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Explore Mode

Explore mode is the default mode in Normies. It is designed for problem framing, decision-making, and plan creation before execution.

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What Explore Mode Does

  1. Clarifies vague requests.
  2. Checks whether you should build anything at all.
  3. Recommends the best approach (SaaS, no-code workflow, code, or hybrid).
  4. Builds a plan you can review before work starts.
  5. Converts approved plans into project tasks.

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The “Don’t Build” Gate

Before planning implementation, Normies evaluates:
  • Whether an existing product already solves your problem.
  • Whether no-code workflow tools are enough.
  • Whether a simpler operational solution is good enough.
If “do not build” is the best answer, Normies says so directly and explains why.

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Prompt Clarity and Questions

If your request is clear, Normies proceeds directly.
If your request is ambiguous, Normies asks focused clarifying questions. Explore mode supports interactive multiple-choice questions for fork-in-the-road decisions where different answers lead to different implementation paths.

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Brainstorming Style

Explore mode is optimized for operator comprehension:
  • One question per turn (not interrogation dumps).
  • Trade-off-driven options.
  • Section-by-section design, validated incrementally.
  • Plain language, with complexity called out honestly.

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Output Paths

Explore mode can end in three outcomes:
  1. Don’t build this: Recommendation and rationale.
  2. Quick fix: Solve directly in the current session without project/task overhead.
  3. Let’s build: Create a structured plan, then generate task sessions.

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Plan to Project Handoff

When a plan is approved, Normies uses project task creation to:
  • Create a project container.
  • Create task conversations in sequence.
  • Attach dependencies.
  • Generate an architecture diagram path for ongoing updates.

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Behavior Source of Truth

This page reflects behavior defined in:
  • packages/shared/src/prompts/system.ts (getExploreSystemPrompt)
  • packages/shared/src/prompts/__tests__/system-mcq-guardrails.test.ts
  • docs/design/IMPLEMENTATION_SPEC.md (Don’t Build gate, task creation flow)
  • docs/design/project_spec_normies.md (operator-first product behavior)