# Step 1: Initialize Dialog
## CONTEXT
This is the first step of the Agent Dialog Workflow. Before creating a new dialog, we first check for any existing pending dialogs.
---
## CHECK FOR EXISTING DIALOGS
⚠️ **IMPORTANT: Always check for pending dialogs before creating a new one.**
**Scan for existing dialogs:**
1. Check if `docs/F-Agent-Dialogs/` exists
2. If it exists, scan all subdirectories for dialog files (*-dialog.md)
3. Read the Meta section of each dialog file
4. Identify dialogs where:
- Status = "Not Started" OR "In Progress"
- Agent matches the current agent (if known)
**If pending dialogs found:**
Present them to the user:
```
📋 **Found {N} pending dialog(s):**
| # | Date | Agent | Feature | Status |
|---|------|-------|---------|--------|
| 1 | {date} | {agent} | {feature} | {status} |
**Options:**
[A] Continue existing dialog #{N}
[B] Create a new dialog (existing ones remain pending)
Choice:
```
If user chooses an existing dialog:
- Load that dialog file
- Check the Steps Overview table for next incomplete step
- Continue from there
If user chooses to create new:
- Continue to SELECT DIALOG TYPE below
**If no pending dialogs found OR docs/F-Agent-Dialogs/ doesn't exist:**
Continue to SELECT DIALOG TYPE below.
---
## SELECT DIALOG TYPE
**What type of work is this?**
| Type | Icon | Use When |
|------|------|----------|
| **[A] Prototype Implementation** | 🔧 | Building UI from specifications |
| **[B] Bug Fix** | 🐛 | Fixing issues and defects |
| **[C] Design Exploration** | 🎨 | Exploring visual/UX directions |
| **[D] Capture** | 💾 | Saving ideas for later |
| **[E] Generic** | 📋 | Anything else |
Type:
Store dialog_type and select appropriate template:
- A → templates/dialog-types/prototype-implementation.template.md
- B → templates/dialog-types/bug-fix.template.md
- C → templates/dialog-types/design-exploration.template.md
- D → templates/dialog-capture.template.md
- E → templates/dialog.template.md
---
## GATHER INFORMATION
**What feature or implementation are we working on?**
Examples:
- "Booking details drawer"
- "User authentication refactor"
- "Calendar scroll fix"
Feature name:
Store feature_name and generate feature_slug (lowercase, hyphenated)
**Which specification(s) are relevant?**
Provide the path to the specification file(s) this implementation is based on.
Specification path:
Store spec_path
**What agent persona should execute this work?**
Examples:
- "Freya (UX Designer)" — For UI implementation
- "Dev Agent" — For backend work
- "Full Stack" — For end-to-end features
Agent:
Store agent_name
---
## CREATE FOLDER STRUCTURE
**Create dialog folder:**
Path: `docs/F-Agent-Dialogs/{date}-{agent_slug}-{feature_slug}/`
Where:
- `{date}` = Today's date in YYYY-MM-DD format
- `{agent_slug}` = Agent name, lowercase (e.g., "freya", "saga", "dev")
- `{feature_slug}` = Feature name, lowercase, hyphenated
**Examples:**
- `2026-01-23-freya-booking-details-overlay/`
- `2026-01-23-saga-course-workflow-integration/`
- `2026-01-23-dev-calendar-scroll-fix/`
**Create subfolders:**
- `steps/` — For step instruction files
---
## CREATE DIALOG FILE
**Create main dialog file:**
File: `docs/F-Agent-Dialogs/{date}-{agent_slug}-{feature_slug}/{date}-{agent_slug}-{feature_slug}-dialog.md`
**Use template from:** Selected dialog type template (see SELECT DIALOG TYPE step above)
**Fill in:**
- Date: Today's date
- Agent: {agent_name}
- Feature: {feature_name}
- Specification: Link to {spec_path}
- Status: "In Progress"
---
## GATHER SETUP CONTEXT
**Read the specification file(s)** to understand:
- What needs to be implemented
- What already exists
- Technical requirements
**What's the tech stack for this project?**
Example: "React 19, Next.js 15, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Supabase"
Tech stack:
Store tech_stack
**What files are relevant to this implementation?**
List the key files that will be modified or referenced.
Relevant files:
Store relevant_files
**Are there any existing patterns to follow?**
Describe component structure, styling approach, state management, etc.
Patterns:
Store patterns
---
## UPDATE DIALOG FILE
**Fill in Setup Context section:**
- Project Context (tech stack)
- Relevant Files (table)
- Existing Patterns
- Current State (what exists)
**Fill in Purpose:**
- 1-3 sentences describing what this dialog accomplishes
---
## COMPLETION
---
## ROUTING
Based on user choice:
- [A] → Load and execute step-02-analyze-scope.md
- [B] → Show the dialog file contents
- [C] → Ask for additional context to add
---
_Agent Dialog Workflow — Step 1: Initialize Dialog_