Claude Brainstorm Plugin

A Claude Code plugin that enforces brainstorming mode, preventing Claude from jumping to solutions.

The Problem

Claude is trained to be helpful, which often means rushing to solutions. Ask "how could we improve user onboarding?" and you'll get a list of implementable suggestions. That's great for execution, but terrible for ideation.

Real brainstorming requires staying in divergent thinking mode - generating possibilities without evaluating them. This plugin forces that behavior through hooks that intercept every interaction and remind Claude of the rules.

How It Works

The plugin uses Claude Code's hook system to inject a "brainstorm mode enforcer" on every user prompt. When active:

• Claude generates ideas in batches instead of proposing solutions
• Code writing is blocked (Claude literally can't create .py, .js, etc. files)
• Feasibility evaluation is suppressed unless explicitly requested
• Ideas are logged to a timestamped markdown file automatically
• Thread navigation lets you explore tangents without losing context
• Claude proactively searches the web for inspiration and analogies
• Fork suggestions help you explore promising tangents

Installation

Option A: Via MadeByTokens Marketplace (Recommended)

See https://github.com/MadeByTokens/claude-code-plugins-madebytokens

Option B: CLI Flag at Launch

# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/MadeByTokens/claude-brainstorm.git

# Launch Claude Code with the plugin directory
claude --plugin-dir /path/to/claude-brainstorm

Option C: Manual Settings Configuration

Clone the repo, then add it to your Claude Code settings file:

User scope (~/.claude/settings.json):

{
  "pluginDirs": ["/path/to/claude-brainstorm"]
}

Project scope (.claude/settings.json in your project):

{
  "pluginDirs": ["/path/to/claude-brainstorm"]
}

---

The plugin self-approves its own operations (session scripts, tree commands, brainstorm file writes) via hooks, so no manual permission configuration is needed.

Usage

Start a session

/brainstorm:start improving our checkout flow

Claude presents a technique menu and begins generating ideas. Choose from:

• Free Association - Wild ideas, no filter
• SCAMPER - Systematic transformation (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other uses, Eliminate, Reverse)
• Six Thinking Hats - Rotate through perspectives (Facts, Emotions, Caution, Benefits, Creativity, Process)
• Reverse Brainstorm - "How could we fail?" then flip
• Analogy Hunt - Steal solutions from other domains
• Constraint Play - "What if no budget?" / "What if infinite time?"

Explore a tangent

/brainstorm:fork voice-controlled navigation

Creates a nested thread. Ideas stay organized. Use hierarchically - forks can have forks.

Return to parent thread

/brainstorm:back

Pops back to where you were. The session file tracks the full path.

Check progress

/brainstorm:status

Shows:

• Current thread and full breadcrumb path
• Open forks
• Top 5 ideas so far
• Total idea count

End session

/brainstorm:done

The only way to exit brainstorm mode. Claude:

1. Asks you to pick your top ideas
2. Generates a compact summary file (*-summary.md) for easy loading into future sessions
3. Offers to help prioritize or implement

Get help

/brainstorm:help

Shows all commands, available techniques, and how sessions work.

Session Files

Two files are created per session in your working directory:

• Full session: brainstorm-[topic]-[timestamp].md - Complete record of all ideas and forks
• Summary: brainstorm-[topic]-[timestamp]-summary.md - Compact version (~20 lines) for loading into new Claude sessions

Full session format

# Brainstorm: improving checkout flow
Date: 2026-01-19 15:30
Technique(s) used: Free Association, SCAMPER

## [MAIN] improving checkout flow
- Idea: One-click purchase for returning customers
- Idea: Progress indicator showing steps remaining
- Idea: Guest checkout with optional account creation at end

---
## [FORK 1] voice-controlled navigation
Parent: MAIN
- Idea: "Hey checkout, apply my usual payment"
- Idea: Voice confirmation instead of clicking buttons

---
## [MAIN] improving checkout flow (continued)
Returned from: FORK 1
- Idea: Integrate voice from fork into accessibility features

## Final Summary
Key themes:
- Reducing friction for returning users
- Accessibility and alternative input methods
- Trust signals at decision points

Stats:
- Ideas generated: 23
- Forks explored: 1
- Techniques used: Free Association, SCAMPER

