---
title: Level 4 - Brainstorm Workflows
description: Multi-role brainstorming workflows for complex feature design and architecture exploration
sidebar_position: 5
---

import Mermaid from '@theme/Mermaid';

# Level 4: Brainstorm Workflows

**Complexity**: High | **Artifacts**: Multi-role analysis docs | **Roles**: 3-9 | **Execution**: Phase 1/3 sequential, Phase 2 parallel

Level 4 workflows provide multi-role brainstorming with complete planning and execution. They're designed for exploratory requirements, uncertain implementation approaches, and multi-dimensional trade-offs.

## Overview

<Mermaid
  chart={`
    flowchart TD
        Start([User Input]) --> BS[brainstorm:auto-parallel]
        BS --> P1[Phase 1: Interactive<br/>Framework Generation]
        P1 --> P2[Phase 2: Parallel<br/>Role Analysis]
        P2 --> P3[Phase 3: Synthesis<br/>Integration]

        P3 --> Plan{Need detailed<br/>planning?}
        Plan -->|Yes| Verify[plan-verify]
        Plan -->|No| Execute[execute]
        Verify --> Execute

        Execute --> Review{Review?}
        Review -->|Yes| Rev[review-session-cycle]
        Review -->|No| Test{Tests?}
        Rev --> RevFix[review-cycle-fix]
        RevFix --> Test

        Test -->|Yes| TFG[test-fix-gen]
        Test -->|No| Complete([session:complete])

        TFG --> TCE[test-cycle-execute]
        TCE --> Complete

        classDef startend fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#388e3c
        classDef workflow fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1976d2
        classDef decision fill:#fff9c4,stroke:#f57c00
        classDef execute fill:#c5e1a5,stroke:#388e3c

        class Start,Complete startend,Plan,Review,Test decision,BS,Verify,Rev,RevFix,TFG,TCE workflow,P1,P2,P3,Execute execute
  `}
/>

## Included Workflow: brainstorm:auto-parallel

**Multi-role brainstorming + Complete planning + Execution**

### Command

```bash
/workflow:brainstorm:auto-parallel "Real-time notification system architecture" [--count N] [--style-skill package]
/workflow:plan --session {sessionId}
/workflow:plan-verify
/workflow:execute
```

### Flow Diagram

<Mermaid
  chart={`
    flowchart TD
        A([Start]) --> B[Phase 1: Interactive<br/>Framework Generation]
        B --> C[/workflow:brainstorm:artifacts/]

        C --> D[Topic analysis<br/>Generate questions]
        D --> E[Role selection<br/>User confirmation]
        E --> F[Role question collection]
        F --> G[Conflict detection<br/>and resolution]
        G --> H[Generate guidance-<br/>specification.md]

        H --> I[Phase 2: Parallel Role Analysis]

        I --> J1[N x Task<br/>conceptual-planning-<br/>agent]
        J1 --> K1{Role 1}
        J1 --> K2{Role 2}
        J1 --> K3{Role 3}
        J1 --> K4{Role N}

        K1 --> L1[Analyze independently]
        K2 --> L2[Analyze independently]
        K3 --> L3[Analyze independently]
        K4 --> L4[Analyze independently]

        L1 --> M[Parallel generate<br/>{role}/analysis.md]
        L2 --> M
        L3 --> M
        L4 --> M

        M --> N[Phase 3: Synthesis Integration]
        N --> O[/workflow:brainstorm:<br/>synthesis/]
        O --> P[Integrate all role<br/>analyses]
        P --> Q[Synthesize into<br/>synthesis-specification.md]

        Q --> R([Brainstorm Complete])

        classDef startend fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#388e3c
        classDef action fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1976d2
        classDef phase fill:#fff9c4,stroke:#f57c00
        classDef parallel fill:#ffecb3,stroke:#ffa000

        class A,R startend,B,C,H,N,O,P,Q action,D,E,F,G,J1,K1,K2,K3,K4,L1,L2,L3,L4,M phase
  `}
/>

### Characteristics

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| **Complexity** | High |
| **Artifacts** | Multi-role analysis docs + `IMPL_PLAN.md` |
| **Role Count** | 3-9 (default 3) |
| **Execution Mode** | Phase 1/3 sequential, Phase 2 parallel |

### Process Phases

#### Phase 1: Interactive Framework Generation

```bash
/workflow:brainstorm:artifacts "Real-time notification system architecture"
```

**Steps**:
1. **Topic Analysis** - Analyze the topic, generate key questions
2. **Role Selection** - User confirms role selection
3. **Role Question Collection** - Assign questions to roles
4. **Conflict Detection** - Detect and resolve role conflicts
5. **Generate Framework** - Create `guidance-specification.md`

#### Phase 2: Parallel Role Analysis

```bash
# Executes N conceptual-planning-agent tasks in parallel
Task(subagent_type: "conceptual-planning-agent", prompt: "Role: {role}, Topic: {topic}, Questions: {questions}")
```

**Each role**:
- Receives role-specific guidance
- Analyzes topic independently
- Generates `{role}/analysis.md`
- Optional: Sub-documents (max 5)

#### Phase 3: Synthesis Integration

```bash
/workflow:brainstorm:synthesis --session {sessionId}
```

**Steps**:
1. **Collect** all role analyses
2. **Integrate** perspectives into synthesis
3. **Generate** `synthesis-specification.md`
4. **Identify** key decisions and trade-offs

