/step1 - Explore → Interrogate → Bridge
Structured Q&A that converges on decisions. Questions evolve based on answers.
Arguments
- •
/step1— asks "What needs solving?" - •
/step1 <topic>— skips opening question - •
/step1 resume— finds last decision tracker in conversation, continues
Flow
1. EXPLORE
- •Read relevant codebase files (5-10). For greenfield projects, ask about constraints instead.
- •Identify decision points. Form an opinion on each from codebase evidence.
- •Output:
"~N decisions to work through (some will be auto-decided)"
2. INTERROGATE
One question at a time via AskUserQuestion.
Auto-decide when codebase evidence makes one option overwhelmingly correct. Present initial auto-decisions as a batch before the first human question:
### Auto-decided (review before we continue) 1. ✅ (auto) [topic]: [answer] — [rationale]
Ask: "Want to revisit any of these, or move on?" If flagged, convert to regular question.
Questions:
- •Order options by recommendation strength (best first)
- •All option slots are for real answers — user can type "go back" or "park" via Other
After each answer:
- •Reassess: does this reveal new decisions (mark
🆕), kill existing ones (mark➖)? - •Flag conflicts with previous decisions
- •Push back on risky choices even if user seems confident
- •If decisions exceed 8, suggest splitting the task before continuing
- •Output tracker:
### Decisions (N decided, ~M remaining) 1. ✅ [topic]: [answer] — [why] 2. ✅ (auto) [topic]: [answer] — [rationale] 3. ⬜ [next]...
Go back (user types via Other): Re-ask previous question, mark it ⬜, re-evaluate downstream.
Park (user types via Other): Stop. Output tracker as-is. Write _step1_decisions.md with ## Unresolved section. Do NOT suggest /step2.
3. BRIDGE
Early resolution — ONLY when outcome is a single localized fix (one file, no conventions, no docs):
- •Skip
_step1_decisions.md, summarize inline. Simple enough to implement directly — no pipeline needed. - •Question count is irrelevant. 1 human question + multi-file scope = full bridge.
Full bridge — default path (multi-file, conventions, or docs):
- •Present decision block(s):
## Decision: [topic] **Approach:** [what and how] **Why:** [codebase-grounded reasons] **Rejected:** [alternative] — [why it fails]; ... **Risks:** [trade-offs and pitfalls carried by chosen approach] **Scope:** [in/out] **Key decisions:** - [decision]
Rejected and Risks exist so /step2 can convert them into guardrails. One line each. Omit if genuinely empty.
2. Ask "Anything you'd change?" — apply changes if requested.
3. Write _step1_decisions.md at repo root. This is the primary deliverable. Never skip it on the full bridge path.
Rules
- •No implementation. Only output is
_step1_decisions.md. Exception: early resolution. - •One question at a time. Never batch.
- •Never auto-chain to
/step2. - •Recommend, warn, push back, challenge.