idea-chorus

# Idea Skill

This skill covers the **Ideation** stage of the AI-DLC workflow: claiming Ideas, running structured elaboration rounds to clarify requirements, and preparing for Proposal creation.

---

## Overview

Ideas are the starting point of the AI-DLC pipeline. Humans (or Admin agents) create Ideas describing what they need. The PM Agent claims an Idea, runs elaboration to clarify requirements, and then moves on to creating a Proposal with document and task drafts (see `proposal-chorus` skill — `<BASE_URL>/skill/proposal-chorus/SKILL.md`).

**Idea status lifecycle (3 stored states):**

```
open --> elaborating --> elaborated
```

All post-elaboration progress (planning, building, verifying, done) is **derived** from the state of linked Proposals and Tasks. No agent should set Idea status directly beyond elaboration -- all transitions are side-effects of claiming, releasing, or completing elaboration.

---

## Tools

**Idea Management:**

| Tool | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `chorus_pm_create_idea` | Create a new idea in a project (on behalf of humans). Optional `parentUuid` derives a child idea from an existing same-project idea (single-parent lineage). |
| `chorus_edit_idea` | Edit an existing idea's title, description, and/or lineage parent. `parentUuid`: another same-project idea to reparent under, `null` to detach to top-level, omit to leave unchanged (cycle-checked + same-project). Single-parent **weak** lineage — a parent shows a read-only `+N derived` rollup but never blocks either idea's flow. Records an "edited" activity and signals presence. |
| `chorus_claim_idea` | Claim an open idea (open -> elaborating) |
| `chorus_release_idea` | Release a claimed idea (elaborating -> open) |
| `chorus_move_idea` | Move an Idea to a different Project. Cascade-migrates the Idea **and its full lineage subtree** (all descendant Ideas; the moved root is detached from any parent left behind), all linked Proposals (any status), all materialized Documents and Tasks, and all related Activities atomically. Comments, TaskDependency, AcceptanceCriterion, AgentSession, SessionTaskCheckin, Notification history, and Task assignees are NOT modified. Returns `moved: { ideas, proposals, documents, tasks, activities }` counts. Requires `idea:write` only — no project-level checks. |

**Requirements Elaboration:**

| Tool | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `chorus_pm_start_elaboration` | Generate an elaboration round (first, follow-up, or appended-after-resolution) |
| `chorus_pm_validate_elaboration` | Mark the whole elaboration complete (requires `idea:admin`; requires human confirmation first) |
| `chorus_pm_skip_elaboration` | Skip elaboration for trivially clear Ideas |
| `chorus_answer_elaboration` | Submit answers for an elaboration round (`roundUuid` optional — auto-locates the active round) |
| `chorus_get_elaboration` | Get full elaboration state (rounds, questions, answers) |

**Shared tools** (checkin, query, comment, search, notifications): see `chorus` skill (`<BASE_URL>/skill/chorus/SKILL.md`)

---

## Workflow

### Step 1: Check In

```
chorus_checkin()
```

Review your persona, current assignments, and pending work counts.

### Step 2: Find Work

```
chorus_get_available_ideas({ projectUuid: "<project-uuid>" })
```

Or check existing assignments:

```
chorus_get_my_assignments()
```

### Step 3: Claim an Idea

Claiming automatically transitions the Idea to `elaborating` status:

```
chorus_claim_idea({ ideaUuid: "<idea-uuid>" })
```

### Step 4: Gather Context

Before elaborating, understand the full picture:

1. **Read the idea in detail:**
   ```
   chorus_get_idea({ ideaUuid: "<idea-uuid>" })
   ```

2. **Read existing project documents** (for context, tech stack, conventions):
   ```
   chorus_get_documents({ projectUuid: "<project-uuid>" })
   chorus_get_document({ documentUuid: "<doc-uuid>" })
   ```

3. **Review past proposals** (to understand patterns and standards):
   ```
   chorus_get_proposals({ projectUuid: "<project-uuid>", status: "approved" })
   ```

4. **Check existing tasks** (to avoid duplication):
   ```
   chorus_list_tasks({ projectUuid: "<project-uuid>" })
   ```

5. **Read comments** on the idea for additional context:
   ```
   chorus_get_comments({ targetType: "idea", targetUuid: "<idea-uuid>" })
   ```

### Step 4.5: Brainstorm Mode (Optional Prelude)

If the Idea is fuzzy and you'd struggle to enumerate concrete multi-choice questions, offer the user a brainstorm prelude before structured elaboration. Use your IDE's interactive prompt mechanism if available, or present options as text — the same convention used elsewhere in this skill. Two choices: `"Already clear, run structured elaboration"` and `"Brainstorm first to explore directions"`.

- **"Already clear":** Skip to Step 5.
- **"Brainstorm first":** Invoke the `brainstorm-chorus` skill (`<BASE_URL>/skill/brainstorm-chorus/SKILL.md`). See that skill for the dialogue cadence and synthesis rules — do NOT re-implement them here.

When the brainstorm skill returns, you own the lifecycle decision (the brainstorm skill deliberately leaves it to you):

- If the synthesized round answers cover everything → obtain human confirmation, then call `chorus_pm_validate_elaboration` to resolve the elaboration. (Resolve needs `idea:admin` — see Step 5.6 if your key is `pm_agent`-preset.)
- If gaps remain → call `chorus_pm_start_elaboration` again to open a structured Round 2. Pick the depth yourself — do NOT re-prompt the user.

Either outcome ends Step 4.5; skip Step 5.

### Step 5: Elaborate on the Idea

**Every Idea should go through elaboration.** Skip only when requirements are completely unambiguous (e.g., bug fix with clear steps). Elaboration improves Proposal quality and reduces rejection cycles.

#### Simple Ideas (skip elaboration)

You may skip elaboration, but confirm with the user first before calling `chorus_pm_skip_elaboration`. Prefer not to skip on your own judgment alone.

```
chorus_pm_skip_elaborat