[BLOCKING] Execute skill steps in declared order. NEVER skip, reorder, or merge steps without explicit user approval. [BLOCKING] Before each step or sub-skill call, update task tracking: setin_progresswhen step starts, setcompletedwhen step ends. [BLOCKING] Every completed/skipped step MUST include brief evidence or explicit skip reason. [BLOCKING] If Task tools are unavailable, create and maintain an equivalent step-by-step plan tracker with the same status transitions.
[IMPORTANT] Use TaskCreate to break ALL work into small tasks BEFORE starting — including tasks for each file read. This prevents context loss from long files. For simple tasks, AI MUST ATTENTION ask user whether to skip.Critical Thinking Mindset — Apply critical thinking, sequential thinking. Every claim needs traced proof, confidence >80% to act. Anti-hallucination: Never present guess as fact — cite sources for every claim, admit uncertainty freely, self-check output for errors, cross-reference independently, stay skeptical of own confidence — certainty without evidence root of all hallucination.
AI Mistake Prevention — Failure modes to avoid on every task: - Check downstream references before deleting. Deleting components causes documentation and code staleness cascades. Map all referencing files before removal. - Verify AI-generated content against actual code. AI hallucinates APIs, class names, and method signatures. Always grep to confirm existence before documenting or referencing. - Trace full dependency chain after edits. Changing a definition misses downstream variables and consumers derived from it. Always trace the full chain. - Trace ALL code paths when verifying correctness. Confirming code exists is not confirming it executes. Always trace early exits, error branches, and conditional skips — not just happy path. - When debugging, ask "whose responsibility?" before fixing. Trace whether bug is in caller (wrong data) or callee (wrong handling). Fix at responsible layer — never patch symptom site. - Assume existing values are intentional — ask WHY before changing. Before changing any constant, limit, flag, or pattern: read comments, check git blame, examine surrounding code. - Verify ALL affected outputs, not just the first. Changes touching multiple stacks require verifying EVERY output. One green check is not all green checks. - Holistic-first debugging — resist nearest-attention trap. When investigating any failure, list EVERY precondition first (config, env vars, DB names, endpoints, DI registrations, data preconditions), then verify each against evidence before forming any code-layer hypothesis. - Surgical changes — apply the diff test. Bug fix: every changed line must trace directly to the bug. Don't restyle or improve adjacent code. Enhancement task: implement improvements AND announce them explicitly. - Surface ambiguity before coding — don't pick silently. If request has multiple interpretations, present each with effort estimate and ask. Never assume all-records, file-based, or more complex path.
Understand Code First — HARD-GATE: Do NOT write, plan, or fix until you READ existing code. 1. Search 3+ similar patterns (grep/glob) — citefile:lineevidence 2. Read existing files in target area — understand structure, base classes, conventions 3. Runpython.claude/scripts/code_graph trace <file> --direction both --jsonwhen.code-graph/graph.dbexists 4. Map dependencies viaconnectionsorcallers_of— know what depends on your target 5. Write investigation to.ai/workspace/analysis/for non-trivial tasks (3+ files) 6. Re-read analysis file before implementing — never work from memory alone 7. NEVER invent new patterns when existing ones work — match exactly or document deviation BLOCKED until:- []Read target files- []Grep 3+ patterns- []Graph trace (if graph.db exists)- []Assumptions verified with evidence
Cross-Service Check — Microservices/event-driven: MANDATORY before concluding investigation, plan, spec, or feature doc. Missing downstream consumer = silent regression. | Boundary | Grep terms | | --- | --- | | Event producers |Publish,Dispatch,Send,emit,EventBus,outbox,IntegrationEvent| | Event consumers |Consumer,EventHandler,Subscribe,@EventListener,inbox| | Sagas/orchestration |Saga,ProcessManager,Choreography,Workflow,Orchestrator| | Sync service calls | HTTP/gRPC calls to/from other services | | Shared contracts | OpenAPI spec, proto, shared DTO — flag breaking changes | | Data ownership | Other service reads/writes same table/collection → Shared-DB anti-pattern | Per touchpoint: owner service · message name · consumers · risk (NONE / ADDITIVE / BREAKING). BLOCKED until: Producers scanned · Consumers scanned · Sagas checked · Contracts reviewed · Breaking-change risk flagged
docs/project-reference/domain-entities-reference.md— Domain entity catalog, relationships, cross-service sync (read when task involves business entities/models) (content auto-injected by hook — check for [Injected:...] header before reading)
