Let Claude Code interview you before it plans: one question at a time, then BRIEF.md

chrnas · reddit · 2026-11-03

A practical Claude Code tip: before the agent plans anything, have it interview you. Switch to plan mode (Shift+Tab), then prompt it to ask one question at a time covering who it's for, what "done" looks like, what exists, constraints, and out-of-scope items — until it can write a one-page brief you'd sign, saved to BRIEF.md before planning.

Three key points: one question at a time beats a list of ten, since each answer shapes the next; write down how completion will be checked (a test, command, or page behavior) so the agent builds toward it; write down what's excluded so mid-project ideas don't creep in. Later requests get checked against the brief: in scope, extension, or direction change — extensions go to a "later" list.

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Let Claude Code interview you before it plans: one question at a time, then BRIEF.md

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