Document Review
Improve requirements or plan documents through structured review.
Step 1: Get the Document
If a document path is provided: Read it, then proceed to Step 2.
If no document is specified: Ask which document to review, or look for the most recent requirements/plan in docs/brainstorms/ or docs/plans/.
Step 2: Assess
Read through the document and ask:
- What is unclear?
- What is unnecessary?
- What decision is being avoided?
- What assumptions are unstated?
- Where could scope accidentally expand?
These questions surface issues. Don't fix yet—just note what you find.
Step 3: Evaluate
Score the document against these criteria:
| Criterion | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Clarity | Problem statement is clear, no vague language ("probably," "consider," "try to") |
| Completeness | Required sections present, constraints stated, and outstanding questions clearly marked as blocking or deferred |
| Specificity | Concrete enough for next step (requirements → can plan, plan → can implement) |
| Appropriate Level | Requirements doc stays at behavior/scope level and does not drift into implementation unless the document is inherently technical |
| YAGNI | Avoid speculative complexity whose carrying cost outweighs its value; keep low-cost, meaningful polish when it is easy to maintain |
If invoked within a workflow (after /ce:brainstorm or /ce:plan), also check:
- User intent fidelity — Document reflects what was discussed, assumptions validated
Step 4: Identify the Critical Improvement
Among everything found in Steps 2-3, does one issue stand out? If something would significantly improve the document's quality, this is the "must address" item. Highlight it prominently.
Step 5: Make Changes
Present your findings, then:
- Auto-fix minor issues (vague language, formatting) without asking
- Ask approval before substantive changes (restructuring, removing sections, changing meaning)
- Update the document inline—no separate files, no metadata sections
Simplification Guidance
Simplification is purposeful removal of unnecessary complexity, not shortening for its own sake.
Simplify when:
- Content serves hypothetical future needs without enough current value to justify its carrying cost
- Sections repeat information already covered elsewhere
- Detail exceeds what's needed to take the next step
- Abstractions or structure add overhead without clarity
Don't simplify:
- Constraints or edge cases that affect implementation
- Rationale that explains why alternatives were rejected
- Open questions that need resolution
- Deferred technical or research questions that are intentionally carried forward to the next stage
Also remove when inappropriate:
- Library choices, file structures, endpoints, schemas, or other implementation details that do not belong in a non-technical requirements document
Step 6: Offer Next Action
After changes are complete, ask:
- Refine again - Another review pass
- Review complete - Document is ready
Iteration Guidance
After 2 refinement passes, recommend completion—diminishing returns are likely. But if the user wants to continue, allow it.
Return control to the caller (workflow or user) after selection.
What NOT to Do
- Do not rewrite the entire document
- Do not add new sections or requirements the user didn't discuss
- Do not over-engineer or add complexity
- Do not create separate review files or add metadata sections