Rationalization Prevention — AI skips steps via these evasions. Recognize and reject: | Evasion | Rebuttal | | --- | --- | | "Too simple for a plan" | Simple + wrong assumptions = wasted time. Plan anyway. | | "I'll test after" | RED before GREEN. Write/verify test first. | | "Already searched" | Show grep evidence with file:line. No proof = no search. | | "Just do it" | Still need TaskCreate. Skip depth, never skip tracking. | | "Just a small fix" | Small fix in wrong location cascades. Verify file:line first. | | "Code is self-explanatory" | Future readers need evidence trail. Document anyway. | | "Combine steps to save time" | Combined steps dilute focus. Each step has distinct purpose. |Estimation Framework — Story Points (Modified Fibonacci) + Man-Days for 3-5yr dev (6 productive hrs/day,.NET + Angular stack). AI estimate assumes Claude Code with good project context (code graph, patterns, hooks active). | SP | Complexity | Description | Traditional (code + test) | AI-Assisted (code+rev + test+rev) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Low | Trivial: single field, config flag, CSS fix | 0.5d (0.3d+0.2d) | 0.25d (0.15d+0.1d) | | 2 | Low | Small: simple CRUD endpoint OR basic component | 1d (0.6d+0.4d) | 0.35d (0.2d+0.15d) | | 3 | Medium | Medium: form + API + validation | 2d (1.3d+0.7d) | 0.65d (0.4d+0.25d) | | 5 | Medium | Large: multi-layer feature (BE + FE) | 4d (2.5d+1.5d) | 1.0d (0.6d+0.4d) | | 8 | High | Very large: complex feature + migration | 6d (4d+2d) | 1.5d (1.0d+0.5d) | | 13 | Critical | Epic: cross-service — SHOULD split | 10d (6.5d+3.5d) | 2.0d (1.3d+0.7d) | | 21 | Critical | MUST split — not sprint-ready | >15d | ~3d | AI speedup grows with task size: SP 1 ≈ 2x · SP 2-3 ≈ 3x · SP 5-8 ≈ 4x · SP 13+ ≈ 5x. Pattern-heavy CQRS/Angular boilerplate eliminated in hours at any scale. Fixed overhead: human review. AI column breakdown:(code_gen × 1.3) + (test_gen × 1.3)— each artifact adds 30% human review overhead. Test writing with AI = few hours generation + 30% review, same model as coding. Outputstory_points,complexity,man_days_traditional,man_days_aiin plan/PBI frontmatter.
docs/specs/— Test specifications by module (read existing TCs to include test strategy in plan)
Plan Quality — Every plan phase MUST ATTENTION include test specifications. 1. Add## Test Specificationssection with TC-{FEAT}-{NNN} IDs to every phase file 2. Map every functional requirement to ≥1 TC (or explicitTBDwith rationale) 3. TC IDs followTC-{FEATURE}-{NNN}format — reference by ID, never embed full content 4. Before any new workflow step: callTaskListand re-read the phase file 5. On context compaction: callTaskListFIRST — never create duplicate tasks 6. Verify TC satisfaction per phase before marking complete (evidence must befile:line, not TBD) Mode: TDD-first → reference existing TCs withEvidence: TBD. Implement-first → use TBD →/tdd-specfills after.
Iterative Phase Quality — Score complexity BEFORE planning. Complexity signals: >5 files +2, cross-service +3, new pattern +2, DB migration +2 Score >=6 → MUST ATTENTION decompose into phases. Each phase: - ≤5 files modified - ≤3h effort - Follows cycle: plan → implement → review → fix → verify - Do NOT start Phase N+1 until Phase N passes VERIFY Phase success = all TCs pass + code-reviewer agent approves + no CRITICAL findings.
Before routing, assess complexity score. Score >=3 → plan MUST ATTENTION produce multiple phases with per-phase quality cycles.
Quick Summary
Goal: Intelligently create implementation plans by analyzing task complexity and routing to /plan-fast or /plan-hard.
Workflow:
- Analyze — Surface ambiguity BEFORE planning (protocol below), then ask clarifying questions via
AskUserQuestion. - Route — Decide
/plan-fast(simple) or/plan-hard(complex) based on scope - Create — Execute chosen plan variant, write plan to
plans/directory - Validate — Offer
/plan-reviewand/plan-validatefor quality assurance
Ambiguity Protocol — MUST ATTENTION run before writing any plan: | Dimension | Ask | | --- | --- | | Scope | All records or filtered? What's included/excluded? Any privacy implications? | | Format | File? API? Background job? UI change? What does "done" look like? | | Volume | How many entities/files affected? (drives approach: in-memory vs paged) | | Constraints | Performance targets? Security boundaries? Patterns already in use? | If multiple interpretations exist, present with effort estimates before planning: `` "[Request]" could mean: 1. [Interpretation A] — [approach] — ~[Nh] effort 2. [Interpretation B] — [approach] — ~[Nh] effort Simplest approach: [X]. Which direction? `` NEVER pick silently. If a simpler approach exists than implied, say so first.Key Rules:
- PLANNING-ONLY: never implement, never use EnterPlanMode tool
- Parent skill for all plan-* variants (plan-fast, plan-hard, plan-ci, plan-cro, plan-two, plan-parallel)
- Always collaborate with user; ask decision questions, present options
- Always add final
/plan-validateand/plan-reviewtasks
Greenfield Mode
Auto-detected: If no existing codebase is found (no code directories likesrc/,app/,lib/,server/,packages/, etc., no manifest files likepackage.json/*.sln/go.mod, no populatedproject-config.json), this skill switches to greenfield mode automatically. Planning artifacts (docs/, plans/,.claude/) don't count — the project must have actual code directories with content.
