Brainstorming

When to Use

• Fuzzy premise with an anchor (problem, audience, constraint) but no shape — "I need something for X but don't know [what shape/form it takes, how it works, how to implement it, what the right approach is]."
• Stuck direction: problem is clear, solution shape isn't
• Competing options: 2–3 candidate approaches; want pressure-testing
• Cross-domain design: software, writing, talks, events, naming, curricula
• Rubber-duck / organize own thinking (no decision required)

When Not to Use

• Narrow binary decisions — just ask directly
• Retrospective review / postmortem
• Reframing whether the presenting question is the "real" question
• Implementing code from a finalized design — use the appropriate implementation skill
• Narrow bug fixes, mechanical refactors, formatting passes

Invocation Notice