List Generation

Input: $ARGUMENTS

Step 1: Define Scope

Establish what the list covers.

TOPIC: [what the list is about]
BOUNDARIES: [what's included / what's excluded]
AUDIENCE: [who will use this list]
PURPOSE: [reference, action items, brainstorming, inventory, etc.]

Step 2: Choose Approach

Select the list strategy based on purpose:

APPROACH: [EXHAUSTIVE / CURATED / TIERED / CATEGORICAL]
RATIONALE: [why this approach fits]

Step 3: Generate Items (Breadth-First)

Produce all candidate items before filtering or organizing.

Rules:

• Cast a wide net first — do not self-censor during generation
• Use multiple angles: categories, stakeholders, timeframes, analogies
• Aim for completeness over elegance at this stage

RAW ITEMS:
1. [item]
2. [item]
...

Step 4: Organize

Arrange items using the best-fit ordering:

• Alphabetical: Reference lists, glossaries
• Priority: Action items, recommendations
• Categorical: Complex domains with natural groupings
• Chronological: Processes, timelines, historical items
• Dependency: Items that build on each other

ORDERING: [method chosen]

Apply the ordering to all items. Use headers or groupings if categorical.

Step 5: Deduplicate and Validate

• Remove true duplicates (same item, different wording)
• Merge near-duplicates (combine into one entry with broader scope)
• Check for gaps: are there obvious categories or items missing?
• Validate against scope: remove anything outside boundaries

REMOVED: [items cut and why]
GAPS FOUND: [items added to fill holes]

Step 6: Format for Readability

Apply formatting rules:

• Consistent item structure (all noun phrases, all sentences, all verb-led)
• Consistent detail level (no mix of one-word and paragraph entries)
• Add brief descriptions if items are ambiguous
• Use numbering if order matters, bullets if it doesn’t
• Group with headers if list exceeds 15 items

Step 7: Deliver

Present the final list with:

• A one-line summary of what the list covers
• The organized, formatted list
• A count of total items
• Any caveats about completeness or scope

LIST: [topic] ([N] items)

[The formatted list]

COMPLETENESS NOTE: [any caveats]

Integration

Use with:

• /se -> Enumerate a solution space before listing
• /omtx -> Turn the list into a comparison matrix
• /cmp -> Compare items from the list
• /orec -> Convert list findings into recommendations