When greenfield is detected:
- ALWAYS route to
/plan-hard— greenfield planning requires deep research, never fast plans - Skip reading project reference docs (they won't exist in a greenfield project)
- Enable web research for tech landscape analysis (WebSearch + WebFetch)
- Delegate architecture decisions to
solution-architectagent - Increase user interview frequency (AskUserQuestion at each major decision)
- If
/greenfieldworkflow is not already active, suggest it via AskUserQuestion:
- "Activate Greenfield Project Init workflow (Recommended)" — full waterfall inception - "Continue with standalone /plan-hard" — planning only, no full workflow
Variant Decision Guide
| If the task is... | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Simple, clear scope (<5 files) | /plan-fast | Lightweight plan, faster output |
| Complex, multi-layer, many files | /plan-hard | Deep research, comprehensive plan |
| CI/CD pipeline changes | /plan-ci | CI-specific context and validation |
| Cross-cutting refactor | /plan-cro | Cross-service impact analysis |
| Parallel implementation possible | /plan-parallel | Splits plan into parallelizable phases |
| Two competing approaches | /plan-two | Creates 2 plans for comparison |
| Analyzing existing plan | /plan-analysis | Reviews/critiques an existing plan |
| Archiving completed plan | /plan-archive | Moves plan to archive |
| General/unknown | /plan (this skill) | Routes automatically |
PLANNING-ONLY — Collaboration Required
DO NOT use theEnterPlanModetool — you are ALREADY in a planning workflow. DO NOT implement or execute any code changes. COLLABORATE with the user: ask decision questions, present options with recommendations. After plan creation, ALWAYS useAskUserQuestiontool to offer/plan-reviewvalidation. ASK user to confirm the plan before any next step.
Your mission
Pre-Creation Check (Active vs Suggested Plan Detection)
Check the ## Plan Context section in the injected context:
- If "Plan:" shows a path → Active plan exists. Ask user: "Active plan found: {path}. Continue with this? [Y/n]"
- If "Suggested:" shows a path → Branch-matched plan hint only. Ask user if they want to activate it or create new.
- If "Plan: none" → Proceed to create new plan using naming pattern from
## Namingsection.
Workflow
- Analyze the given task and use
AskUserQuestiontool to ask for more details if needed. - Decide to use
/plan-fastor/plan-hardSlashCommands based on the complexity. - Execute SlashCommand:
/plan-fast <detailed-instructions-prompt>or/plan-hard <detailed-instructions-prompt> - Activate
planningskill. - Note:
detailed-instructions-promptis an enhanced prompt that describes the task in detail based on the provided task description.
MANDATORY FINAL TASKS — After all planning tasks, ALWAYS add these final tasks:
- "Write test specifications for each phase" — Add
## Test Specificationswith TC-{FEAT}-{NNN} IDs to every phase file. Use/tdd-specif feature docs exist.Evidence: TBDfor TDD-first mode. - "Run /plan-validate" — Interview user to validate plan assumptions
- "Run /plan-review" — Auto-review plan for validity and best practices
- "Run /why-review (standalone only)" — If NOT inside a workflow, trigger
/why-reviewto validate design rationale, alternatives considered, and risk assessment in the plan. Skip if a workflow already includes/why-reviewin its sequence.
Standalone Review Gate (Non-Workflow Only)
MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION: If this skill is called outside a workflow (standalone/plan), the generated plan MUST ATTENTION include/review-changesas a final phase/task in the plan. This ensures all implementation changes get reviewed before commit even without a workflow enforcing it. If already running inside a workflow (e.g.,feature,bugfix), skip this — the workflow sequence handles/review-changesat the appropriate step.
