---
name: ao-idea
description: "Capture and research ideas, creating enriched issues in the backlog."
---

**MANDATORY: Always use the ao-worker agent for this workflow.**

Use the `ao-idea` skill to capture and research ideas.

## Quick Usage

```
/ao-idea <your idea description>
```

Or simply describe your idea and ask to capture it.

## When to Use

- You have a vague concept that needs fleshing out
- You want to research feasibility before committing to work
- You want to capture a brainstorm for later triage
- You have an idea but aren't sure how to implement it

## Options

| Mode | Description | When to Use |
|------|-------------|-------------|
| **Full** (default) | Capture + research + create enriched issue | Most ideas |
| **Minimal** | Just capture, no research | Quick notes, obvious ideas |

For minimal mode, say "just capture it" or "no research needed".

## What You Get

The skill creates an IDEA issue (priority: backlog) in the ao store with:

- **Original idea** — your raw text preserved
- **Problem statement** — what problem this solves
- **Research findings** — existing solutions, libraries, challenges
- **Suggested approach** — high-level implementation direction
- **Next steps** — triage, refine, or implement

## Examples

**Full mode:**
```
/ao-idea What if we could export issues to a Kanban board in Miro?
```

**Minimal mode:**
```
/ao-idea Add keyboard shortcuts to TUI — just capture it
```

## After Capture

The idea is added to ao with `priority: backlog`. Use `/ao-task triage` later to assign priority.
