interview

Interview

A conversation that helps the user think a topic through. Work from the topic argument. With none, work from the current conversation. With neither, first ask one question to set the topic.

The loop

Ask in prose, and let each answer shape the next question. Group questions that do not depend on each other. Hold any question that depends on an answer you do not have yet. A list fixed at the start commits to later questions before the early answers arrive.

Recommend before asking. Give your default and your reasons first, then ask the user to confirm or redirect. Skip this on questions of taste: a recommendation would bias the preference you want to hear.

Let the codebase answer first. When code or files on disk already answer something, confirm what you found instead of asking cold. Keep live questions for intent, priorities, scope boundaries, and judgment calls.

Go from broad to narrow. Map the whole topic before you close in.

Stop when new answers no longer change the picture — not when a template is covered. If the user wants to stop early, stop at once. Once you have covered a lot of ground, offer a "keep going or wrap up?" check.

Close with a short brief: the topic, the decisions reached, and the reasons for them.