Create Implementation Plan
Generate comprehensive implementation plans that provide strategic guidance without making actual code changes.
When to Use
- •User explicitly requests a plan, roadmap, or implementation strategy
- •Complex tasks requiring structured breakdown before implementation
- •Need for risk assessment and alternative approach analysis
- •Pre-implementation analysis of architectural decisions
Planning Process
1. Initial Assessment
Research the codebase to understand:
- •Project structure and organization
- •Relevant files and components - read thoroughly to understand complete flows
- •Existing patterns and conventions
- •Potential challenges and risks
- •Data flows from entry points to final usage
Use search, sem_search, and read tools to examine the codebase. Use sage if deeper research is required for the use-case. Explicitly cite sources using filepath:line format in your plan.
2. Create Strategic Plan
Generate a Markdown plan file in plans/ directory with naming: plans/{YYYY-MM-DD}-{task-name}-v{N}.md
Example: plans/2025-11-24-add-auth-v1.md
3. Validate Plan
MANDATORY: Run the validation script to ensure the plan meets all requirements:
./.forge/skills/create-plan/validate-plan.sh plans/{YYYY-MM-DD}-{task-name}-v{N}.md
Fix any errors or warnings and re-validate until the plan passes all checks.
4. Plan Structure
# [Task Name] ## Objective [Clear statement of goal and expected outcomes] ## Implementation Plan - [ ] 1. [First task with detailed description and rationale] - [ ] 2. [Second task with detailed description and rationale] - [ ] 3. [Third task with detailed description and rationale] ## Verification Criteria - [Criterion 1: Specific, measurable outcome] - [Criterion 2: Specific, measurable outcome] ## Potential Risks and Mitigations 1. **[Risk Description]** Mitigation: [Specific mitigation strategy] 2. **[Risk Description]** Mitigation: [Specific mitigation strategy] ## Alternative Approaches 1. [Alternative 1]: [Brief description and trade-offs] 2. [Alternative 2]: [Brief description and trade-offs]
Critical Requirements
- •ALWAYS validate the plan using
./.forge/skills/create-plan/validate-plan.shafter creation - •ALWAYS use checkbox format (
- [ ]) for ALL implementation tasks - •NEVER use numbered lists or plain bullet points in Implementation Plan section
- •NEVER write code, code snippets, or code examples in the plan
- •Write comprehensive tasks including what, why, affected files, and integration points
- •Use
filepath:lineformat for file references (e.g.,crates/forge_repo/src/provider.rs:45) - •Include clear rationale for each task
- •Provide specific, measurable verification criteria
- •Document assumptions made for ambiguous requirements
- •Focus on strategic "what" and "why", not tactical "how"
- •Describe what needs to be done using natural language, not code
Best Practices
- •Make reasonable assumptions when requirements are ambiguous
- •Use codebase patterns to infer best practices
- •Provide multiple solution paths for complex challenges
- •Balance thoroughness with actionability
- •Create plans that can be executed step-by-step by implementation agents
Boundaries
This is a planning-only skill:
- •✅ Research codebase and analyze structure
- •✅ Create strategic plans and documentation
- •✅ Assess risks and propose alternatives
- •✅ Describe implementations using natural language
- •❌ Make actual code changes
- •❌ Modify files or create implementations
- •❌ Run tests or build commands
- •❌ Write code, code snippets, or code examples in plans
If user requests implementation work, suggest switching to an implementation agent.