idea-refine

Idea Refine

Refines raw ideas into sharp, actionable concepts worth building through structured divergent and convergent thinking.

Supporting files: After loading this skill, the file tree above shows the skill directory path. Use text_editor:read (not skills_tool:read_file) to open supporting files: frameworks.md, refinement-criteria.md, and examples.md. Replace {skill_path} below with the path shown in the file tree.

Overview

Refines raw ideas into sharp, actionable concepts worth building through structured divergent and convergent thinking.

When to Use

• Starting from a vague idea or gut feeling
• Brainstorming a new feature, product, or process improvement
• Exploring design space before writing a spec
• Stress-testing a plan before committing resources
• When "I want to build X" needs to become "Here is what X actually is and why"

When NOT to use: You already have a clear spec with acceptance criteria. Use spec-driven-development instead.

Setup

To initialize the ideas output directory, run the setup script using code_execution_tool:

# The skill path is shown in the file tree when this skill is loaded.
# Replace <skill_path> with the actual path shown above.
bash <skill_path>/scripts/idea-refine.sh

This creates docs/ideas/ in the current working directory if it doesn't exist.

Output

The final output is a markdown one-pager saved to docs/ideas/[idea-name].md (after user confirmation), containing:

• Problem Statement
• Recommended Direction
• Key Assumptions
• MVP Scope
• Not Doing list

Process

This skill is primarily an interactive dialogue. When the user invokes this skill with an idea (from their message), guide them through three phases. Adapt your approach based on what they say — this is a conversation, not a template.

Phase 1: Understand & Expand (Divergent)

Goal: Take the raw idea and open it up.

1. Restate the idea as a crisp "How Might We" problem statement. This forces clarity on what's actually being solved.