumptions
Question everything:
- Why this approach over others?
- What could go wrong?
- What are we assuming that might not be true?
- Is there a simpler way?

### Phase 4: Converge
Synthesize insights into a clear design:
- Core components
- Key interfaces
- Data flow
- Error handling strategy

## Anti-Patterns to Avoid
- Jumping to code before understanding
- Accepting first idea without alternatives
- Skipping tradeoff analysis
- Assuming requirements are complete

## Output Format
```markdown
## Problem Statement
[One sentence]

## Proposed Solution
[2-3 sentences]

## Alternatives Considered
1. [Alternative] - [Why rejected]
2. [Alternative] - [Why rejected]

## Key Design Decisions
- [Decision 1]
- [Decision 2]

## Next Steps
1. [First implementation step]
```

## Token Budget: 1200 tokens max