How do I install the Brainstorming skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add zebbern/brainstorming in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Brainstorming safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Brainstorming?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Brainstorming free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Brainstorming?

zebbern (@zebbern) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Brainstorming by zebbern — Agent Skill

Name: Brainstorming
Author: zebbern

File contents

Brainstorming Ideas Into Designs

Overview

Help turn ideas into fully formed designs and specs through natural collaborative dialogue.

Start by understanding the current project context, then ask questions one at a time to refine the idea. Once you understand what you're building, present the design in small sections (200-300 words), checking after each section whether it looks right so far.

The Process

Understanding the idea:

Check out the current project state first (files, docs, recent commits)
Ask questions one at a time to refine the idea
Prefer multiple choice questions when possible, but open-ended is fine too
Only one question per message - if a topic needs more exploration, break it into multiple questions
Focus on understanding: purpose, constraints, success criteria

Exploring approaches:

Propose 2-3 different approaches with trade-offs
Present options conversationally with your recommendation and reasoning
Lead with your recommended option and explain why

Presenting the design:

Once you believe you understand what you're building, present the design
Break it into sections of 200-300 words
Ask after each section whether it looks right so far
Cover: architecture, components, data flow, error handling, testing
Be ready to go back and clarify if something doesn't make sense

After the Design

Documentation:

Write the validated design to docs/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>-design.md
Commit the design document to git

Implementation (if continuing):

Ask: "Ready to set up for implementation?"
Use using-git-worktrees skill to create isolated workspace
Use writing-plans skill to create detailed implementation plan

Key Principles

One question at a time - Don't overwhelm with multiple questions
Multiple choice preferred - Easier to answer than open-ended when possible
YAGNI ruthlessly - Remove unnecessary features from all designs
Explore alternatives - Always propose 2-3 approaches before settling
Incremental validation - Present design in sections, validate each
Be flexible - Go back and clarify when something doesn't make sense

---name: brainstormingdescription: You MUST use this before any creative work - creating features, building components, adding functionality, or modifying behavior. Explores user intent, requirements and design before implementation.---# Brainstorming Ideas Into Designs## OverviewHelp turn ideas into fully formed designs and specs through natural collaborative dialogue.Start by understanding the current project context, then ask questions one at a time to refine the idea. Once you understand what you're building, present the design in small sections (200-300 words), checking after each section whether it looks right so far.## The Process**Understanding the idea:**- Check out the current project state first (files, docs, recent commits)- Ask questions one at a time to refine the idea- Prefer multiple choice questions when possible, but open-ended is fine too- Only one question per message - if a topic needs more exploration, break it into multiple questions- Focus on understanding: purpose, constraints, success criteria**Exploring approaches:**- Propose 2-3 different approaches with trade-offs- Present options conversationally with your recommendation and reasoning- Lead with your recommended option and explain why**Presenting the design:**- Once you believe you understand what you're building, present the design- Break it into sections of 200-300 words- Ask after each section whether it looks right so far- Cover: architecture, components, data flow, error handling, testing- Be ready to go back and clarify if something doesn't make sense## After the Design**Documentation:**- Write the validated design to `docs/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>-design.md`- Commit the design document to git**Implementation (if continuing):**- Ask: "Ready to set up for implementation?"- Use `using-git-worktrees` skill to create isolated workspace- Use `writing-plans` skill to create detailed implementation plan## Key Principles- **One question at a time** - Don't overwhelm with multiple questions- **Multiple choice preferred** - Easier to answer than open-ended when possible- **YAGNI ruthlessly** - Remove unnecessary features from all designs- **Explore alternatives** - Always propose 2-3 approaches before settling- **Incremental validation** - Present design in sections, validate each- **Be flexible** - Go back and clarify when something doesn't make sense

Frequently asked questions

Brainstorming