tools-only Brainstorm Solutions
Explore the solution space broadly before committing to a single path.
Position in Workflow
Step 2 of development workflow:
/research- Understand problem and constraints/brainstorm-solutions- Explore solution space (THIS)/design-solution- Converge on a single solution- Plan, code, review, ship
Core Principle
Breadth first. Generate multiple distinct options before evaluating or ranking them.
Input
Default: Use research findings from the current conversation.
If argument provided:
- File path: Read the file for research context
- GitHub issue: Fetch with
gh issue view $ARG --comments
Workflow
1. Gather Context
- Summarize the problem, constraints, and goals from research.
- Identify existing architecture patterns and similar implementations.
2. Ask Clarifying Questions
Ask only what improves solution quality:
- Business goals and priorities
- User workflows and usage patterns
- Performance or scalability requirements
- Extensibility or future roadmap considerations
- Hard constraints (timeline, compatibility, cost)
3. Generate Options
Generate at least 3-5 distinct approaches across dimensions:
| Dimension | Examples |
|---|---|
| Architectural approach | Event-driven vs request-response, monolith vs service |
| Implementation strategy | Extend existing module vs new module, refactor vs add |
| Library/tool choice | Redis vs in-memory, REST vs GraphQL |
| Feature design | Wizard flow vs single form, eager vs lazy loading |
Avoid anchoring on the first idea. Expand, then refine.
4. First Principles Check
For each option, challenge assumptions:
- Do we need this?
- Are requirements correct?
- Are existing patterns optimal?
- What is the simplest viable solution?
- What would we regret in 6 months?
Output Format
## Solution Brainstorm
### Context Summary
[Brief restatement of problem and key constraints]
### Clarifying Questions
[Questions about strategy, usage, or requirements - if any]
---
### Options
#### Option 1: [Name]
[Description]
#### Option 2: [Name]
[Description]
#### Option 3: [Name]
[Description]
[Add Option 4/5 if useful]
---
### Notes
[Any assumptions or risks that should be validated before choosing]
### Next Step
Ready to converge on a single solution. Run `/design-solution`.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Anchoring on first idea | Generate 3-5 options BEFORE evaluating any |
| Shallow codebase exploration | Read related files and patterns first |
| Assuming requirements | Ask clarifying questions early |
| Skipping first principles | Apply first principles to each option |
| Rushing to recommendation | Save evaluation for design-solution |
What NOT to Do
- Do NOT present only one option
- Do NOT recommend a solution yet
- Do NOT skip clarifying questions when uncertainty exists
- Do NOT ignore existing codebase patterns