Writing Plans
Overview
Write comprehensive implementation plans assuming the engineer has zero context for our codebase. Document everything they need to know: which files to touch for each task, code, testing, docs they might need to check, how to test it.
Give them the whole plan as bite-sized tasks. DRY. YAGNI. TDD. Frequent commits.
Bite-Sized Task Granularity
Each step is one action (2-5 minutes):
- "Write the failing test" - step
- "Run it to make sure it fails" - step
- "Implement the minimal code to make the test pass" - step
- "Run the tests and make sure they pass" - step
- "Commit" - step
Plan Document Header
Every plan MUST start with this header:
# [Feature Name] Implementation Plan
> **For Claude:** REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use executing-plans to implement this plan task-by-task.
**Goal:** [One sentence describing what this builds]
**Architecture:** [2-3 sentences about approach]
**Tech Stack:** [Key technologies/libraries]
---Task Structure
### Task N: [Component Name]
**Files:**
- Create: `exact/path/to/file.py`
- Modify: `exact/path/to/existing.py:123-145`
- Test: `tests/exact/path/to/test.py`
**Step 1: Write the failing test**
def test_specific_behavior(): result = function(input) assert result == expected
**Step 2: Run test to verify it fails**
Run: `pytest tests/path/test.py::test_name -v` Expected: FAIL with "function not defined"
**Step 3: Write minimal implementation**
def function(input): return expected
**Step 4: Run test to verify it passes**
Run: `pytest tests/path/test.py::test_name -v` Expected: PASS
**Step 5: Commit**
git add tests/path/test.py src/path/file.py git commit -m "feat: add specific feature"
Key Requirements
- Exact file paths always - No ambiguity about where code goes
- Complete code in plan - Not "add validation" but actual code
- Exact commands with expected output - So engineer knows if it worked
- DRY, YAGNI, TDD, frequent commits - Core principles
Execution Handoff
After saving the plan, offer execution choice:
"Plan complete and saved to docs/plans/<filename>.md. Two execution options:
1. Subagent-Driven (this session) - Dispatch fresh subagent per task, review between tasks, fast iteration
2. Parallel Session (separate) - Open new session with executing-plans, batch execution with checkpoints
Which approach?"
Attribution
Based on obra/superpowers writing-plans skill - 164+ installs.