ideate

Guides fuzzy ideas through a pressure-test funnel into a locked CONCEPT_BRIEF.md roadmap.

83|8|Updated Jun 9, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/nelsonwerd/idea-to-ship-skills --skill ideate-nelsonwerd
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: ideate
Source: https://github.com/nelsonwerd/idea-to-ship-skills/tree/main/skills/ideate
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/nelsonwerd/idea-to-ship-skills --skill ideate-nelsonwerd

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? Unstructured ideation with AI specs too early, forgets prior decisions, and never defines a finish line. This Skill runs a disciplined explore → pressure-test → converge funnel that ends in one living CONCEPT_BRIEF.md holding a locked concept, honest verdict, and phased roadmap. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Structured ideation funnel: Frame, diverge with 5-7 comparable options, pressure-test with a red-team battery, then lock decisions one at a time into a persistent brief edited in place. - Two modes: Greenfield for blank-slate ideas and refinement for evaluating or rebuilding an existing repo, with a parity contract and pre-mortem to prevent drift. - Honest-advisor stance: Forces a success metric and kill criterion before any roadmap, gives independent verdicts before asking for the user's view, and hands off cleanly to the prompt-pack skill for building. - Use Case: A founder says "I have an idea for a shared-inbox tool — is it worth building?" The Skill pressure-tests viability, locks a beachhead persona and scope, and produces docs/CONCEPT_BRIEF.md ready for build-prompt generation. ## Quick Start Ask the AI to pressure-test your idea and turn it into a locked concept brief with a success metric, kill criterion, and phased roadmap.

Frequently Asked Questions about ideate

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I validate a product idea before building it?▼

Run the idea through a structured funnel: frame constraints and a success metric, explore comparable options, then pressure-test with competitor analysis, viability economics, and a red-team pass. The outcome is a go, iterate, or kill verdict recorded in a concept brief.

What is a CONCEPT_BRIEF.md and how is it used?▼

CONCEPT_BRIEF.md is a single self-contained markdown file holding the locked concept, honest verdict, scope, and phased roadmap. It is edited in place every session and handed to the prompt-pack skill, which converts the roadmap into sequenced build prompts.

Should I rebuild or refactor my existing app?▼

Use refinement mode: it runs a four-lens assessment of what exists, its viability, quality, and an honest take, then presents forks like tweak versus refactor versus rebuild with a recommended default. A parity contract and pre-mortem prevent drifting from what already works.

When should I not use idea validation before coding?▼

Skip it when the concept is already settled and only needs building — go straight to build-prompt generation. It also does not fit pure factual research with no decision attached, or soundness audits of existing code, which belong to a deep-dive audit skill.

Does ideate write code or build prompts?▼

No. It is a bounded phase that ends at a locked concept brief and offers a handoff to the prompt-pack skill. It deliberately refuses to write build prompts, scaffold code, or manage execution.