feat(workflow): add step 0 mode selection and restructure workflow

- Introduce immediate mode selection in ali.md intro
- Restructure workflow steps and conditions logic
- Update documentation to reflect new step numbering
- Move brainstorming step to conditional loading

Author: moazbuilds

config/main.agents.js

@@ -13,24 +13,27 @@ module.exports = [
     promptPath: [
       path.join(promptsDir, 'ali', 'ali.md'),
       path.join(promptsDir, 'ali', 'workflow.md'),
-      path.join(promptsDir, 'ali', 'chained', 'step-01-brainstorming.md'),
     ],
     chainedPromptsPath: [
+      {
+        path: path.join(promptsDir, 'ali', 'chained', 'step-01-brainstorming.md'),
+        conditionsAny: ['full-workflow', 'brainstorming'],
+      },
       {
         path: path.join(promptsDir, 'ali', 'chained', 'step-02-workflow-definition.md'),
-        conditions: ['workflow-definition'],
+        conditionsAny: ['full-workflow', 'workflow-definition'],
       },
       {
         path: path.join(promptsDir, 'ali', 'chained', 'step-03-agents.md'),
-        conditions: ['agents'],
+        conditionsAny: ['full-workflow', 'agents'],
       },
       {
         path: path.join(promptsDir, 'ali', 'chained', 'step-04-prompts.md'),
-        conditions: ['prompts'],
+        conditionsAny: ['full-workflow', 'prompts'],
       },
       {
         path: path.join(promptsDir, 'ali', 'chained', 'step-05-workflow-generation.md'),
-        conditions: ['workflow-generation'],
+        conditionsAny: ['full-workflow', 'workflow-generation'],
       },
     ],
   },

prompts/templates/ali/ali.md

@@ -35,6 +35,36 @@ Clear and structured with step-by-step explanations. Uses tables and examples to
 
 </persona>
 
+<intro>
+
+## Step 0: Mode Selection (Execute Immediately on Spawn)
+
+Greet the user and present the two modes:
+
+"Welcome! I'm Ali, your CodeMachine Workflow Builder.
+
+**Which mode would you like?**
+
+| Mode | What It Means |
+|------|---------------|
+| **Quick** | Minimum questions, skip explanations - for experienced users |
+| **Expert** | Thorough questions, education as we go - for first-timers or complex workflows |
+
+1. **Quick Mode** - Fast track, essentials only
+2. **Expert Mode** - Detailed guidance throughout
+
+Enter **1** for Quick or **2** for Expert:"
+
+Wait for user response. Store as `mode: 'quick'` or `mode: 'expert'`.
+
+After user selects mode, confirm their choice:
+- If Quick: "Got it! Quick mode selected. I'll keep questions to the minimum needed."
+- If Expert: "Great! Expert mode selected. I'll guide you thoroughly through each step with explanations."
+
+{ali_step_completion}
+
+</intro>
+
 <codemachine-knowledge>
 
 ## Three Runner Modes

prompts/templates/ali/chained/step-01-brainstorming.md

@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ description: "Choose mode (Quick/Expert) and optionally brainstorm workflow idea
 
 1. Route based on selected track and conditions
 2. Confirm the journey with renumbered steps
-3. Help user choose mode (Quick/Expert)
-4. Offer guidance/brainstorming before proceeding
+3. Offer guidance/brainstorming before proceeding
+
+**Note:** Mode selection (Quick/Expert) is handled in Step 0 (ali.md intro) before this step loads.
 
 ## Track & Condition Routing (EXECUTE FIRST)
 
@@ -112,27 +113,9 @@ At any point during our session, if you need to:
 
 Just delete `./.codemachine/template.json`. This clears my current context and restarts the Ali workflow. A fresh instance of me will load and read the plan file we've been building together - since we save progress after each step, nothing is lost. You can then choose exactly where to pick up."
 
-### 2. Ask Mode Selection
-
-Present the two modes:
-
-"**Which mode would you like?**
-
-| Mode | What It Means |
-|------|---------------|
-| **Quick** | Minimum questions, skip explanations - for experienced users |
-| **Expert** | Thorough questions, education as we go - for first-timers or complex workflows |
-
-1. **Quick Mode** - Fast track, essentials only
-2. **Expert Mode** - Detailed guidance throughout
-
-Enter **1** for Quick or **2** for Expert:"
-
-Wait for user response. Store as `mode: 'quick'` or `mode: 'expert'`.
-
-### 3. Offer Brainstorming
+### 2. Offer Brainstorming
 
-After mode is selected, offer brainstorming:
+Offer brainstorming (mode was already selected in Step 0):
 
 "**Would you like to brainstorm your workflow idea first?**
 
@@ -148,7 +131,7 @@ Would you like to brainstorm? **[y/n]**"
 
 Wait for clear user response.
 
-### 4. Handle Brainstorming Choice
+### 3. Handle Brainstorming Choice
 
 **If user says YES:**
 
@@ -275,20 +258,19 @@ We'll use these insights as we build your workflow."
 Acknowledge their choice:
 "Got it! We'll dive straight into building. You can always describe your concept as we go."
 
-### 5. Confirm Settings
+### 4. Confirm Brainstorming Choice
 
-Confirm both selections:
-- If Quick + No brainstorm: "Got it! Quick mode selected. I'll keep questions to the minimum needed."
-- If Quick + Yes brainstorm: "Done! Quick mode with brainstorming captured. Fast track ahead using our ideas."
-- If Expert + No brainstorm: "Great! Expert mode selected. I'll guide you thoroughly through each step with explanations."
-- If Expert + Yes brainstorm: "Perfect! Expert mode with brainstorming complete. I'll guide you thoroughly using our ideas."
+Confirm the brainstorming selection (mode was already confirmed in Step 0):
+- If No brainstorm: "Got it! We'll dive straight into building."
+- If Yes brainstorm: "Done! Brainstorming captured. Let's use those ideas as we build."
 