Summary format

# Summary: improving checkout flow
Date: 2026-01-19 15:30 | Ideas: 23 | Forks: 1

## Key Themes
- Reducing friction for returning users
- Accessibility and alternative input methods
- Trust signals at decision points

## Top Ideas
- One-click purchase for returning customers
- Progress indicator showing steps remaining
- Voice confirmation for accessibility

## Forks Explored
- voice-controlled navigation: Explored voice UI for checkout actions

Full session: brainstorm-checkout-flow-20260119-1530.md

Architecture (for developers)

.
├── .claude-plugin/
│   └── plugin.json              # Plugin metadata
├── commands/
│   ├── start.md                 # /brainstorm:start - session initialization
│   ├── fork.md                  # /brainstorm:fork - create nested thread
│   ├── back.md                  # /brainstorm:back - return to parent
│   ├── status.md                # /brainstorm:status - show progress
│   ├── done.md                  # /brainstorm:done - end session
│   └── help.md                  # /brainstorm:help - show help and techniques
├── hooks/
│   ├── hooks.json               # Hook configuration (PreToolUse + UserPromptSubmit)
│   └── brainstorm-enforcer.sh   # UserPromptSubmit hook (mode enforcement)
└── scripts/
    ├── start-session.sh             # Creates .brainstorm-state and session file
    ├── end-session.sh               # Removes .brainstorm-state
    ├── approve-brainstorm-write.sh  # Auto-approves writes to brainstorm-*.md
    ├── approve-brainstorm-bash.sh   # Auto-approves plugin bash commands
    └── approve-brainstorm-websearch.sh  # Auto-approves web searches during sessions

State Management

Active sessions create .brainstorm-state in the working directory:

BRAINSTORM_ACTIVE=1
SESSION_FILE=./brainstorm-checkout-flow-20260119-1530.md
TOPIC=improving checkout flow
STARTED=20260119-1530
CURRENT_THREAD=MAIN
THREAD_STACK=MAIN
FORK_COUNT=0
IDEA_COUNT=0

The enforcer hook checks for this file on every prompt. If present and BRAINSTORM_ACTIVE=1, it injects the rules reminder. Deleting this file (or running /brainstorm:done) exits the mode.

Hook Flow

User types something
       ↓
UserPromptSubmit hook fires
       ↓
brainstorm-enforcer.sh checks .brainstorm-state
       ↓
If active: injects rules reminder to Claude
       ↓
Claude processes in brainstorm mode
       ↓
If Claude runs bash (start-session.sh, end-session.sh, tree):
  PreToolUse hook fires → approve-brainstorm-bash.sh → auto-approved
       ↓
If Claude writes to brainstorm-*.md:
  PreToolUse hook fires → approve-brainstorm-write.sh → auto-approved
       ↓
If Claude searches the web:
  PreToolUse hook fires → approve-brainstorm-websearch.sh → auto-approved

Modifying Behavior

Change the rules Claude follows: Edit hooks/brainstorm-enforcer.sh. The NEVER DO and ALWAYS DO lists in the heredoc are what Claude sees on every prompt.

Add brainstorming techniques: Edit commands/start.md. The technique menu and detailed instructions are there.

Change session file format: Edit commands/start.md (the template) and scripts/start-session.sh (the initial file creation).

Modify fork/back behavior: Edit commands/fork.md and commands/back.md. Thread stack logic is described there.

Change file auto-approve behavior: Edit scripts/approve-brainstorm-write.sh to allow/block different file patterns.

Change bash auto-approve behavior: Edit scripts/approve-brainstorm-bash.sh to allow/block different bash commands.

Change web search auto-approve behavior: Edit scripts/approve-brainstorm-websearch.sh to modify when web searches are auto-approved.

Limitations

• Only one brainstorm session per working directory at a time (single .brainstorm-state file)
• State is directory-local - changing directories loses the session context
• The enforcer hook runs on every prompt, even non-brainstorm ones (exits silently if no active session)

Why Not Just Prompt?

You can tell Claude "let's brainstorm, don't give me solutions." It works... sometimes. But:

Manual prompting	This plugin
Claude sometimes forgets	Enforced on every prompt
Ideas scattered in chat	Logged to markdown file
Tangents get messy	Fork/back navigation
No progress tracking	Status command
"Where were we?"	Thread stack remembers

The plugin trades flexibility for consistency. If you need Claude to stay in brainstorm mode for an extended session, the hooks guarantee it.

License

MIT