/btw

name: btw
description: Helps you use the /btw (or /qq) side-conversation workflow. Use when you want to think in parallel, ask side questions without interrupting ongoing work, or inject a side thread back into the main agent.

BTW / QQ: side conversations

Use this skill when the user wants to work in parallel with the main agent instead of derailing the current turn.

Both `/btw` and `/qq` are identical. Use whichever feels natural. `/qq` stands for "quick question".

When to use BTW

Prefer the BTW workflow when the user wants to:

• ask a side question while the main agent keeps working
• brainstorm or compare options without interrupting the current run
• prepare a plan or summary before handing it back to the main agent
• keep exploratory discussion out of the main transcript/context

Commands

Use these commands in your guidance to the user:

/btw <question>
/btw --save <question>
/btw new [question]
/btw clear
/btw inject [instructions]
/btw summarize [instructions]

Every `/btw` command has a `/qq` equivalent:

/qq <question>
/qq --save <question>
/qq new [question]
/qq clear
/qq inject [instructions]
/qq summarize [instructions]

How to guide the user

For a quick side question

Recommend:

/btw <question>

or

/qq <question>

Use this when the user wants an immediate aside and does not need a visible saved note.

For a saved one-off note

Recommend:

/btw --save <question>

Use this when the user wants the exchange to appear as a visible BTW note in the session transcript.

For a fresh side thread

Recommend:

/btw new

or

/btw new <question>

Use this when the previous BTW discussion is no longer relevant.

To hand the full thread back to the main agent

Recommend:

/btw inject <instructions>

Use this when the exact discussion matters and the user wants the main agent to act on it.

To hand back a condensed version

Recommend:

/btw summarize <instructions>

Use this when the thread is long and only the distilled outcome should go back into the main agent.

Recommendation rules

• Prefer `/btw` over normal chat when the user explicitly wants a side conversation.
• Prefer `/btw summarize` over `/btw inject` for long exploratory threads.
• Prefer `/btw inject` when precise wording, detailed tradeoffs, or a full plan matters.
• Suggest `/btw new` before starting a totally unrelated side topic.
• Suggest `/btw clear` when the widget/thread should be dismissed.

Response style

When helping the user use BTW:

• give the exact slash command to run
• explain briefly why that command fits
• keep the guidance short and operational

Examples

Example: brainstorm while coding continues

/btw what are the risks of switching this to optimistic updates?

Example: quick question shorthand

/qq what does this error mean?

Example: create a clean new thread

/btw new sketch a safer migration plan

Example: send the result back

/btw summarize implement the recommended migration plan