AgentSkillsCN

brainstorming

通过并行智能体进行设计探索。适用于头脑风暴创意、探索解决方案或对比备选方案时使用。

SKILL.md
--- frontmatter
name: brainstorming
license: MIT
compatibility: "Claude Code 2.1.34+. Requires memory MCP server."
description: "Design exploration with parallel agents. Use when brainstorming ideas, exploring solutions, or comparing alternatives."
argument-hint: "[topic-or-idea]"
tags: [planning, ideation, creativity, design]
context: fork
version: 4.2.0
author: OrchestKit
user-invocable: true
allowed-tools: [AskUserQuestion, Task, Read, Grep, Glob, TaskCreate, TaskUpdate, TaskList, mcp__memory__search_nodes]
skills: [architecture-decision-record, api-design, design-system-starter, memory, remember, assess-complexity, scope-appropriate-architecture, testing-patterns]
complexity: medium
metadata:
  category: workflow-automation
  mcp-server: memory

Brainstorming Ideas Into Designs

Transform rough ideas into fully-formed designs through intelligent agent selection and structured exploration.

Core principle: Analyze the topic, select relevant agents dynamically, explore alternatives in parallel, present design incrementally.


STEP 0: Project Context Discovery

BEFORE creating tasks or selecting agents, detect the project tier. This becomes the complexity ceiling for all downstream decisions.

Auto-Detection (scan codebase)

python
# PARALLEL — quick signals (launch all in ONE message)
Grep(pattern="take-home|assignment|interview|hackathon", glob="README*", output_mode="content")
Grep(pattern="take-home|assignment|interview|hackathon", glob="*.md", output_mode="content")
Glob(pattern=".github/workflows/*")
Glob(pattern="**/Dockerfile")
Glob(pattern="**/terraform/**")
Glob(pattern="**/k8s/**")
Glob(pattern="CONTRIBUTING.md")

Tier Classification

SignalTier
README says "take-home", "assignment", time limit1. Interview
< 10 files, no CI, no Docker2. Hackathon
.github/workflows/, 10-25 deps3. MVP
Module boundaries, Redis, background jobs4. Growth
K8s/Terraform, DDD structure, monorepo5. Enterprise
CONTRIBUTING.md, LICENSE, minimal deps6. Open Source

If confidence is low, ask the user:

python
AskUserQuestion(questions=[{
  "question": "What kind of project is this?",
  "header": "Project tier",
  "options": [
    {"label": "Interview / take-home", "description": "8-15 files, 200-600 LOC, simple architecture"},
    {"label": "Startup / MVP", "description": "MVC monolith, managed services, ship fast"},
    {"label": "Growth / enterprise", "description": "Modular monolith or DDD, full observability"},
    {"label": "Open source library", "description": "Minimal API surface, exhaustive tests"}
  ],
  "multiSelect": false
}])

Pass the detected tier as context to ALL downstream agents and phases. The tier constrains which patterns are appropriate — see scope-appropriate-architecture skill for the full matrix.

Override: User can always override the detected tier. Warn them of trade-offs if they choose a higher tier than detected.


STEP 0a: Verify User Intent with AskUserQuestion

Clarify brainstorming constraints:

python
AskUserQuestion(
  questions=[
    {
      "question": "What type of design exploration?",
      "header": "Type",
      "options": [
        {"label": "Open exploration (Recommended)", "description": "Generate 10+ ideas, evaluate all, synthesize top 3"},
        {"label": "Constrained design", "description": "I have specific requirements to work within"},
        {"label": "Comparison", "description": "Compare 2-3 specific approaches I have in mind"},
        {"label": "Quick ideation", "description": "Generate ideas fast, skip deep evaluation"}
      ],
      "multiSelect": false
    },
    {
      "question": "Any preferences or constraints?",
      "header": "Constraints",
      "options": [
        {"label": "None", "description": "Explore all possibilities"},
        {"label": "Use existing patterns", "description": "Prefer patterns already in codebase"},
        {"label": "Minimize complexity", "description": "Favor simpler solutions"},
        {"label": "I'll specify", "description": "Let me provide specific constraints"}
      ],
      "multiSelect": false
    }
  ]
)

Based on answers, adjust workflow:

  • Open exploration: Full 7-phase process with all agents
  • Constrained design: Skip divergent phase, focus on feasibility
  • Comparison: Skip ideation, jump to evaluation phase
  • Quick ideation: Generate ideas, skip deep evaluation

STEP 0b: Select Orchestration Mode (skip for Tier 1-2)

Choose Agent Teams (mesh — agents debate and challenge ideas) or Task tool (star — all report to lead):

  1. CLAUDE_CODE_EXPERIMENTAL_AGENT_TEAMS=1Agent Teams mode
  2. Agent Teams unavailable → Task tool mode (default)
  3. Otherwise: Open exploration with 3+ agents → recommend Agent Teams (real-time debate produces better ideas); Quick ideation → Task tool
AspectTask ToolAgent Teams
Idea generationEach agent generates independentlyAgents riff on each other's ideas
Devil's advocateLead challenges after all completeAgents challenge each other in real-time
Cost~150K tokens~400K tokens
Best forQuick ideation, constrained designOpen exploration, deep evaluation

Fallback: If Agent Teams encounters issues, fall back to Task tool for remaining phases.


