Create Plan
Goal
Turn a user prompt into a single, actionable plan delivered in the final assistant message.
Minimal workflow
Throughout the entire workflow, operate in read-only mode. Do not write or update files.
- •
Scan context quickly
- •Read
README.mdand any obvious docs (docs/,CONTRIBUTING.md,ARCHITECTURE.md). - •Skim relevant files (the ones most likely touched).
- •Identify constraints (language, frameworks, CI/test commands, deployment shape).
- •Read
- •
Ask follow-ups only if blocking
- •Ask at most 1–2 questions.
- •Only ask if you cannot responsibly plan without the answer; prefer multiple-choice.
- •If unsure but not blocked, make a reasonable assumption and proceed.
- •
Create a plan using the template below
- •Start with 1 short paragraph describing the intent and approach.
- •Clearly call out what is in scope and what is not in scope in short.
- •Then provide a small checklist of action items (default 6–10 items).
- •Each checklist item should be a concrete action and, when helpful, mention files/commands.
- •Make items atomic and ordered: discovery → changes → tests → rollout.
- •Verb-first: "Add…", "Refactor…", "Verify…", "Ship…".
- •Include at least one item for tests/validation and one for edge cases/risk when applicable.
- •If there are unknowns, include a tiny Open questions section (max 3).
- •
Do not preface the plan with meta explanations; output only the plan as per template
Plan template (follow exactly)
markdown
# Plan <1–3 sentences: what we're doing, why, and the high-level approach.> ## Scope - In: - Out: ## Action items [ ] <Step 1> [ ] <Step 2> [ ] <Step 3> [ ] <Step 4> [ ] <Step 5> [ ] <Step 6> ## Open questions - <Question 1> - <Question 2> - <Question 3>
Checklist item guidance
Good checklist items:
- •Point to likely files/modules: src/..., app/..., services/...
- •Name concrete validation: "Run npm test", "Add unit tests for X"
- •Include safe rollout when relevant: feature flag, migration plan, rollback note
Avoid:
- •Vague steps ("handle backend", "do auth")
- •Too many micro-steps
- •Writing code snippets (keep the plan implementation-agnostic)