name: skill_dream description: "Ideation phase for APC plugins; defines concept, parameters, and initial status."

Title: SKILL: IDEATION & DREAMING Document Type: Skill Author: APC Codex Created Date: 2026-02-18 Last Modified Date: 2026-02-18

SKILL: IDEATION & DREAMING

Goal: Define the plugin concept and initialize the project state. Trigger: /dream [Name] Output Location: plugins/[Name]/

⛔ OUTPUT RESTRICTIONS (MANDATORY)

• NO C++ Code.
• NO Build Scripts.
• NO CMake configurations.

STEP 1: THE INTERVIEW

Do NOT generate files yet. If the user prompt is vague, ask 3 clarifying questions:

1. Sonic Goal: What is the character? (e.g., "Dirty Tape Delay", "Clean EQ")
2. Controls: What are the top 3 parameters?
3. Vibe: Visual aesthetic?

STOP and WAIT for the user's response.

STEP 2: CONCEPT GENERATION

Only after the user answers, generate these files:

1. plugins/[Name]/.ideas/creative-brief.md

The vision statement.

• Hook: Marketing pitch.
• Description: Detailed behavior.

2. plugins/[Name]/.ideas/parameter-spec.md

The definitive list of controls.

3. plugins/[Name]/status.json (ROOT)

Initialize the project tracking file in the plugin root using the standardized schema.

Use the state management system:

# Import state management
. "$PSScriptRoot\..\scripts\state-management.ps1"

# Initialize state
New-PluginState -PluginName "[Name]" -PluginPath "plugins\[Name]"

Schema structure:

{
  "plugin_name": "[Name]",
  "version": "v0.0.0",
  "current_phase": "ideation",
  "ui_framework": "pending",
  "complexity_score": 0,
  "created_at": "2026-01-04T20:20:00Z",
  "last_modified": "2026-01-04T20:20:00Z",
  "phase_history": [],
  "validation": {
    "creative_brief_exists": true,
    "parameter_spec_exists": true,
    "architecture_defined": false,
    "ui_framework_selected": false,
    "design_complete": false,
    "code_complete": false,
    "tests_passed": false,
    "ship_ready": false
  },
  "framework_selection": {
    "decision": "pending",
    "rationale": "",
    "implementation_strategy": "pending"
  },
  "error_recovery": {
    "last_backup": null,
    "rollback_available": false,
    "error_log": []
  }
}

Update state after completion:

# Use standardized phase completion function
Complete-Phase -PluginPath "plugins\[Name]" -Phase "ideation" -Updates @{
  "validation.creative_brief_exists" = $true
  "validation.parameter_spec_exists" = $true
}

STEP 3: TERMINATION

1. Confirm files are created.
2. STOP.
3. Ask: "Concept defined. Type /plan [Name] to architecture the DSP and UI."