Interview workflow

Purpose

Gather user decisions, preferences, or clarifications through a structured one-question-at-a-time process. This prevents overwhelming the user and ensures each answer is properly understood before moving on.

Rules (strict)

1. One question per message. Never batch multiple questions.
2. Present clear options. Each question should have labeled options (A, B, C) or a clear format for the expected answer.
3. Explain briefly. Give just enough context for the user to decide—not a wall of text.
4. Record immediately. After each answer, note it in .agent/focus.md or a working document before asking the next question.
5. Allow escape. User can say "skip", "defer", "use your recommendation", or "stop interview".
6. Summarize at end. When all questions are answered, present a summary for confirmation.

Interview state tracking

Track in .agent/focus.md under "Doing now":

## Doing now

Interview: [topic]
- Q1: [question summary] → [answer or pending]
- Q2: [question summary] → [answer or pending]
- ...

Procedure

1. Setup: List all questions internally (do not show to user yet).
2. Ask Q1: Present one question with options.
3. Wait: Do not proceed until user responds.
4. Record: Update focus.md with the answer.
5. Ask Q2: Repeat until all questions answered or user stops.
6. Summarize: Present all answers for confirmation.
7. Proceed: Use confirmed answers to continue the workflow.

Handling special responses

User says	Action
"skip"	Mark as SKIPPED, move to next question
"defer"	Mark as DEFERRED, move to next question
"use your recommendation"	Apply the agent's recommended default, note it
"stop" / "pause"	End interview, save progress, can resume later
"go back"	Re-ask the previous question
unclear answer	Ask a brief clarifying follow-up (still counts as same question)

Question Quality Standards

Good Questions

• Specific to context — Reference project details, not generic templates
• Reveal non-obvious decisions — Probe tradeoffs and implications
• Uncover edge cases — "What happens when X fails?"
• Challenge assumptions gently — "You mentioned X; does that mean Y?"
• Build on previous answers — Show you listened

Bad Questions (avoid)

• ❌ Too obvious: "What programming language will you use?"
• ❌ Too generic: "Do you need a database?"
• ❌ Trivial: "What color should the button be?"
• ❌ Already answered: Re-asking what user just said
• ❌ Assumptive: Leading questions that presume an answer

Multi-Option Format

When presenting choices, use label + description:

**Q3: How should the system handle conflicting edits?**

A) **Last-write-wins** — Simple, but may lose data. Best for low-conflict scenarios.
B) **Optimistic locking** — Detect conflicts, prompt user to resolve. More complex.
C) **CRDT-based merge** — Automatic conflict resolution. Best for real-time collab.
D) **Manual review queue** — Flag conflicts for human review. Best for critical data.

This format helps users make informed decisions without lengthy explanations.

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Completion Criteria

Interview is complete when:

• All planned questions answered (or explicitly skipped/deferred)
• No obvious gaps in the information gathered
• User confirms summary is accurate
• Answers are recorded in appropriate state file

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Anti-patterns (never do)

• ❌ Asking multiple questions in one message
• ❌ Presenting all questions upfront as a "form"
• ❌ Proceeding without waiting for an answer
• ❌ Long explanations that bury the actual question
• ❌ Forgetting to record answers
• ❌ Asking generic template questions regardless of context
• ❌ Ignoring previous answers when forming next question