App Planning

Transform app ideas into structured feature lists and complete specifications.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

•Starting a new app from just an idea
•User says "I want to build [app description]"
•No existing features or codebase
•Need to break down an app concept
•Planning a new project from scratch

App Planning Workflow

Phase 1: Understand the App Idea

Ask Discovery Questions:

•App Purpose: What problem does this app solve? Who is it for?
•User Types: Who will use it? Different roles?
•Core Value: What's the main thing users do in this app?
•Constraints: Platform (web/mobile/desktop)? Technology preferences? Timeline? Budget?
•Inspiration: Any similar apps? What would you do differently?

Phase 2: Identify Core Features

Feature Categories to Consider:

User Management:

•User registration/authentication?
•User profiles?
•Account management?

Core Functionality:

•What's the main workflow?
•What do users create/view/manage?
•What actions can they take?

Discovery & Navigation:

•Search functionality?
•Filtering and sorting?
•Categories or tags?

Social/Collaborative:

•Sharing features?
•Comments or ratings?
•Following/notifications?

Content Management:

•Create/edit/delete content?
•Media upload?
•Drafts or versioning?

Help User Prioritize:

code

Essential (MVP):
- [Features needed for basic functionality]

Important (Phase 2):
- [Features that enhance core value]

Nice-to-Have (Future):
- [Features that can wait]

Phase 3: Feature Breakdown

For each essential feature, create:

markdown

## Feature: [Name]

**User Need**: [What user problem this solves]
**Priority**: Essential / Important / Nice-to-Have
**Estimated Complexity**: Simple / Medium / Complex
**Dependencies**: [What must exist first]

**User Stories** (preliminary):
- As a [user], I want to [action], so that [benefit]

**Next Step**: Create complete spec for this feature

Phase 4: Sequencing Strategy

Recommend implementation order:

•
Foundation Features (always first):
- •User authentication (if needed)
- •Basic data models
- •Core infrastructure
•
Core Value Features (next):
- •The main thing users do
- •Essential workflows
•
Enhancement Features (later):
- •Search, filters, advanced features
- •Social features
- •Analytics, reporting

Phase 5: Create Specs for Each Feature

For each feature in sequence:

code

Now let's create complete specs for: [Feature Name]

Use spec-orchestrator or commands:
@spec-orchestrator create spec for [feature]
or
/spec-workflow [feature-name]

This will create:
- Requirements (with EARS acceptance criteria)
- Design (architecture and components)
- Tasks (implementation breakdown)

App Planning Template

Use this structure:

markdown

# App Plan: [App Name]

## Vision
[What is this app? Who is it for? What problem does it solve?]

## Target Users
- Primary: [Main user type]
- Secondary: [Other user types]

## Core Value Proposition
[The main thing this app does that provides value]

## Platform & Technology
- Platform: [Web / Mobile / Desktop / All]
- Frontend: [Technology choice]
- Backend: [Technology choice]
- Database: [Technology choice]

## Feature Breakdown

### Essential Features (MVP)
1. **[Feature 1]**
   - User Need: [What problem this solves]
   - Complexity: [Simple/Medium/Complex]
   - Dependencies: [Prerequisites]
   - Status: [ ] Planned → [ ] Spec Created → [ ] Implemented

2. **[Feature 2]**
   ...

### Important Features (Phase 2)
[Features for version 2]

### Nice-to-Have (Future)
[Features that can wait]

## Implementation Sequence

Phase 1 - Foundation:
- [ ] Feature A
- [ ] Feature B

Phase 2 - Core Value:
- [ ] Feature C
- [ ] Feature D

Phase 3 - Enhancement:
- [ ] Feature E
- [ ] Feature F

## Next Steps
1. Create spec for [first feature]
2. Implement first feature
3. Test and validate
4. Move to next feature

Example: Recipe Sharing App

User Says: "I want to build a recipe sharing app"

App Planning Response:

markdown

# App Plan: Recipe Sharing App

## Vision
A platform where home cooks can share, discover, and save recipes.

## Target Users
- Home cooks who want to share recipes
- People looking for new recipes to try
- Users organizing their recipe collection

