# dotfile-brainstorm

Turns a vague project idea into a design doc with a Pipeline Configuration section. The doc then feeds dotfile-from-spec, which produces the pipeline DOT file.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · ★ 336
- Author: harperreed
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/harperreed/dotfiles/tree/HEAD/.claude/skills-archive/dot-file-brainstorm/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-15
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/dotfile-brainstorm

## What it does

The skill walks through brainstorming in stages. First it explores the repo context, asks clarifying questions one at a time, and proposes two or three approaches with trade-offs. Then come pipeline-specific questions: build phases, test frameworks, linters, retry counts, and points where work can run in parallel.

The output is a design doc saved to `docs/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>-design.md`. Its Pipeline Configuration section captures everything `dotfile-from-spec` needs. That section is the handoff artifact, not the DOT file itself.

A hard gate blocks DOT generation and any call to `dotfile-from-spec` until you approve the complete design. Human gates default to off, so the pipeline runs headless; `wait.human` nodes appear only if you ask for them. The skill insists on this even for simple projects, because a skipped brainstorm is where assumptions start costing time.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill dot-file-brainstorm -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/dot-file-brainstorm/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/dot-file-brainstorm/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill dot-file-brainstorm -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/dot-file-brainstorm/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill dot-file-brainstorm -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/dot-file-brainstorm/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install harperreed/dotfiles dot-file-brainstorm
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/dot-file-brainstorm/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill dot-file-brainstorm -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/harperreed/dotfiles --path .claude/skills-archive/dot-file-brainstorm
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/dot-file-brainstorm/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill dot-file-brainstorm -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/harperreed/dotfiles/tree/HEAD/.claude/skills-archive/dot-file-brainstorm/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- break a loose idea into architecture and components
- fill the Pipeline Configuration block for dotfile-from-spec
- pick test frameworks, linters, and coverage targets
- decide whether the pipeline needs human approval gates
- commit a design doc before any DOT generation

## Example prompts
- Brainstorm my project idea into a design doc for the pipeline
- I have a feature but no spec. Walk me through the dotfile-brainstorm steps
- Ask about build phases, testing, and quality tools, then show the design section by section

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From the same set: [harperreed/dotfiles](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/harperreed/dotfiles.md) — 8 cards

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md