Planning Phase
Create a specific implementation plan for review.
Task
$ARGUMENTS
Instructions
Output: ## Planning Phase
State: At phase start, update STATE.md:
- •Set
task:from $ARGUMENTS (if STATE.md is idle/complete or task is "None") - •Set
phase: plan - •Set
status: in_progress
1. Consume Research Handoff
Read ## Research Findings from STATE.md:
- •Use Key Files as starting points
- •Honor Constraints in plan design
- •Address Remaining items from research
2. Gather Context
- •Read files identified in research handoff
- •Verify understanding is current
- •Spawn parallel research tasks if gaps exist
3. Define Success Criteria
Automated verification:
- •Build commands that must pass
- •Test commands that must pass
- •Type check commands
Manual verification:
- •UI/UX checks requiring human review
- •Performance validation
- •Edge case review
4. Scope Boundaries
What we're doing:
- •Specific deliverables
What we're NOT doing:
- •Explicit exclusions (prevents scope creep)
5. Create Step-by-Step Plan
Use the plan format template:
markdown
## Phase 1: [Name]
- [ ] Step 1: Description
File: `path/to/file.ts`
Verification: how to verify this step
- [ ] Step 2: Description
File: `path/to/other.ts`
Verification: run `npm test`
## Phase 2: [Name]
- [ ] Step 3: ...
Task schema (from style.md): Each task should have:
- •Action: What to do and why
- •Files: Specific paths (
src/auth.ts:42) - •Verify: Testable command
- •Done: Measurable acceptance criteria
6. Identify Decision Points
- •Where are there meaningful alternatives?
- •What tradeoffs exist?
- •What needs human input before proceeding?
7. Checkpoint
Update STATE.md incrementally:
- •Set
phase: plan - •Add plan decisions to
## Decisions - •Update
## Next Stepswith plan summary and approval status
Run /checkpoint if context is heavy or taking a break.
8. Produce Handoff
Before exit gate, append handoff to STATE.md under ## Plan:
markdown
## Plan ### Completed - [x] Implementation plan created - [x] Success criteria defined ### Context **Plan Summary**: 1. [Step 1 brief] 2. [Step 2 brief] ... **Verification Commands**: - `[test command]` - `[build command]` **Risks Identified**: - [Risk]: [mitigation] ### Remaining - [ ] Execute plan steps - [ ] Verify each step before proceeding
See handoff template for full format.
Constraints
- •Do not implement yet
- •Plan should be specific enough that implementation is mechanical
- •Each phase should be independently verifiable
- •Keep total steps reasonable (3-10 per phase, 20 max overall)
Exit Criteria
Plan is approved by human before proceeding to implementation.
Gate: "Here's the plan. Approve to proceed?"