Branch Plan Skill
Usage
/branch-plan [<branch-name>]
- •
/branch-plan— plan for the current branch - •
/branch-plan ray/refactor-backend-gateway— create branch and plan
Instructions for Claude
When the user invokes /branch-plan:
- •Discover branch: Use current branch, or create the named branch
- •Create plan file:
CLAUDE.<sanitized-name>.md(replace/with-) using the template below - •Update
CLAUDE.local.md: Replace existing@CLAUDE.*.mdreference with the new file - •Ask the user for a one-line goal (optional)
- •Report created branch and file paths
Planning and execution guidelines
When populating or updating a plan:
Vertical slice: One branch = one complete feature, backend to frontend. No horizontal layers. For multi-slice plans, number slices (Slice 1, 2) with per-slice Scope/Tasks sections and prefixed task IDs (1.1a, 1.2, 2.1a).
Test-first: Tests (lettered sub-IDs: 1a, 1b) precede implementation (2, 3). Implementation makes tests pass — no more, no less. Note explicitly when test-first isn't feasible.
Single plan file: Tests and implementation tasks together in execution order.
Update after each phase: After each phase completes (tests written, implementation passing, frontend updated, verification), immediately update the plan: mark completed tasks, record findings/decisions, update Current State.
Scope decisions: Record deferrals and rationale. Cross off resolved Questions with the decision made.
Plan File Template
# [Title based on branch name] > **IMPORTANT**: This plan must be kept up-to-date at all times. Assume context can be cleared at any time — this file is the single source of truth for the current state of this work. Update this plan before and after task and subtask implementations. ## Branch `<branch-name>` ## Goal [To be filled in] ## Strategy: Vertical Slice Deliver a complete, testable feature end-to-end: 1. **Backend test** — Write failing test for new behavior (red) 2. **Backend implementation** — Make the test pass (green) 3. **Frontend update** — Remove old logic, consume new API 4. **Verify** — Manual or E2E test confirms behavior ## Current State - [ ] Plan created - [ ] [Additional items to be added] ## Key Findings [Analysis of existing code, capabilities, and gaps — to be filled in during investigation] ## Questions > Questions must be crossed off when resolved. Note the decision made. - [ ] [To be added] ## Scope [What's in and out of scope] **Backend changes**: - [Description of backend work] **Frontend changes**: - [Description of frontend work] ## Tasks > **Test-first**: Write or update tests that fail (red) before writing the implementation to make them pass (green). - [ ] 1a [Failing test for expected behavior] - [ ] 1b [Additional test scenarios] - [ ] 2 [Implementation to make tests pass] - [ ] 3 [Frontend update] - [ ] 4 Manual verification ## Completed (none yet) --- *Last updated: [date]*
Example
Input: /branch-plan ray/add-file-uploads
Creates:
- •Branch:
ray/add-file-uploads - •File:
CLAUDE.ray-add-file-uploads.md - •Updates:
CLAUDE.local.md→@CLAUDE.ray-add-file-uploads.md