Analyze (Orchestrator)

Run the full analytics pipeline in sequence: research, goal definition, brainstorming, PRD, architecture, and task breakdown. Produces a complete set of interlinked artifacts from a raw idea.

When to Use

• A feature request or idea needs the full treatment: analysis through to task list
• The problem is straightforward enough that all 6 steps can flow in one session
• You want to minimize manual skill invocation and let the pipeline run

When NOT to use:

• The problem is complex or ambiguous — run skills individually with more deliberation at each stage
• Only one phase is needed (e.g., just need a PRD for existing requirements) — invoke that skill directly
• Upstream artifacts already exist — pick up from the appropriate skill in the chain

Input

• A raw idea, feature request, or problem description from the user
• A codebase to analyze (current workspace or specified path)

Output

A complete artifact folder containing:

• context-map.md
• goal-definition.md
• brainstorming.md
• prd.md
• architecture.md
• tasks.md

The Pipeline

research → goal-definition → brainstorming → prd → architecture → breakdown

Each step produces an artifact that the next step consumes. Human review gates occur between phases.

The Process

Step 1: Determine Artifact Folder

Ask the user for the artifact folder, or accept one specified in chat:

"Where should I save the analysis artifacts? Provide a folder path (e.g. docs/analytics/user-auth/), or I'll use docs/analytics/ as default."

Create the folder if it doesn't exist.

Step 2: Run Research

Before scanning, check for existing project documentation listed in references/context-sources.md (docs/TechStack.md, docs/ProjectStructure.md). If they exist and are fresh, use them to accelerate the research phase.

Follow the research skill process:

• Scan codebase structure, tech stack, patterns, conventions
• Find rules files, note constraints
• Save context-map.md

Present a brief summary and confirm before continuing:

"Context mapped. Key findings: [tech stack], [N patterns identified], [any notable constraints]. Continue to goal definition?"

Step 3: Run Goal Definition

Follow the goal-definition skill process:

• Restate the idea as "How Might We"
• Ask 3-5 sharpening questions (one at a time)
• Surface assumptions
• Define testable success criteria
• Save goal-definition.md

Present the goal and confirm before continuing:

"Goal defined: [problem statement]. [N success criteria]. Continue to brainstorming?"

Step 4: Run Brainstorming

Follow the brainstorming skill process:

• Scan for prior art in the codebase
• Generate 2-3 approaches with trade-offs
• Present comparison and recommendation
• Get user to pick a direction
• Save brainstorming.md

Present the chosen direction and confirm before continuing:

"Direction chosen: [approach name]. Continue to PRD?"

Step 5: Run PRD

Follow the prd skill process:

• Ask 3-5 clarifying questions where gaps exist
• Write user stories with acceptance criteria
• Write functional requirements
• Define non-goals and success metrics
• Save prd.md

Present the PRD summary and confirm before continuing:

"PRD complete: [N user stories], [N functional requirements], [N non-goals]. Continue to architecture?"

Step 6: Run Architecture

Follow the architecture skill process:

• Identify components with responsibilities and locations
• Map data flow and dependency graph
• Document tech decisions and integration points
• Define boundaries, identify risks
• Save architecture.md

Present architecture summary and confirm before continuing:

"Architecture designed: [N components], [key tech decisions]. Continue to task breakdown?"

Step 7: Run Breakdown

Follow the breakdown skill process:

• Map dependency graph to build order
• Slice vertically, size each task
• Write tasks with acceptance criteria and verification
• Group into phases with checkpoints
• Classify parallelization opportunities
• Save tasks.md

Present the final summary:

"Pipeline complete. Artifact folder [path] contains:

• context-map.md — codebase context
• goal-definition.md — problem and success criteria
• brainstorming.md — approaches and chosen direction
• prd.md — requirements with acceptance criteria
• architecture.md — technical design
• tasks.md — [N tasks] in [N phases], ready for implementation"

Human Review Gates

Between every phase, ask the user to confirm before proceeding. Do not skip gates.

If the user wants to revise an earlier phase:

1. Go back to that phase
2. Update the artifact
3. Assess whether downstream artifacts need updating
4. Continue from the revised phase forward

If the user wants to stop mid-pipeline, that's fine. The artifacts saved so far are valid. The user can resume from any point by invoking the appropriate skill directly.

Common Rationalizations

Red Flags

• Skipping review gates between phases
• Proceeding when the user expressed doubt or confusion
• Producing a task list without the user confirming the PRD
• Artifacts that don't reference each other (broken chain)
• Not saving artifacts to the folder (keeping everything in conversation)

Verification

At the end of the pipeline, confirm:

• All 6 artifacts exist in the artifact folder
• Each artifact references its upstream artifacts
• User confirmed at each review gate
• Task list has acceptance criteria and verification for every task
• Task dependencies are ordered correctly
• Artifact folder path communicated to user