Intake
Use this skill to transform vague problems, initial ideas, or unstructured requests into clear, actionable intake documents.
Initial context received via slash: $ARGUMENTS
If $ARGUMENTS is filled (e.g., file path, text, issue reference, URL), use as starting point for the intake. If empty, start by asking for a short description of the problem.
Language
Write the artifact in the user's language. Apply correct grammar and any required diacritics or script-specific characters. If the user's language is unclear, ask before generating output. Templates are in English — translate headers and content to match.
Objective
- Make the problem or opportunity explicit before planning
- Identify constraints, premises, and open questions
- Define the next step in the flow:
/agile-roadmap,/agile-epic, or/agile-story - Avoid work starting without clarity about what is being solved
When to use
- Someone brings an idea, need, or problem without defined scope
- The request is too vague to become an epic or task directly
- There is uncertainty about size, priority, or approach
- It is the first contact with a new problem
When NOT to use
- The problem is already clear and scope is defined — use
/agile-epicor/agile-storydirectly - The work has already been decomposed — go to
/agile-epicor/agile-story - It's a trivial fix — use
/agile-storydirectly
Intake process
1. Listen and record
Ask the user:
- What is the problem or opportunity?
- Who is affected and how?
- Is there urgency or deadline?
- What constraints are already known?
Don't assume answers. If the user doesn't know, register as an open question.
2. Structure the intake
Fill in the template with collected information:
- Context: problem, initial objective, value signal, constraints
- Initial scope: what is included and what is not (even if provisional)
- Inputs and references: stakeholders, documents, technical context
- Open questions: everything that doesn't have an answer yet
3. Define next step
Based on trajectory complexity (not duration):
- Multi-phase trajectory with dependencies (regardless of total duration) →
/agile-roadmap→ then/agile-epicIndicators — if 2+ apply, use roadmap:
- Multiple initiatives that need sequencing (can't run all in parallel) - Decisions today affect future decisions (local optimization can become tech debt) - Stakeholders need to see the whole journey before approving individual steps - External dependencies (other teams, vendors, deadlines) - Total complexity exceeds what fits in a single epic
- Single coordinated initiative with broad scope →
/agile-epic - Medium problem with reasonable scope →
/agile-epic(to decompose into stories) - Small and clear problem →
/agile-story
Important: Roadmap is not defined by time horizon (e.g., "3-12 months"). A 4-week initiative with 5 distinct phases and critical ordering also benefits from a roadmap. The criterion is trajectory complexity, not duration.
Register the recommendation in the intake and confirm with the user.
Flow rule: For large or complex items, decomposition via/agile-epicis mandatory before execution. Only small, localized items can skip directly to/agile-story.
4. Save the intake
- Ask for the initiative name (e.g., "component-tests", "auth-refactor")
- Save at
planning/<initiative>/intake.md - If the user prefers not to save, present inline
5. Chain
After user confirmation, offer to generate the next artifact following the official flow:
- Multi-phase trajectory → "Do you want me to create the
/agile-roadmap?" - Single coordinated initiative → "Do you want me to run
/agile-epicto decompose into stories?" - Small/clear → "Do you want me to create the
/agile-story?"
6. Validate
Before closing the intake, confirm:
- The problem is clear enough for the next step
- Constraints and premises have been made explicit
- The next artifact in the flow has been defined
Rules
- Never jump straight to implementation from an intake. The intake generates the next artifact, not code.
- If the user insists on starting without clarity, register the risks and ask if they want to proceed anyway.
- The intake should be short — 10 to 15 minutes of conversation maximum. If it takes longer, the problem probably needs
/agile-epicdecomposition. - Keep the tone of discovery, not detailed planning.
Template
Use ~/.agents/templates/intake.md as base for the artifact.
Relationship with the flow
flowchart LR
A["/agile-intake"] --> B{next step}
B --> C["/agile-roadmap"]
B --> D["/agile-epic"]
B --> E["/agile-story"]This skill is the entry point of the flow. It captures the problem and directs to the correct skill. For guidance on which skill to use, you can also use /agile-router.