Writing Implementation Plans
Create clear plans BEFORE coding to save time and tokens:
Plan Structure
1. GOAL (1-2 sentences)
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What are we building and why?
2. CONSTRAINTS
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- Technology limits - Time/resource constraints - Compatibility requirements - Performance targets
3. APPROACH (High-Level)
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- Architecture pattern - Key components - Data flow - Integration points
4. STEPS (Ordered Tasks)
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1. [Component] - Brief description 2. [Component] - Brief description - Sub-task if needed 3. [Testing] - What to test 4. [Deployment] - How to deploy
5. RISKS & MITIGATIONS
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Risk: Description Mitigation: Solution
6. SUCCESS CRITERIA
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- Measurable outcomes - Test coverage targets - Performance metrics
Token Optimization
- •Write plan ONCE, reference during implementation
- •Clear steps prevent back-and-forth
- •Catches issues early (cheaper to fix in planning)
- •Team can review before coding starts
Example Output Format
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GOAL: Add user authentication with JWT CONSTRAINTS: - Must use existing DB schema - Response time < 200ms - Support OAuth2 APPROACH: - Middleware-based auth layer - JWT with refresh tokens - Redis session cache STEPS: 1. Create auth middleware 2. Implement token generation/validation 3. Add refresh token logic 4. Write integration tests 5. Update API docs RISKS: - Token expiry handling → Use refresh tokens - Concurrency issues → Use Redis locks SUCCESS: - All endpoints secured - 95%+ test coverage - Load test passes (1000 req/s)