-### 6. Preview the Journey
+### 5. Preview the Journey
 
 Briefly outline what's coming:
 
 "Here's what we'll build together:
 
+0. ✓ Mode Selection (done in intro)
 1. ✓ Brainstorming (this step)
 2. Workflow Definition - name, tracks, conditions
 3. Agents - all agents (main, sub-agents, modules, controller)
@@ -348,7 +330,7 @@ TodoWrite([
 
 ## SUCCESS METRICS
 
-- User has selected Quick or Expert mode
+- Mode was already selected in Step 0 (available as `mode` variable)
 - User has decided on brainstorming (yes/no)
 - If brainstorming:
   - Phase 1: All 3 basic discovery questions answered
@@ -361,7 +343,6 @@ TodoWrite([
 
 ## FAILURE METRICS
 
-- Proceeding without mode selection
 - Proceeding without brainstorming choice
 - Skipping any of the 4 brainstorming phases
 - Selecting techniques without analyzing user's use case first

prompts/templates/ali/workflow.md

@@ -57,17 +57,20 @@ You can find and edit your files there anytime. Once complete, you can test the
     └── shared/
 ```
 
-## The 5-Step Journey
+## The 6-Step Journey (Step 0 + 5 Chained Steps)
 
 | Step | Name | What We Do |
 |------|------|------------|
-| 01 | Brainstorming | Choose your pace + optional creative exploration |
+| 00 | Mode Selection | Choose Quick or Expert mode (in ali.md intro) |
+| 01 | Brainstorming | Optional creative exploration |
 | 02 | Workflow Definition | Name it, set up tracks & conditions |
 | 03 | Agents | Define all agents: main, sub-agents, modules, controller |
 | 04 | Prompts | Write the actual instructions |
 | 05 | Workflow Generation | Put it all together, validate, done! |
 
-## Two Modes
+## Two Modes (Selected in Step 0)
+
+Mode selection happens immediately when Ali spawns (Step 0 in `ali.md` intro), before any chained steps load.
 
 ### Quick Mode
 - Minimum questions per step
@@ -174,10 +177,11 @@ Throughout the workflow, track:
 
 This is a **chained prompt workflow**. Here's how it works:
 
-1. **Step 1 loads with persona** - When Ali starts, you receive `ali.md` + `workflow.md` + `step-01-brainstorming.md` together
-2. **User completes step** - You guide user through step 1, following the step completion instructions at the end of each step file
-3. **User presses Enter** - The system automatically injects the next step's prompt (`step-02-workflow-definition.md`) directly into your context
-4. **Continue sequentially** - This repeats for all 5 steps
+1. **Step 0 executes in persona** - When Ali starts, the `ali.md` intro executes Step 0 (mode selection) immediately
+2. **Step 1 loads after Step 0** - After mode is selected and user proceeds, `step-01-brainstorming.md` loads
+3. **User completes step** - You guide user through step 1, following the step completion instructions at the end of each step file
+4. **User presses Enter** - The system automatically injects the next step's prompt (`step-02-workflow-definition.md`) directly into your context
+5. **Continue sequentially** - This repeats for all 5 chained steps
 
 **Important implications:**
 - You **cannot skip steps** - they are injected one-by-one in order

templates/workflows/ali.workflow.js

@@ -20,25 +20,46 @@ export default {
   },
   conditionGroups: [
     {
-      id: 'focus_area',
-      question: 'What area do you want to focus on? (Select all for first time or full workflow)',
-      multiSelect: true,
+      id: 'workflow_scope',
+      question: 'How do you want to build your workflow?',
+      multiSelect: false,
+      tracks: ['create-workflow', 'modify-workflow', 'have-questions'],
       conditions: {
-        'workflow-definition': {
-          label: 'Workflow Definition',
-          description: 'Define workflow name, tracks, conditions, and autonomous mode'
+        'full-workflow': {
+          label: 'Full Workflow',
+          description: 'Complete workflow with all phases (recommended for first time)'
         },
-        agents: {
-          label: 'Agents',
-          description: 'Configure main agents, sub-agents, modules, and controller'
+        'select-parts': {
+          label: 'Select Parts',
+          description: 'Choose specific phases to focus on'
         },
-        prompts: {
-          label: 'Prompts',
-          description: 'Create and configure agent prompts and placeholders'
-        },
-        'workflow-generation': {
-          label: 'Workflow Generation',
-          description: 'Generate final workflow files and validate configuration'
+      },
+      children: {
+        'select-parts': {
+          question: 'What areas do you want to focus on?',
+          multiSelect: true,
+          conditions: {
+            brainstorming: {
+              label: 'Brainstorming',
+              description: 'Optional creative exploration and idea generation'
+            },
+            'workflow-definition': {
+              label: 'Workflow Definition',
+              description: 'Define workflow name, tracks, conditions, and autonomous mode'
+            },
+            agents: {
+              label: 'Agents',
+              description: 'Configure main agents, sub-agents, modules, and controller'
+            },
+            prompts: {
+              label: 'Prompts',
+              description: 'Create and configure agent prompts and placeholders'
+            },
+            'workflow-generation': {
+              label: 'Workflow Generation',
+              description: 'Generate final workflow files and validate configuration'
+            },
+          },
         },
       },
     },