## Core Value Proposition
Easy recipe sharing with great discovery and organization tools.

## Feature Breakdown

### Essential Features (MVP)

1. **User Authentication**
   - User Need: Secure accounts to save recipes and follow others
   - Complexity: Medium
   - Dependencies: None (foundation feature)
   - Status: [ ] Planned

2. **Recipe Creation**
   - User Need: Share recipes with ingredients and instructions
   - Complexity: Medium
   - Dependencies: User Authentication
   - Status: [ ] Planned

3. **Recipe Browsing**
   - User Need: Discover recipes from other users
   - Complexity: Simple
   - Dependencies: Recipe Creation
   - Status: [ ] Planned

4. **Recipe Saving**
   - User Need: Save favorite recipes to personal collection
   - Complexity: Simple
   - Dependencies: User Authentication, Recipe Browsing
   - Status: [ ] Planned

### Important Features (Phase 2)

5. **Search & Filters**
   - User Need: Find specific recipes quickly
   - Complexity: Medium

6. **Recipe Ratings & Comments**
   - User Need: Get feedback and help others
   - Complexity: Medium

7. **User Profiles**
   - User Need: Follow favorite recipe creators
   - Complexity: Simple

### Nice-to-Have (Future)

8. **Meal Planning**
9. **Shopping Lists**
10. **Nutrition Information**

## Implementation Sequence

**Phase 1 - Foundation (Week 1-2)**:
- [ ] User Authentication → Create spec: /spec-workflow user-authentication
- [ ] Recipe Data Model → Create spec: /spec-workflow recipe-management

**Phase 2 - Core Value (Week 3-4)**:
- [ ] Recipe Creation → Create spec: /spec-workflow recipe-creation
- [ ] Recipe Browsing → Create spec: /spec-workflow recipe-browsing
- [ ] Recipe Saving → Create spec: /spec-workflow recipe-saving

**Phase 3 - Enhancement (Week 5-6)**:
- [ ] Search & Filters → Create spec: /spec-workflow search-filters
- [ ] Ratings & Comments → Create spec: /spec-workflow ratings-comments

## Next Step

Let's start with User Authentication:
@spec-orchestrator create spec for user authentication

Integration with Spec Workflow

After app planning:

code

✅ App Plan Complete: Recipe Sharing App

You have 7 features identified.

Ready to create specs? Start with:

Option 1: One at a time (recommended)
@spec-orchestrator create spec for user-authentication

Option 2: Batch create
/spec-workflow user-authentication
/spec-workflow recipe-creation
/spec-workflow recipe-browsing
...

Option 3: Create worktrees for parallel work
/spec-workflow user-authentication
/create_worktree user-authentication

/spec-workflow recipe-creation
/create_worktree recipe-creation

Best Practices

Start Small

•✅ Focus on MVP features first
•✅ Get one feature working before adding more
•✅ Validate with users early

Think in Features

•✅ Break app into discrete features
•✅ Each feature should provide standalone value
•✅ Features should be independently implementable

Consider Dependencies

•✅ Identify what needs to exist first
•✅ Build foundation before fancy features
•✅ User auth usually comes first if needed

Maintain Flexibility

•✅ App plan is a living document
•✅ Adjust based on learnings
•✅ Don't over-plan - start building

Common App Types

Social Apps

Essential: User auth, profiles, content creation, feed, following Important: Search, notifications, messaging Nice-to-Have: Stories, live features, advanced algorithms

E-commerce Apps

Essential: Product catalog, cart, checkout, orders Important: Search/filters, reviews, user accounts Nice-to-Have: Recommendations, wishlists, gift cards

Productivity Apps

Essential: Core workflow, data management, basic organization Important: Search, filters, collaboration Nice-to-Have: Integrations, automation, analytics

Content Apps

Essential: Content creation, viewing, basic discovery Important: Search, categories, user engagement Nice-to-Have: Recommendations, social features, monetization

Summary

App Planning bridges idea → features → specs:

•Understand the app vision
•Identify core features
•Prioritize into MVP, Phase 2, Future
•Sequence implementation order
•Create specs for each feature using spec-orchestrator

Then implement feature by feature, spec by spec, systematically building your app!