Feature Analyzer

Help turn ideas into fully formed designs and specs through structured information gathering and collaborative validation.

Announce at start: "I'm using the feature-analyzer skill to design this feature."

Phase 1: Context Discovery

First, explore the codebase to understand:

• Project structure and tech stack

• Existing patterns and conventions

• Related features or modules

• Recent changes in relevant areas

Phase 2: Structured Information Gathering

Use AskUserQuestion to batch collect information efficiently. Each call can ask up to 4 questions.

Round 1: Core Requirements (4 questions)

{ "questions": [ { "question": "What is the primary goal of this feature?", "header": "Goal", "multiSelect": false, "options": [ { "label": "New Functionality", "description": "Add entirely new capability to the system" }, { "label": "Enhancement", "description": "Improve or extend existing feature" }, { "label": "Bug Fix", "description": "Fix incorrect behavior or issue" }, { "label": "Refactoring", "description": "Improve code quality without changing behavior" } ] }, { "question": "Who are the primary users of this feature?", "header": "Users", "multiSelect": true, "options": [ { "label": "End Users", "description": "External customers using the product" }, { "label": "Admins", "description": "Internal administrators or operators" }, { "label": "Developers", "description": "Other developers using APIs or SDKs" }, { "label": "System", "description": "Automated processes or background jobs" } ] }, { "question": "What is the expected scope of this feature?", "header": "Scope", "multiSelect": false, "options": [ { "label": "Small (1-2 days)", "description": "Single component, limited changes" }, { "label": "Medium (3-5 days)", "description": "Multiple components, moderate complexity" }, { "label": "Large (1-2 weeks)", "description": "Cross-cutting concerns, significant changes" }, { "label": "Unsure", "description": "Need to explore further to estimate" } ] }, { "question": "Are there any hard deadlines or constraints?", "header": "Timeline", "multiSelect": false, "options": [ { "label": "Urgent", "description": "Need this ASAP, within days" }, { "label": "This Sprint", "description": "Should be done within current sprint" }, { "label": "Flexible", "description": "No hard deadline, quality over speed" }, { "label": "Planning Only", "description": "Just designing now, implementing later" } ] } ] }

Round 2: Technical Requirements (4 questions)

{ "questions": [ { "question": "Which layers of the system will this feature touch?", "header": "Layers", "multiSelect": true, "options": [ { "label": "Data Model", "description": "Database schema, models, migrations" }, { "label": "Business Logic", "description": "Services, domain logic, rules" }, { "label": "API", "description": "REST/GraphQL endpoints, contracts" }, { "label": "UI", "description": "Frontend components, user interface" } ] }, { "question": "What are the key quality requirements?", "header": "Quality", "multiSelect": true, "options": [ { "label": "High Performance", "description": "Must handle high load or be very fast" }, { "label": "Strong Security", "description": "Sensitive data, auth, access control" }, { "label": "High Reliability", "description": "Cannot fail, needs redundancy" }, { "label": "Easy Maintenance", "description": "Needs to be easily understood and modified" } ] }, { "question": "How should errors be handled?", "header": "Errors", "multiSelect": false, "options": [ { "label": "Fail Fast", "description": "Stop immediately on any error" }, { "label": "Graceful Degrade", "description": "Continue with reduced functionality" }, { "label": "Retry & Recover", "description": "Automatic retry with recovery logic" }, { "label": "Context Dependent", "description": "Different strategies for different cases" } ] }, { "question": "What testing approach is preferred?", "header": "Testing", "multiSelect": false, "options": [ { "label": "TDD (Recommended)", "description": "Write tests first, then implementation" }, { "label": "Test After", "description": "Implement first, add tests after" }, { "label": "Minimal Tests", "description": "Only critical path testing" }, { "label": "No Tests", "description": "Skip testing for this feature" } ] } ] }

Round 3: Integration & Dependencies (4 questions)

{ "questions": [ { "question": "Does this feature need external integrations?", "header": "Integrations", "multiSelect": true, "options": [ { "label": "Database", "description": "New tables, queries, or migrations" }, { "label": "External APIs", "description": "Third-party service calls" }, { "label": "Message Queue", "description": "Async processing, events" }, { "label": "None", "description": "No external integrations needed" } ] }, { "question": "Are there dependencies on other features or teams?", "header": "Dependencies", "multiSelect": true, "options": [ { "label": "Auth System", "description": "User authentication or authorization" }, { "label": "Other Features", "description": "Depends on features being developed" }, { "label": "External Team", "description": "Needs input from another team" }, { "label": "None", "description": "Fully independent feature" } ] }, { "question": "How should we handle backwards compatibility?", "header": "Compat", "multiSelect": false, "options": [ { "label": "Must Maintain", "description": "Cannot break existing clients" }, { "label": "Version API", "description": "Create new version, deprecate old" }, { "label": "Breaking OK", "description": "Can make breaking changes" }, { "label": "Not Applicable", "description": "New feature, no existing users" } ] }, { "question": "What documentation is needed?", "header": "Docs", "multiSelect": true, "options": [ { "label": "API Docs", "description": "Endpoint documentation" }, { "label": "User Guide", "description": "How-to for end users" }, { "label": "Dev Guide", "description": "Technical implementation details" }, { "label": "None", "description": "No documentation needed" } ] } ] }

