kickoff

Input Handling

Treat the current command arguments as this workflow's input. When invoked from a slash command, use the forwarded $ARGUMENTS value.

kickoff: Deep Codebase Research + MVP Path Discovery

Comprehensive codebase research, external best practices, and MVP implementation path with file:line evidence. Output: kickoff document with architecture insights, gap analysis, and implementation options saved to docs/tasks/{task_name}/kickoff/.

ARGUMENTS

$ARGUMENTS

Step 1: Acknowledge & Clarify

• Action — ImmediateReply: Respond before any tools.
  • If ARGUMENTS → acknowledge context, identify: what we're exploring, what decision we're heading toward, what success looks like
  • Else → prompt for project context
  • CRITICAL: No tool calls in this step

Step 2: Gather Context & Decompose

• Action — ReadMentionedDocs: Read referenced docs FULLY in main context (not subagent). Extract: vision, constraints, decisions made, open questions.
• Action — DecomposeResearchAreas: Break project into research areas. Consider: components to investigate, directories/files, architectural patterns, data flows, existing code to extend.
• Action — CreateResearchPlan: Use TodoWrite to track research subtasks.

Step 3: Deep Parallel Research

• Action — SpawnResearchAgents: Launch parallel agents for comprehensive context.

Agent	Task	Required Output
@finder	Find relevant files, entry points, handlers, models	File paths by domain
@analyst	Trace data flow, dependencies, behavior, edge cases	file:line refs for ALL findings
@patterns	Find similar implementations, patterns to follow/avoid	Code examples with file:line
@web-research	Best practices, similar solutions, pitfalls	Findings WITH LINKS

Strategy: locator → analyzer on findings → parallel for breadth. Spawn follow-ups if shallow. Demand file:line evidence.

3rd Party Libs: Use Context7 MCP for central libraries.

• Action — WaitForAgents: ALL agents must complete before synthesis. Update TodoWrite as each completes.

Step 4: Synthesize Understanding

• Action — CompileFindings: Synthesize with file:line refs throughout.

  • Codebase: Connect findings across components, document data flow, answer "how does codebase handle [area]?"
  • Architecture: Patterns to follow (with examples), conventions, constraints, reuse vs build new
  • External: Industry patterns (with links), best practices, pitfalls

• Action — PerformGapAnalysis: Current capabilities (with file refs) vs required capabilities. What's missing vs needs modification.

• Action — IdentifyMVPAndOptions:

  • MVP: Core value, minimum for value, what to defer (informed by codebase complexity)
  • Options: 2-3 approaches with: summary, key decisions, code to leverage (file refs), new work, effort sense, trade-offs
  • Decision points: Architecture, scope, technology, integration, patterns

Step 5: Generate Document

• Action — DetermineOutputDir:

  • Derive task_name from context (kebab-case)
  • OUT_DIR = user_specified || docs/tasks/{task_name}/kickoff
  • mkdir -p "$OUT_DIR"

• Action — CreateDocument: Structure with YAML frontmatter (date, git_commit, branch, repo, topic, tags, status).

  Sections: Title → Metadata → Project Context → Research Summary → Detailed Codebase Findings (by area, file:line refs, code snippets) → Code References (table) → Architecture Insights (patterns, conventions, constraints) → External Research (with links) → Gap Analysis → MVP Suggestion → Implementation Options (2-3 with trade-offs) → Decision Points → Open Questions → Related Resources

• Action — AddGitHubPermalinks: If on main/pushed, convert file refs to https://github.com/{owner}/{repo}/blob/{commit}/{file}#L{line}

• Action — SaveDocument: Save as {task_name}_kickoff.md (timestamp variant if exists). CRITICAL: Save before Step 6.

Step 6: Present & Scope

• Action — PresentSummary:

  Kickoff Complete — saved to {path}

  Vision: [1-2 sentences] What Exists: [key components with file:line refs] Architecture Insights: [patterns, conventions, constraints] External Learnings: [key insights with links] Gap: [have → need] MVP Path: [smallest valuable slice]

  Scoping Questions (before planning):

  1. [Scope/boundary question] — Option A (leverages code:line) vs Option B
  2. [Technical approach] — suggested vs alternative
  3. [Priority/constraint question]

• Action — EngageInScoping: Wait for response, ask follow-ups. No planning until ambiguities resolved. Research answerable questions instead of asking.

Step 7: Handle Follow-ups

• Action — HandleFollowUps:
  • If clarifications → update doc with ## Scoping Clarifications [timestamp]
  • If more research needed → spawn agents, demand file:line evidence, update doc
  • Continue until ambiguities resolved

Step 8: Transition to Scope

• Action — SummarizeAndTransition:

  Ready for Scope Definition

  Established: User problem, user value, key findings (file:line), decisions made, remaining ambiguities

  Options:

  1. "Proceed with scope" → spectre-scope with FROM_KICKOFF=true, SKIP_EXPLORATION=true
  2. "Skip to planning" → spectre-plan with kickoff doc context
  3. "Need to think" → spectre-handoff

• Action — ExecuteChoice:

  • If scope → invoke spectre-scope with: FROM_KICKOFF=true, KICKOFF_DOC={path}, SKIP_EXPLORATION=true, context summary
  • If planning → suggest spectre-plan
  • If pause → run spectre-handoff