brainstormlisted

# $brainstorm — Clarify Goals Before Planning > **Purpose:** Separate WHAT from HOW. Explore the problem space before committing to a solution. ## Two modes `$brainstorm` runs in one of two modes (complementary, not exclusive): | Mode | Use when | Shape | |------|----------|-------| | **Goal-clarification** (default; the four phases below) | The goal names ONE specific capability (`"add JWT auth"`, `"fix the login bug"`) | Sharpen the WHAT, explore the HOW for that single goal. | | **Ideation** (open-ended; see below) | The goal is open-ended (`"improve the project"`, `"what should we build next"`) OR Phase 1 returns `exploring` with no single goal OR `--ideate` is passed | Generate MANY candidate improvements, winnow ruthlessly, operationalize the survivors. | Four phases (goal-clarification mode): 1. **Assess clarity** — Is the goal specific enough? 2. **Understand idea** — What problem, who benefits, what exists? 3. **Explore approaches** — Generate options, compare tradeoffs 4. **Capture design** — Write structured output for `$plan` --- ## Quick Start ```bash $brainstorm "add user authentication" # full 4-phase process $brainstorm # prompts for goal ``` --- ## Codex Lifecycle Guard When this skill runs in Codex hookless mode (`CODEX_THREAD_ID` is set or `CODEX_INTERNAL_ORIGINATOR_OVERRIDE` is `Codex Desktop`), ensure startup context before ideation: ```bash ao codex ensure-start 2>/dev/null || true ``` `ao codex ensure-star