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name: interview description: Interview the user to build a detailed specification before implementing a feature. Use when requirements are ambiguous or feature has significant complexity.

Interview (Spec-Based Development)

Description

Interview the user to build a detailed specification before implementing a feature. This ensures requirements are fully understood and edge cases are considered upfront.

When to Use

• Starting a new feature
• Requirements are ambiguous
• Feature has significant complexity
• Multiple valid implementation approaches exist

Steps

1. Initial Context

• Read any existing spec file (@SPEC.md)
• Review related code areas
• Understand current architecture

2. Core Requirements Interview

Ask about using AskUserQuestion:

• What is the primary goal?
• Who are the users?
• What's the happy path?
• What does success look like?

3. Technical Deep Dive

Ask non-obvious questions about:

• Data models and storage
• API contracts (if applicable)
• State management
• Performance requirements
• Scalability needs

4. Edge Cases & Error Handling

• What happens when X fails?
• How should Y edge case be handled?
• What are the security considerations?
• What are the rollback scenarios?

5. UX/UI Details (if applicable)

• User flow and interactions
• Loading and error states
• Responsive behavior
• Accessibility requirements

6. Integration Points

• External services involved
• Dependencies on other features
• Backward compatibility needs
• Migration requirements

7. Testing Strategy

• What needs unit tests?
• Integration test scenarios
• E2E test cases
• Performance benchmarks

8. Write Specification

Compile answers into structured spec:

Copy# Feature: [Name]

## Overview
[Summary]

## Requirements
- Functional requirements
- Non-functional requirements

## Technical Design
- Architecture
- Data models
- API contracts

## Edge Cases
- [Case 1]
- [Case 2]

## Testing Plan
- Unit tests
- Integration tests
- E2E tests

## Open Questions
- [Any unresolved items]

9. Review & Confirm

• Present spec to user
• Get explicit approval
• Note any changes

Example Usage

Copy/interview "Add user authentication"
/interview  # Start fresh interview

Tips

• Ask one focused question at a time
• Don't ask obvious questions
• Challenge assumptions
• Explore tradeoffs explicitly
• Document decisions and rationale