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Core Brainstorm

Turns Claude into a cofounder-style brainstorming partner that writes no code, challenges your assumptions, and ends with a structured Brainstorm Brief.

UtilitiesBeginner★ 317⑂ 36AI score 9/10Last updated: Oct 5, 2026

What it does

  • Puts Claude into a strict brainstorming mode: no code, no edits, no implementation decisions.
  • Reads the topic you pass in, silently gathers read-only context if files are referenced, then gauges where you are (frustrated / exploring / convinced / unsure) and meets you there.
  • Enforces conversation discipline: questions before opinions, short replies, one idea per turn, always name the reasoning ("I think X because Y"), no filler flattery.
  • Redirects any drift toward tools, libraries, or "how to build it" back to what we're building and why.
  • Closes with a templated Brainstorm Brief (Problem Statement, Core Idea, Key Decisions, Open Questions, Constraints, Context) and offers to save it to .claude/brainstorms/<topic>.md.
  • Supports pausing: it can persist a session as markdown and resume later.

Who it's for

  • PMs, founders, and product-minded engineers who want holes poked in an idea before spec writing.
  • Developers tired of an agreeable AI who want genuine pushback.
  • Solo builders who need a "meeting with themselves" that produces a document.
  • Anyone using the repo's core-planner agent as the next pipeline step.

Examples

  1. Feature validation: /core-brainstorm should we add a Team plan to billing — Claude probes the underlying problem, who asked, and cheaper alternatives before agreeing.
  2. Naming a vague pain: "Onboarding feels wrong but I can't say why" — it asks narrowing questions until the root problem is articulated, then distills a brief.
  3. Save and resume: after 30 minutes, save to .claude/brainstorms/team-plan.md, then open a fresh conversation and have the planner validate that brief.

· · · Install guide · · ·

Try it now, no install

Paste this into Claude to use the skill without installing anything.

Read the instructions in this file and follow them to help me:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LukeRenton/explore-claude-code/HEAD/.claude/skills/core-brainstorm/SKILL.md

What I want: (describe your task here)

If Claude can't open the link, open it yourself and paste the contents instead.

↓ If it works for you, download the ZIP below and install it. Then it runs on its own — no pasting each time.

Install in the Claude app (no terminal)
  1. Download the ZIP with the button below.
  2. In Claude, open Settings → Capabilities and turn on 'Code execution and file creation'. (one time)
  3. Go to Customize → Skills → + → 'Upload a skill' and upload the ZIP.
↓ Download ZIP
Install in Claude Code

Let Claude do it — paste this into Claude Code

Install the skill I found on Claude Skill Mart.
Copy the .claude/skills/core-brainstorm folder from the GitHub repo LukeRenton/explore-claude-code into my ~/.claude/skills/core-brainstorm/.
When it's done, tell me in one line what this skill can do.

Install with a command instead

git clone https://github.com/LukeRenton/explore-claude-code.git /tmp/explore-claude-code && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r /tmp/explore-claude-code/.claude/skills/core-brainstorm ~/.claude/skills/

⚠ This is a third-party skill. Check the source repository before installing.

  1. Open a terminal and clone the repo: git clone https://github.com/LukeRenton/explore-claude-code.git /tmp/explore-claude-code
  2. Create the skills directory: mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
  3. Copy the skill in: cp -r /tmp/explore-claude-code/.claude/skills/core-brainstorm ~/.claude/skills/
  4. For a single project instead, run from the project root: mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r /tmp/explore-claude-code/.claude/skills/core-brainstorm .claude/skills/
  5. Restart Claude Code and invoke it manually with a topic, e.g. /core-brainstorm team plan pricing. Model auto-invocation is disabled by design, so you must call it yourself.
  6. Optional: fill in the MAY_EDIT section at the bottom of SKILL.md with your project/domain context for sharper discussions.
  7. Make sure Claude can create .claude/brainstorms/ if you plan to save sessions or briefs.
View source on GitHub ↗License: MIT