decision-question

Decision Question

Ask only when a real user decision is required. When asking, present the smallest complete decision brief that lets the user choose deliberately.

Questions spend user attention. Spend it only on decisions the user owns, and make each question decision-complete. This skill owns how to ask. It does not own whether a mutation is authorized (#5407) or whether a task is finished (#5404).

voice.md routes here and does not carry the protocol. Load the reference and script only when the routing gate says ask.

Triggers

ask the user to choose between these paths, do I need a user decision here, present a decision brief, which option should the user pick

Routing gate: when NOT to ask

Multiple implementation choices do not make a user decision. Do not ask when any of these holds:

• the user delegated the choice (choose the best option and implement it);
• repository or safety policy mandates one option;
• existing acceptance criteria already determine the choice;
• the distinction is an implementation detail within authorized scope, and reversible;
• reading available evidence or tools resolves the uncertainty;
• the task is terminal under #5404 and the question would only solicit optional follow-up. The STOP TOKEN wins.

no unresolved user decision      -> act within existing authorization
material unresolved user decision -> build the brief below

Process

All commands run ${COPILOT_PLUGIN_ROOT:-${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-.claude}}/skills/decision-question/scripts/decision_question.py with python3. Output is one JSON object.

1. Route. Apply the gate. If no question is warranted, act and stop.

2. Draft the brief for the earliest load-bearing decision (fields below).

3. Check and plan. Write the brief as JSON and run:

   python3 "${COPILOT_PLUGIN_ROOT:-${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-.claude}}/skills/decision-question/scripts/decision_question.py" --brief <brief.json>
   

   status: incomplete (exit 2) lists the missing fields. Enrich the brief and rerun. status: revise_recommendation (exit 2) means an earlier answer filtered out the recommended option: pick a remaining option or set no_recommendation, then rerun. status: ask lists the prompt pages and the page to present now.

4. Ask, then prune. Present the decision with AskUserQuestion. Record the answer under answers and rerun. When the user picks _more, add one to that decision's count under paging and rerun; the same decision returns its next page. Decisions that depend on an answer are pruned or filtered from that answer, and unresolved IDs are never renumbered.

5. Weak evidence on an irreversible choice. pre_ask_review in the output names decision-critic and pre-mortem. Run one before asking.