HE Intake
Create a decision-ready spec artifact for a new initiative.
Output
- •
docs/specs/<slug>.md
Slug
- •Create one slug:
YYYY-MM-DD-kebab-topic - •Use this slug for all subsequent phase artifacts
Subagent Usage
When scoping a new initiative, use subagents to research the codebase in parallel — e.g., one subagent to find relevant files and existing patterns, another to check for related specs or prior work in docs/specs/ and docs/plans/completed/. Feed subagent findings into the spec rather than doing all exploration in the main thread.
Intake Procedure
- •Define a concise goal statement (problem + target user/outcome).
- •Define scope with
In Scopeand explicitBoundaries(deliberate exclusions). - •Define requirements in a table with stable IDs (
R1,R2, ...) and priorities. - •Define measurable success criteria.
- •Define constraints (time, risk, compatibility, performance).
- •Classify overall priority (
critical,high,medium,low). - •Draft initial task graph candidates with rough dependencies using sequence IDs (
1,1.1,1.2) and include priority for each task. - •Add
Next Stepsand initializeChange Log.
Progressive Disclosure Rules
- •Always include:
Goal,Scope,Requirements,Success Criteria,Overall Priority,Initial Task Candidates,Next Steps. - •Include only when needed:
Chosen Direction,Alternatives Considered,Key Decisions,Open Questions. - •Keep implementation detail out of intake spec (libraries/endpoints/schema details belong in planning).
Plan Path Selection (Required)
Select plan_mode in the spec metadata:
- •
lightweightwhen all are true:- •Change is small (typically <= 3 tasks and <= 3 files)
- •No schema migration, auth change, security boundary change, or public API contract break
- •Overall risk is not
critical - •Verification can be covered by a short targeted test set
- •
executionfor all other work
Write plan_mode: <lightweight|execution> in docs/specs/<slug>.md.
Set spike_recommended: yes if the fuzzy-idea loop concludes a spike is needed, otherwise spike_recommended: no.
Fuzzy-Idea Loop
If request is unclear:
- •Capture intended outcome in one sentence.
- •Offer 2-3 possible approaches with tradeoffs.
- •Pick a default approach and list assumptions.
- •If still ambiguous, recommend
he-spikebefore planning.
Spec Template
Use templates/spec-template.md.
Exit Gate
- •Spec exists at
docs/specs/<slug>.md - •Goal is explicit
- •Scope includes explicit boundaries
- •Requirements table exists with stable requirement IDs (
R1+) - •Success criteria are measurable
- •Next steps are explicit
- •Priority assigned
- •
plan_modeis assigned (lightweightorexecution) - •
spike_recommendedis assigned (yesorno) - •Docs commit gate passes
Transition Options
Present 2-3 explicit next-step options with a recommended default. Use request_user_input (Codex) or AskUserQuestion (Claude Code) in Plan mode; otherwise ask in chat. Wait for user selection before proceeding.
At least one option must be Next step: he-plan (or Next step: he-spike if a spike is recommended).