Workflow Recommendation
MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION — NO EXCEPTIONS: If you are NOT already in a workflow, you MUST ATTENTION useAskUserQuestionto ask the user. Do NOT judge task complexity or decide this is "simple enough to skip" — the user decides whether to use a workflow, not you: 1. Activatepre-developmentworkflow (Recommended) — quality-gate → plan → plan-review → plan-validate 2. Execute/plandirectly — run this skill standalone
Post-Plan Granularity Self-Check (MANDATORY)
Plan Granularity — Every phase must pass 5-point check before implementation: 1. Lists exact file paths to modify (not generic "implement X") 2. No planning verbs (research, investigate, analyze, determine, figure out) 3. Steps ≤30min each, phase total ≤3h 4. ≤5 files per phase 5. No open decisions or TBDs in approach Failing phases → create sub-plan. Repeat until ALL leaf phases pass (max depth: 3). Self-question: "Can I start coding RIGHT NOW? If any step needs 'figuring out' → sub-plan it."
Preservation Inventory (MANDATORY for bugfixes)
Preservation Inventory — MANDATORY for bugfix plans. Trigger keywords in plan title/frontmatter:fix,bug,regression,broken,defect. Author MUST produce this table BEFORE writing implementation steps. Columns:Invariant | file:line | Why (data consequence if broken) | Verification (TC-ID or grep)BLOCKED until: ≥3 rows · every File cell hasfile:line· every Verification cell has TC-ID or grep (not "manually verify")
After creating all phase files, run the recursive decomposition loop:
- Score each phase against the 5-point criteria (file paths, no planning verbs, ≤30min steps, ≤5 files, no open decisions)
- For each FAILING phase → create task to decompose it into a sub-plan (with its own /plan → /plan-review → /plan-validate → fix cycle)
- Re-score new phases. Repeat until ALL leaf phases pass (max depth: 3)
- Self-question: "For each phase, can I start coding RIGHT NOW? If any needs 'figuring out' → sub-plan it."
Next Steps (Standalone: MUST ATTENTION ask user via AskUserQuestion. Skip if inside workflow.)
MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION — NO EXCEPTIONS: If this skill was called outside a workflow, you MUST ATTENTION use AskUserQuestion to present these options. Do NOT skip because the task seems "simple" or "obvious" — the user decides:- "Proceed with full workflow (Recommended)" — I'll detect the best workflow to continue from here (plan created). This ensures review, validation, implementation, and testing steps aren't skipped.
- "/why-review" — Validate design rationale in the plan before implementation (standalone only — skipped when workflow includes it)
- "/plan-review" — Auto-review plan for validity and best practices
- "/plan-validate" — Interview user to confirm plan decisions
- "Skip, continue manually" — user decides
If already inside a workflow, skip — the workflow handles sequencing.
Closing Reminders
- MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION break work into small todo tasks using
TaskCreateBEFORE starting - MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION search codebase for 3+ similar patterns before creating new code
- MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION cite
file:lineevidence for every claim (confidence >80% to act) - MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION add a final review todo task to verify work quality
- MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION include Test Specifications section and story_points in plan frontmatter
- MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION verify all phases pass 5-point granularity check. Failing phases → sub-plan. "Can I start coding RIGHT NOW?"
- MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION search 3+ existing patterns and read code BEFORE any modification. Run graph trace when graph.db exists.
- MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION follow ALL steps regardless of perceived simplicity. "Too simple to plan" is an evasion, not a reason.
- MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION include
story_points,complexity,man_days_traditional,man_days_aiin plan/PBI frontmatter. Use SP table: SP 1=0.5d/0.25d, SP 2=1d/0.35d, SP 3=2d/0.65d, SP 5=4d/1.0d, SP 8=6d/1.5d · SP 13=10d/2.0d. SP 13 SHOULD split, SP 21 MUST split. - MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION include
## Test Specificationswith TC IDs per phase. CallTaskListbefore creating new tasks. - MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION score complexity first. Score >=6 → decompose. Each phase: plan → implement → review → fix → verify. No skipping.
- IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION microservices/event-driven: scan producers, consumers, sagas, contracts in task scope. Per touchpoint: owner · message · consumers · risk (NONE/ADDITIVE/BREAKING). Missing consumer = silent regression.
- MUST ATTENTION apply critical thinking — every claim needs traced proof, confidence >80% to act. Anti-hallucination: never present guess as fact.
- MUST ATTENTION apply AI mistake prevention — holistic-first debugging, fix at responsible layer, surface ambiguity before coding, re-read files after compaction.
[TASK-PLANNING] Before acting, analyze task scope and systematically break it into small todo tasks and sub-tasks using TaskCreate.
Prompt-Enhance Closing Anchors
- IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION follow declared step order for this skill; NEVER skip, reorder, or merge steps without explicit user approval
- IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION for every step/sub-skill call: set
in_progressbefore execution, setcompletedafter execution - IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION every skipped step MUST include explicit reason; every completed step MUST include concise evidence
- IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION if Task tools unavailable, maintain an equivalent step-by-step plan tracker with synchronized statuses