idea-capture

Idea Capture Skill

Purpose

Use this skill when the user writes IDEA: ... and wants the idea saved in this repository.

The goal is to keep a simple idea log in the root IDEAS.md file. Active ideas and implemented ideas are kept in distinct sections so the list remains easy to scan.

Trigger

Use this skill when a user message starts with or clearly contains:

IDEA: <idea text>

Capture the text after the first IDEA: marker as the idea body. Preserve the user's meaning and wording; lightly clean only obvious extra whitespace.

File format

Store ideas in the repository root file:

IDEAS.md

If the file does not exist, create it with this heading:

# Ideas

Use this file to collect workshop and project ideas. Active ideas stay here; implemented ideas are moved to the Archive section. New ideas are added first.

Each idea must be a separate ## section. Put its description first and its compact metadata on one line after the description:

## Short idea title

Idea text goes here.

<sub>**Date:** YYYY-MM-DD · **Author:** @username · **Implemented:** No</sub>

Capture procedure

1. Read IDEAS.md first so existing ideas are preserved.
2. Derive a short, human-readable ## heading from the idea text.
3. Use the current date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
4. Use the current user as the author when available; otherwise use Unknown.
5. Set Implemented to No for new ideas.
6. Insert the new idea immediately after the # Ideas introduction, before all existing active ideas and the # Archive section.
7. Keep the idea text concise and readable. Use plain paragraphs unless the user provides a list.

Marking ideas implemented

When the user asks to mark an idea as done or implemented:

1. Find the matching active ## idea section.
2. Change **Implemented:** No to **Implemented:** Yes in the idea's compact metadata line.
3. If the current date differs from the idea's **Date:**, add · **Implemented date:** YYYY-MM-DD to the same metadata line.
4. Move the complete idea section to the end of a top-level # Archive section. Create that section if it does not exist.
5. Preserve the original date, author, title, and idea text.
6. If multiple ideas could match, ask which one to update.

Example prompt

IDEA: Add a short facilitator checklist for choosing the right Copilot mode during demos.