Continue thinking chain

python scripts/sequential_think_cli.py think
--thought "Based on step 1, I hypothesize that..."
--thought-number 2
--total-thoughts 5

Revise a previous thought

python scripts/sequential_think_cli.py think
--thought "Reconsidering step 1, I realize..."
--thought-number 3
--total-thoughts 5
--is-revision
--revises-thought 1

Branch into alternative path

python scripts/sequential_think_cli.py think
--thought "Alternative approach: what if we..."
--thought-number 4
--total-thoughts 6
--branch-from 2
--branch-id "alt-approach"

Final thought (complete chain)

python scripts/sequential_think_cli.py think
--thought "Conclusion: the solution is..."
--thought-number 5
--total-thoughts 5
--no-next

View thought history

python scripts/sequential_think_cli.py history [--format json|text]

Clear thought history

python scripts/sequential_think_cli.py clear


## Core Principles

### Iterative Thinking Process
- Each tool call = one "thought" in the chain
- Build upon, question, or revise previous thoughts
- Express uncertainty when it exists

### Dynamic Thought Count
- Start with initial estimate of `totalThoughts`
- Adjust up/down as understanding evolves
- Add more thoughts even after reaching initial end

### Hypothesis-Driven Approach
1. Generate hypotheses as potential solutions emerge
2. Verify hypotheses based on chain-of-thought steps
3. Repeat until satisfied with solution

### Completion Criteria
- Only set `nextThoughtNeeded: false` when truly finished
- Must have satisfactory, verified answer
- Don't rush to conclusion

## When to Use

| Scenario | Use Sequential Think |
|----------|---------------------|
| Complex debugging (3+ layers) | ✅ Yes |
| Architectural analysis | ✅ Yes |
| Multi-component investigation | ✅ Yes |
| Performance bottleneck analysis | ✅ Yes |
| Root cause analysis | ✅ Yes |
| Simple explanation | ❌ No |
| Single-file change | ❌ No |
| Straightforward fix | ❌ No |

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|-------------|
| `thought` | string | Yes | Current thinking step content |
| `thoughtNumber` | int | Yes | Current position in sequence (1-based) |
| `totalThoughts` | int | Yes | Estimated total thoughts needed |
| `nextThoughtNeeded` | bool | No | Whether more thinking needed (default: true) |
| `isRevision` | bool | No | Whether this revises previous thinking |
| `revisesThought` | int | No | Which thought number is being reconsidered |
| `branchFromThought` | int | No | Branching point thought number |
| `branchId` | string | No | Identifier for current branch |
| `needsMoreThoughts` | bool | No | Signal that more thoughts needed beyond estimate |

## Output Format

```json
{
  "thoughtNumber": 3,
  "totalThoughts": 5,
  "nextThoughtNeeded": true,
  "branches": ["alt-approach"],
  "thoughtHistoryLength": 3
}

Workflow Pattern

Phase 1: Problem Decomposition

Thought 1: Identify problem scope and constraints
Thought 2: Break into sub-problems
Thought 3: Identify dependencies between sub-problems

Phase 2: Hypothesis Generation

Thought 4: Generate initial hypothesis
Thought 5: Identify evidence needed to verify

Phase 3: Verification & Iteration

Thought 6: Test hypothesis against evidence
Thought 7: Revise if needed (isRevision=true)
Thought 8: Branch if alternative path promising

Phase 4: Conclusion

Final Thought: Synthesize findings, provide answer (nextThoughtNeeded=false)

Best Practices

Start with estimate, adjust as needed
- Initial totalThoughts is just a guess
- Increase if problem more complex than expected
- Decrease if solution found early
Use revisions for course correction
- Mark isRevision=true when reconsidering
- Reference revisesThought for clarity
Branch for alternative approaches
- Use branchFromThought to explore alternatives
- Give meaningful branchId names
Filter irrelevant information
- Each thought should advance toward solution
- Ignore tangential details
Don't rush completion
- Only nextThoughtNeeded=false when truly done
- Verify hypothesis before concluding

Anti-Patterns

Prohibited	Correct
Use for simple tasks	Reserve for complex multi-step problems
Skip thought numbers	Always increment correctly
Conclude without verification	Verify hypothesis before final thought
Ignore previous thoughts	Build upon or explicitly revise
Fixed totalThoughts	Adjust as understanding evolves

Integration with Other Tools

With ACE-Tool

ACE-Tool → align current state → Sequential Think → analyze and plan

With Context7

Sequential Think → coordinate analysis → Context7 → provide official patterns

With Serena

Serena → symbol-level exploration → Sequential Think → systematic analysis

sequential-think

Sequential Think

Execution Methods