Generic skill — method only, zero app facts. This skill is symlinked from
agent-compounds and shared across consuming apps. It contains technique and
patterns, not project specifics. App specifics (project refs, schema names,
domain rules, feature flows, env values) → read this app's
.claude/skills/CORE/SKILL.md (and the AGENTS.md summary it indexes).
Do not add app-specific facts to this file — they belong in CORE.

Brainstorming Skill

Creative exploration for uncertain problems using Jeffrey Emanuel's 100→10 Filter, Six Thinking Hats, and multi-perspective synthesis.

When to Load This Skill

• Running /brainstorm command
• Uncertain about approach before planning
• Multiple valid solutions need exploration
• Innovation needed beyond obvious approach

Core Philosophy

"Don't over-ideate upfront—but when you're stuck, diverge wide before converging."
— Adapted from Jeffrey Emanuel

Use this skill before /ac-plan when you:

• Don't know what approach to take
• Have competing visions
• Need to validate assumptions
• Want fresh perspective

Methodology: Discover → Define → Challenge → Synthesize

Four phases with fresh agent context per phase:

Phase	Name	Lens	Agents
1	DISCOVER	Divergent exploration	3x Haiku parallel
2	DEFINE	Convergent filtering	1x Sonnet
3	CHALLENGE	Escalation + stress test	1x Opus
4	SYNTHESIZE	Decision brief	Orchestrator

---

Phase Details

Phase 1: DISCOVER (Diverge)

Purpose: Gather context + generate raw ideas
Agents: 3 parallel researcher subagents (tier-resolved per harness)

• Agent A: Codebase patterns, constraints, prior art
• Agent B: Problem space exploration (what problem really?)
• Agent C: Solution space scan (what approaches exist?)

Output: Context brief + 50+ raw ideas (unfiltered)

Phase 2: DEFINE (Converge)

Purpose: Filter and score using Jeffrey's 100→10 criteria
Agent: 1x Sonnet (fresh context)

Scoring Dimensions (0-1000):

1. Concept Quality - Is the idea fundamentally sound?
2. Human Utility - Does it solve real problems?
3. Implementation Feasibility - Can it be built correctly?
4. Complexity/Debt Ratio - Is the juice worth the squeeze?

Output: Ranked list with scores + top 10 detailed + top 3 recommended

Phase 3: CHALLENGE (Escalation)

Purpose: "I know you can do MUCH MUCH MUCH better"
Agent: 1x Opus (extended thinking, fresh context)

• Challenge top 3 approaches: What's weak? What's missing?
• Generate enhanced versions or entirely new approaches
• Apply Six Hats stress-testing:
  • Black Hat: What could fail? Risks?
  • Yellow Hat: What's the upside we're missing?
  • Green Hat: What unconventional angle haven't we tried?

Output: Refined top 3 + potential breakthrough ideas

Phase 4: SYNTHESIZE (Decision Brief)

Purpose: Compile final brief for user decision
Agent: Orchestrator (you)

• Recommended approach + rationale
• 2 alternatives with tradeoffs
• Key decisions needing user input
• Ready for /ac-plan

Output: .claude/plans/research/YYYY-MM-DD-HHMM-brainstorm-[topic].md

---

Output Format

Brainstorm Brief Template

# Brainstorm: [Topic]

**Date:** YYYY-MM-DD
**Status:** Ready for Planning

## Problem Statement

[Clear articulation of what we're trying to solve]

## Discovery Context

[Relevant codebase patterns, constraints, prior art]

## Ideas Explored (Top 10)

| Rank | Idea    | Score | Pros    | Cons    |
| ---- | ------- | ----- | ------- | ------- |
| 1    | [Title] | 850   | [Brief] | [Brief] |
| 2    | ...     | ...   | ...     | ...     |

## Recommended Approach

**Primary:** [Approach title]

**Rationale:** [Why this approach]

**Key elements:**

- [Element 1]
- [Element 2]
- [Element 3]

### Alternatives Considered

**Option B: [Title]**

- When to choose: [Criteria]
- Tradeoffs: [Brief]

**Option C: [Title]**

- When to choose: [Criteria]
- Tradeoffs: [Brief]

## Key Decisions for Planning

- [ ] Decision 1: [Options A vs B]
- [ ] Decision 2: [Options X vs Y]

## Six Hats Stress Test

| Hat                | Finding                    |
| ------------------ | -------------------------- |
| Black (Risks)      | [Key risks identified]     |
| Yellow (Upside)    | [Opportunities identified] |
| Green (Innovation) | [Unconventional angles]    |

## Next Steps

→ `/ac-plan` using [recommended approach]

---

Resources

Prompts

Located in prompts/:

Prompt	Purpose
phase-1-discover.md	Parallel exploration prompts
phase-2-define.md	Filtering and scoring prompt
phase-3-challenge.md	Escalation and Six Hats prompt

---

Integration Points

• Input: User describes challenge/uncertainty
• Output: Brainstorm brief feeding into /ac-plan
• Uses: researcher subagents for context

---

When NOT to Use

• Clear, well-defined tasks (just use /ac-plan)
• Bug fixes with obvious cause
• Simple improvements (<3 files)
• Tasks with explicit requirements

---

Sources

• Jeffrey Emanuel Ideation Methodology — Source: references/brainstorm-command-research.md
• Six Thinking Hats (Edward de Bono)
• Double Diamond Design Process