Writing Plans

# Writing Plans

Overview

Write comprehensive implementation plans assuming the engineer has zero context for our codebase and questionable taste. Document everything they need to know: which files to touch for each task, code, testing, docs they might need to check, how to test it. Give them the whole plan as bite-sized tasks. DRY. YAGNI. TDD. Frequent commits.

Assume they are a skilled developer, but know almost nothing about our toolset or problem domain. Assume they don't know good test design very well.

**Announce at start:** "I'm using the writing-plans skill to create the implementation plan."

**Context:** This should be run in a dedicated worktree (created by brainstorming skill).

**Save plans to:** `docs/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-<feature-name>.md`

Bite-Sized Task Granularity

**Each step is one action (2-5 minutes):**

- "Write the failing test" - step

- "Run it to make sure it fails" - step

- "Implement the minimal code to make the test pass" - step

- "Run the tests and make sure they pass" - step

- "Commit" - step

Plan Document Header

**Every plan MUST start with this header:**

# [Feature Name] Implementation Plan

> **For Claude:** REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use superpowers:executing-plans to implement this plan task-by-task.

**Goal:** [One sentence describing what this builds]

**Architecture:** [2-3 sentences about approach]

**Tech Stack:** [Key technologies/libraries]

---

Task Structure

### Task N: [Component Name]

**Files:**
- Create: `exact/path/to/file.py`
- Modify: `exact/path/to/existing.py:123-145`
- Test: `tests/exact/path/to/test.py`

**Step 1: Write the failing test**

def test_specific_behavior():

result = function(input)

assert result == expected

**Step 2: Run test to verify it fails**

Run: `pytest tests/path/test.py::test_name -v`
Expected: FAIL with "function not defined"

**Step 3: Write minimal implementation**

def function(input):

return expected

**Step 4: Run test to verify it passes**

Run: `pytest tests/path/test.py::test_name -v`
Expected: PASS

**Step 5: Commit**

git add tests/path/test.py src/path/file.py

git commit -m "feat: add specific feature"

Remember

- Exact file paths always

- Complete code in plan (not "add validation")

- Exact commands with expected output

- Reference relevant skills with @ syntax

- DRY, YAGNI, TDD, frequent commits

Execution Handoff

After saving the plan, offer execution choice:

**"Plan complete and saved to `docs/plans/<filename>.md`. Two execution options:**

**1. Subagent-Driven (this session)** - I dispatch fresh subagent per task, review between tasks, fast iteration

**2. Parallel Session (separate)** - Open new session with executing-plans, batch execution with checkpoints

**Which approach?"**

**If Subagent-Driven chosen:**

- **REQUIRED SUB-SKILL:** Use superpowers:subagent-driven-development

- Stay in this session

- Fresh subagent per task + code review

**If Parallel Session chosen:**

- Guide them to open new session in worktree

- **REQUIRED SUB-SKILL:** New session uses superpowers:executing-plans

When to Use

This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.