Round 4: Clarifying Questions (Context-Dependent)

Based on previous answers, ask follow-up questions. Examples:

If UI layer selected:

{ "questions": [ { "question": "What UI framework/approach should we use?", "header": "UI Tech", "multiSelect": false, "options": [ { "label": "React", "description": "React components with hooks" }, { "label": "Vue", "description": "Vue.js components" }, { "label": "Server-Side", "description": "Server-rendered HTML templates" }, { "label": "Existing Pattern", "description": "Follow current project conventions" } ] } ] }

If High Security selected:

{ "questions": [ { "question": "What security measures are required?", "header": "Security", "multiSelect": true, "options": [ { "label": "Input Validation", "description": "Strict input sanitization" }, { "label": "Rate Limiting", "description": "Prevent abuse and DoS" }, { "label": "Audit Logging", "description": "Track all sensitive actions" }, { "label": "Encryption", "description": "Encrypt data at rest/transit" } ] } ] }

Phase 3: Approach Exploration

After gathering requirements, propose 2-3 approaches:

Approach Options

Option A: [Name] (Recommended)

Pros: ... Cons: ... Best for: ...

Option B: [Name]

Pros: ... Cons: ... Best for: ...

Option C: [Name]

Pros: ... Cons: ... Best for: ...

Use AskUserQuestion to confirm approach:

{ "questions": [ { "question": "Which approach would you like to proceed with?", "header": "Approach", "multiSelect": false, "options": [ { "label": "Option A (Recommended)", "description": "Brief summary of approach A" }, { "label": "Option B", "description": "Brief summary of approach B" }, { "label": "Option C", "description": "Brief summary of approach C" } ] } ] }

Phase 4: Design Presentation

Present design in sections (300-500 words each), validate after each:

• Architecture Overview - High-level structure

• Data Model - Entities, relationships, schema

• API Design - Endpoints, request/response

• Component Design - Internal modules, interfaces

• Error Handling - Error cases, recovery strategies

• Testing Strategy - What and how to test

After each section, use AskUserQuestion:

{ "questions": [ { "question": "Does this section look correct?", "header": "Review", "multiSelect": false, "options": [ { "label": "Looks Good", "description": "Continue to next section" }, { "label": "Minor Changes", "description": "Small adjustments needed" }, { "label": "Major Revision", "description": "Significant changes required" }, { "label": "Questions", "description": "Need clarification before proceeding" } ] } ] }

Phase 5: Documentation & Tasks

Save Design Document

Write to docs/designs/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>-design.md :

Feature: [Name]

Summary

[Brief description]

Requirements

[From Phase 2 answers]

Architecture

[From Phase 4]

Implementation Tasks

[Task checklist]

Generate Implementation Tasks

Implementation Tasks

• Task Title priority:1 phase:model time:15min

  • files: src/file1.py, tests/test_file1.py
  • Write failing test for X
  • Run test, verify it fails
  • Implement minimal code
  • Run test, verify it passes
  • Commit

• Another Task priority:2 phase:api deps:Task Title time:10min

  • files: src/api.py
  • Write failing test
  • Implement and verify
  • Commit

Phase 6: Execution Handoff

{ "questions": [ { "question": "How would you like to proceed with implementation?", "header": "Next Step", "multiSelect": false, "options": [ { "label": "Execute Now", "description": "Run /feature-pipeline in this session" }, { "label": "New Session", "description": "Start fresh session for implementation" }, { "label": "Later", "description": "Save design, implement manually later" }, { "label": "Revise Design", "description": "Go back and modify the design" } ] } ] }

Key Principles

• Batch questions efficiently - Use all 4 question slots when appropriate

• Use multiSelect for non-exclusive options - Layers, features, requirements

• Use single-select for decisions - Approach, timeline, strategy

• Mark recommendations - Add "(Recommended)" to preferred options

• Progressive refinement - General → Specific questions

• Validate incrementally - Check understanding at each phase

• YAGNI ruthlessly - Remove unnecessary features from designs