### Available Roles

| Role | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `system-architect` | System Architect - Overall system design |
| `ui-designer` | UI Designer - User interface design |
| `ux-expert` | UX Expert - User experience optimization |
| `product-manager` | Product Manager - Product requirements |
| `product-owner` | Product Owner - Business value |
| `data-architect` | Data Architect - Data structure design |
| `scrum-master` | Scrum Master - Process and team |
| `subject-matter-expert` | Domain Expert - Subject matter expertise |
| `test-strategist` | Test Strategist - Testing strategy |

### Artifact Structure

```
.workflow/active/WFS-realtime-notifications/
├── workflow-session.json
└── .brainstorming/
    ├── guidance-specification.md      # Framework (Phase 1)
    ├── system-architect/
    │   ├── analysis.md                # Main document
    │   └── analysis-scale-{}.md       # Sub-documents (optional, max 5)
    ├── ux-expert/
    │   ├── analysis.md
    │   └── analysis-accessibility.md
    ├── data-architect/
    │   ├── analysis.md
    │   └── analysis-storage.md
    └── synthesis-specification.md     # Integration (Phase 3)
```

### Use Cases

### When to Use

- New feature design
- System architecture refactoring
- Exploratory requirements
- Uncertain implementation approach
- Multi-dimensional trade-offs needed

### When NOT to Use

- Clear requirements (use Level 2-3)
- Time-sensitive tasks (use Level 2)
- Single-perspective sufficient (use Level 2-3)

### Examples

#### Example 1: Architecture Design

```bash
/workflow:brainstorm:auto-parallel "Microservices architecture for e-commerce platform" --count 5
```

**Roles**: system-architect, data-architect, ux-expert, product-manager, test-strategist

**Output**:
- Multiple architectural perspectives
- Data flow considerations
- User experience implications
- Business requirements alignment
- Testing strategy recommendations

#### Example 2: Feature Exploration

```bash
/workflow:brainstorm:auto-parallel "AI-powered recommendations" --count 3
```

**Roles**: system-architect, product-manager, subject-matter-expert

**Output**:
- Technical feasibility analysis
- Business value assessment
- Domain-specific considerations

## With-File Workflows

**With-File workflows** provide documented exploration with multi-CLI collaboration. They are self-contained and generate comprehensive session artifacts.

| Workflow | Purpose | Level | Key Features |
|----------|---------|-------|--------------|
| **brainstorm-with-file** | Multi-perspective ideation | 4 | Gemini/Codex/Claude perspectives, diverge-converge cycles |
| **debug-with-file** | Hypothesis-driven debugging | 3 | Gemini validation, understanding evolution, NDJSON logging |
| **analyze-with-file** | Collaborative analysis | 3 | Multi-round Q&A, CLI exploration, documented discussions |

### brainstorm-with-file

**Multi-perspective ideation with documented exploration**

```bash
/workflow:brainstorm-with-file "Notification system redesign"
```

**Output Folder**: `.workflow/.brainstorm/`

**Characteristics**:
- Diverge-converge cycles
- Multiple CLI perspectives (Gemini, Codex, Claude)
- Built-in post-completion options (create plan, issue, deep analysis)

### debug-with-file

**Hypothesis-driven debugging with documented investigation**

```bash
/workflow:debug-with-file "System randomly crashes under load"
```

**Output Folder**: `.workflow/.debug/`

**Characteristics**:
- Hypothesis-driven iteration
- Gemini validation for hypotheses
- Understanding evolution tracking
- NDJSON logging for reproducibility

### analyze-with-file

**Collaborative analysis with documented discussions**

```bash
/workflow:analyze-with-file "Understand authentication architecture design decisions"
```

**Output Folder**: `.workflow/.analysis/`

**Characteristics**:
- Multi-round Q&A
- CLI exploration integration
- Documented discussion threads

## Detection Keywords

| Workflow | Keywords |
|----------|----------|
| **brainstorm** | 头脑风暴, 创意, 发散思维, multi-perspective, compare perspectives, 探索可能 |
| **debug-file** | 深度调试, 假设验证, systematic debug, hypothesis debug, 调试记录 |
| **analyze-file** | 协作分析, 深度理解, collaborative analysis, explore concept, 理解架构 |

## Comparison: With-File vs Standard Workflows

| Aspect | With-File Workflows | Standard Workflows |
|--------|---------------------|-------------------|
| **Documentation** | E evolving documents | Session artifacts |
| **Multi-CLI** | Built-in (Gemini/Codex/Claude) | Optional |
| **Iteration** | Self-contained loop | Manual continuation |
| **Post-Completion** | Built-in options | Manual next steps |
| **Best For** | Documented exploration | Structured execution |

## Level 4 Summary

| Aspect | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Complexity** | High |
| **Artifacts** | Multi-role analysis + Session |
| **Planning** | Multi-perspective convergence |
| **Execution** | Standard Level 3 execution |
| **Best For** | Complex, exploratory tasks |

## Related Workflows

- [Level 3: Standard](./level-3-standard.mdx) - Standard planning workflows
- [Level 5: Intelligent](./level-5-intelligent.mdx) - Automated orchestration
- [FAQ](./faq.mdx) - Common questions

## Command Reference

See [Commands Documentation](../commands/general/ccw.mdx) for:
- `/workflow:brainstorm:auto-parallel` - Multi-role brainstorming
- `/workflow:brainstorm-with-file` - Documented ideation
- `/workflow:debug-with-file` - Hypothesis-driven debugging
- `/workflow:analyze-with-file` - Collaborative analysis