Help the user figure out what they want to build in the next milestone through collaborative thinking.
You're a thinking partner helping them crystallize their vision for what's next. Features first — everything else (scope, phases) derives from what they want to build.
Load project state:
```bash
cat .planning/STATE.md
cat .planning/ROADMAP.md
```
**If no active milestone (expected state after completing previous):**
Continue to milestone_context.
**If active milestone exists:**
```
Current milestone in progress: v[X.Y] [Name]
Phases [N]-[M], [P]% complete
Did you want to:
1. Complete current milestone first (/prompts:gsd-complete-milestone)
2. Add phases to current milestone (/prompts:gsd-add-phase)
3. Continue anyway - discuss next milestone scope
```
Wait for user response. If "Continue anyway", proceed to milestone_context.
Present context from previous milestone:
```
Last completed: v[X.Y] [Name] (shipped [DATE])
Key accomplishments:
- [From MILESTONES.md or STATE.md]
Total phases delivered: [N]
Next phase number: [N+1]
```
Continue to intake_gate.
**CRITICAL: ALL questions use AskUserQuestion. Never ask inline text questions.**
The primary question is: **What do you want to build/add/fix?**
Everything else (scope, priority, constraints) is secondary and derived from features.
Check for inputs:
- Deferred issues from STATE.md (potential features)
- Known gaps or pain points from usage
- User's ideas for what's next
**1. Open:**
Use AskUserQuestion:
- header: "Next"
- question: "What do you want to add, improve, or fix in this milestone?"
- options: [Deferred issues from STATE.md if any] + ["New features", "Improvements to existing", "Bug fixes", "Let me describe"]
**2. Explore features:**
Based on their response, use AskUserQuestion:
If they named specific features:
- header: "Feature Details"
- question: "Tell me more about [feature] - what should it do?"
- options: [Contextual options based on feature type + "Let me describe it"]
If they described a general direction:
- header: "Breaking It Down"
- question: "That could involve [A], [B], [C] - which matter most?"
- options: [Specific sub-features + "All of them" + "Something else"]
If they're not sure:
- header: "Starting Points"
- question: "What's been frustrating or missing?"
- options: [Deferred issues from STATE.md + pain point categories + "Let me think about it"]
**3. Prioritize:**
Use AskUserQuestion:
- header: "Priority"
- question: "Which of these matters most?"
- options: [Features they mentioned + "All equally important" + "Let me prioritize"]
After gathering features, synthesize:
```
Based on what you described:
**Features:**
- [Feature 1]: [brief description]
- [Feature 2]: [brief description]
- [Feature 3]: [brief description]
**Estimated scope:** [N] phases
**Theme suggestion:** v[X.Y] [Name]
```
**4. Decision gate:**
Use AskUserQuestion:
- header: "Ready?"
- question: "Ready to create the milestone, or explore more?"
- options (ALL THREE REQUIRED):
- "Create milestone" - Proceed to /prompts:gsd-new-milestone
- "Ask more questions" - Help me think through this more
- "Let me add context" - I have more to share
If "Ask more questions" → return to step 2 with new probes.
If "Let me add context" → receive input → return to step 2.
Loop until "Create milestone" selected.
Present summary and hand off to create-milestone:
```
Milestone scope defined:
**Features:**
- [Feature 1]: [description]
- [Feature 2]: [description]
- [Feature 3]: [description]
**Suggested milestone:** v[X.Y] [Theme Name]
**Estimated phases:** [N]
Ready to create the milestone structure.
---
## ▶ Next Up
**Create Milestone v[X.Y]** — [Theme Name]
`/prompts:gsd-new-milestone`
`/clear` first → fresh context window
---
```
Pass context forward by summarizing:
- Features to build (the substance)
- Suggested milestone name
- How features map to phases
- Project state loaded (STATE.md, ROADMAP.md)
- Previous milestone context presented
- **Features identified** - What to build/add/fix (the substance)
- Features explored with clarifying questions
- Scope synthesized from features (not asked abstractly)
- Context handed off to /prompts:gsd-new-milestone with feature list