se-ideate

Generate and critique candidate ideas grounded in repository context.

Updated May 7, 2026

Search Tags:#brainstorming #ideation #evaluation #process #AI-assisted #software-engineering #grounded

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/simonwjackson/pi-software-engineering --skill se-ideate

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: se-ideate
Source: https://github.com/simonwjackson/pi-software-engineering/tree/main/skills/se-ideate
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/simonwjackson/pi-software-engineering --skill se-ideate

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Grounded ideation is hard: teams struggle to surface high-value ideas that fit the context, ground them in real references, and avoid vague brainstorms.

Core Features & Use Cases

Generate and critically evaluate ideas grounded in repository context or user-provided context.
Provide structured rationale with warrants (direct, external, or reasoned) and a meeting-test check.
Manage ideation workflow across topics, with Phase 1 grounding, Phase 2 generation, Phase 3 critique, Phase 4 survivors, and Phase 6 decision points.

Quick Start

Give se-ideate a topic and context to start a grounded ideation run.

Frequently Asked Questions about se-ideate

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

FAQPage Schema

How do I generate software engineering ideas grounded in my codebase?▼

Provide a topic and repository context to start a grounded ideation run. The process grounds the topic in your codebase or user-provided context, optionally performs web research, and generates candidate ideas with structured rationale.

What is the best way to critically evaluate brainstormed ideas for a software project?▼

Apply an adversarial critique phase to prune generated ideas down to survivors. This approach filters out vague brainstorms by attaching warrants and meeting-test rationale to each candidate idea before final selection.

Can I use AI-assisted ideation outside of my repository context?▼

Yes, the ideation process respects different modes, allowing you to operate within a repository context or elsewhere using user-provided context to ground the generated ideas.

How does the workflow structure work for grounded ideation in software engineering?▼

The workflow spans six phases: Phase 1 grounds the topic, Phase 2 generates candidates, Phase 3 applies critique, Phase 4 selects survivors, and Phase 6 handles decision points with clear persistence and handoff options.

Why should I use grounded ideation instead of standard brainstorming for software development?▼

Grounded ideation surfaces high-value ideas that fit the context by attaching direct, external, or reasoned warrants to candidates. This avoids vague brainstorms and ensures ideas are evaluated against a meeting-test check before surviving.

What do I need to start an AI-assisted ideation session for my development team?▼

You need a defined topic and context, either from your repository or provided externally. The tool uses this input to ground the generation process and produce evaluated ideas with rationale for team handoff.