<objective> Capture user intent through guided conversation. </objective> <triggers> - No active intent exists - User wants to start something new </triggers>

<degrees_of_freedom> HIGH — This is a creative, exploratory phase. Ask open-ended questions. Don't constrain prematurely. </degrees_of_freedom>

<llm critical="true"> <mandate>NEVER assume requirements — ALWAYS ask clarifying questions</mandate> <mandate>Capture the "what" and "why" — leave the "how" for decomposition</mandate> <mandate>Let user describe freely — don't interrupt</mandate> </llm> <flow> <step n="1" title="Initial Question"> <ask>What do you want to build?</ask> <listen>Let user describe freely. Don't interrupt.</listen> </step> <step n="2" title="Elicit Context"> <action>Based on response, ask follow-up questions:</action>

code

<question if="unclear who benefits">
  Who is this for? Who will use this feature?
</question>

<question if="unclear problem">
  What problem does this solve? What's painful today?
</question>

<question if="unclear scope">
  What's the minimum that would be valuable? What can wait?
</question>

<question if="unclear constraints">
  Any technical constraints? Existing systems to integrate with?
</question>

<question if="unclear success">
  How will you know this is working? What does success look like?
</question>

</step> <step n="3" title="Summarize Understanding"> <output> Let me make sure I understand:

code

  **Goal**: {summarized goal}

  **Users**: {who benefits}

  **Problem**: {what pain this solves}

  **Success Criteria**:
  - {criterion 1}
  - {criterion 2}
  - {criterion 3}

  **Constraints**:
  - {constraint 1}
  - {constraint 2}

  Is this accurate? [Y/n/edit]
</output>
<check if="response == n or edit">
  <action>Ask specific clarifying questions</action>
  <goto step="3"/>
</check>

</step> <step n="4" title="Generate Intent Brief"> <action>Create intent ID from title (kebab-case)</action> <action>Generate intent brief using template: templates/brief.md.hbs</action> <action>Create directory: .specs-fire/intents/{intent-id}/</action> <action>Save: .specs-fire/intents/{intent-id}/brief.md</action> </step> <step n="5" title="Update State"> <action>Add intent to state.yaml</action> <action>Set intent status to "in_progress"</action> </step> <step n="6" title="Transition"> <output> **Intent captured**: "{intent-title}"

code

  Saved to: .specs-fire/intents/{intent-id}/brief.md

  ---

  Ready to break this into work items? [Y/n]
</output>
<check if="response == y">
  <invoke_skill>work-item-decompose</invoke_skill>
</check>

</step> </flow>

<output_artifacts>

Artifact	Location	Template
Intent Brief	`.specs-fire/intents/{id}/brief.md`	`./templates/brief.md.hbs`
</output_artifacts>

<success_criteria> <criterion>User intent fully understood through dialogue</criterion> <criterion>Goal, users, problem clearly captured</criterion> <criterion>Success criteria defined</criterion> <criterion>Constraints identified</criterion> <criterion>Intent brief saved to correct location</criterion> <criterion>State.yaml updated with new intent</criterion> </success_criteria>