CRITICAL: Task Management is MANDATORY (CC 2.1.16)

python
# Create main task IMMEDIATELY
TaskCreate(
  subject="Brainstorm: {topic}",
  description="Design exploration with parallel agent research",
  activeForm="Brainstorming {topic}"
)

# Create subtasks for each phase
TaskCreate(subject="Analyze topic and select agents", activeForm="Analyzing topic")
TaskCreate(subject="Search memory for past decisions", activeForm="Searching knowledge graph")
TaskCreate(subject="Generate divergent ideas (10+)", activeForm="Generating ideas")
TaskCreate(subject="Feasibility fast-check", activeForm="Checking feasibility")
TaskCreate(subject="Evaluate with devil's advocate", activeForm="Evaluating ideas")
TaskCreate(subject="Synthesize top approaches", activeForm="Synthesizing approaches")
TaskCreate(subject="Present design options", activeForm="Presenting options")

The Seven-Phase Process

PhaseActivitiesOutput
0. Topic AnalysisClassify keywords, select 3-5 agentsAgent list
1. Memory + ContextSearch graph, check codebasePrior patterns
2. Divergent ExplorationGenerate 10+ ideas WITHOUT filteringIdea pool
3. Feasibility Fast-Check30-second viability per idea, including testabilityFiltered ideas
4. Evaluation & RatingRate 0-10 (6 dimensions incl. testability), devil's advocateRanked ideas
5. SynthesisFilter to top 2-3, trade-off table, test strategy per approachOptions
6. Design PresentationPresent in 200-300 word sections, include test planValidated design

See references/phase-workflow.md for detailed instructions.


When NOT to Use

Skip brainstorming when:

  • Requirements are crystal clear and specific
  • Only one obvious approach exists
  • User has already designed the solution
  • Time-sensitive bug fix or urgent issue

Quick Reference: Agent Selection

Topic ExampleAgents to Spawn
"brainstorm API for users"workflow-architect, backend-system-architect, security-auditor, test-generator
"brainstorm dashboard UI"workflow-architect, frontend-ui-developer, ux-researcher, test-generator
"brainstorm RAG pipeline"workflow-architect, llm-integrator, data-pipeline-engineer, test-generator
"brainstorm caching strategy"workflow-architect, backend-system-architect, frontend-performance-engineer, test-generator

Always include: workflow-architect for system design perspective, test-generator for testability assessment.


Agent Teams Alternative: Brainstorming Team

In Agent Teams mode, form a brainstorming team where agents debate ideas in real-time. Dynamically select teammates based on topic analysis (Phase 0):

python
TeamCreate(team_name="brainstorm-{topic-slug}", description="Brainstorm {topic}")

# Always include the system design lead
Task(subagent_type="workflow-architect", name="system-designer",
     team_name="brainstorm-{topic-slug}",
     prompt="""You are the system design lead for brainstorming: {topic}
     DIVERGENT MODE: Generate 3-4 architectural approaches.
     When other teammates share ideas, build on them or propose alternatives.
     Challenge ideas that seem over-engineered — advocate for simplicity.
     After divergent phase, help synthesize the top approaches.""")

# Domain-specific teammates (select 2-3 based on topic keywords)
Task(subagent_type="backend-system-architect", name="backend-thinker",
     team_name="brainstorm-{topic-slug}",
     prompt="""Brainstorm backend approaches for: {topic}
     DIVERGENT MODE: Generate 3-4 backend-specific ideas.
     When system-designer shares architectural ideas, propose concrete API designs.
     Challenge ideas from other teammates with implementation reality checks.
     Play devil's advocate on complexity vs simplicity trade-offs.""")

Task(subagent_type="frontend-ui-developer", name="frontend-thinker",
     team_name="brainstorm-{topic-slug}",
     prompt="""Brainstorm frontend approaches for: {topic}
     DIVERGENT MODE: Generate 3-4 UI/UX ideas.
     When backend-thinker proposes APIs, suggest frontend patterns that match.
     Challenge backend proposals that create poor user experiences.
     Advocate for progressive disclosure and accessibility.""")

# Always include: testability assessor
Task(subagent_type="test-generator", name="testability-assessor",
     team_name="brainstorm-{topic-slug}",
     prompt="""Assess testability for each brainstormed approach: {topic}
     For every idea shared by teammates, evaluate:
     - Can core logic be unit tested without external services?
     - What's the mock/stub surface area?
     - Can it be integration-tested with docker-compose/testcontainers?
     Score testability 0-10 per the evaluation rubric.
     Challenge designs that score below 5 on testability.
     Propose test strategies for the top approaches in synthesis phase.""")

# Optional: Add security-auditor, ux-researcher, llm-integrator based on topic

Key advantage: Agents riff on each other's ideas and play devil's advocate in real-time, rather than generating ideas in isolation.

Team teardown after synthesis:

python
# After Phase 5 synthesis and design presentation
SendMessage(type="shutdown_request", recipient="system-designer", content="Brainstorm complete")
SendMessage(type="shutdown_request", recipient="backend-thinker", content="Brainstorm complete")
SendMessage(type="shutdown_request", recipient="frontend-thinker", content="Brainstorm complete")
SendMessage(type="shutdown_request", recipient="testability-assessor", content="Brainstorm complete")
# ... shutdown any additional domain teammates
TeamDelete()

Fallback: If team formation fails, use standard Phase 2 Task spawns from Phase Workflow.


Key Principles

PrincipleApplication
Dynamic agent selectionSelect agents based on topic keywords
Parallel researchLaunch 3-5 agents in ONE message
Memory-firstCheck graph for past decisions before research
Divergent-firstGenerate 10+ ideas BEFORE filtering
Task trackingUse TaskCreate/TaskUpdate for progress visibility
YAGNI ruthlesslyRemove unnecessary complexity

Related Skills

  • architecture-decision-record - Document key decisions made during brainstorming
  • implement - Execute the implementation plan after brainstorming completes
  • explore - Deep codebase exploration to understand existing patterns
  • assess - Rate quality 0-10 with dimension breakdown

References


Version: 4.3.0 (February 2026) - Added testability scoring to evaluation, test strategy to synthesis output