executing-plans

Executing Plans

Overview

Load plan, review critically, execute phases and their sub-tasks, report when complete. Review gates belong at the end of each phase, not after every task/sub-task.

This is a delegated implementation mode. Use it only when the human explicitly chooses to have the agent implement the plan rather than using softassist.

Announce at start: "I'm using the executing-plans skill as delegated implementation for this plan."

Note: This is the inline fallback for delegated implementation. If the human chose delegated implementation, first inspect the session's subagent and workflow tools. If subagent dispatch is available, prefer softpowers:subagent-driven-development, where the controller builds an internal dependency schedule from the plan without rewriting it and uses parallel waves when the harness supports them. If subagents are unavailable, use this skill. If the human wants to stay the primary implementer, use softassist instead.

The Process

Step 1: Establish Workspace

1. Determine the repository default branch if possible. If it cannot be detected reliably, treat main and master as the default-branch candidates.
2. Determine the current branch before starting implementation
3. If already told which workspace mode to use, follow it
4. Otherwise ask:
   • On the default branch: New worktree or New branch here
   • On any other branch: Continue here, New worktree, or New branch here
5. For New worktree: use softpowers:using-git-worktrees
6. For New branch here:
   • Ask for the new branch name before creating it
   • Check whether the working tree is dirty
   • If dirty, warn that uncommitted changes will remain in the current directory after the branch switch and ask whether to continue
   • Create and switch to the fresh branch in the current directory only after confirmation
7. For Continue here: verify the current branch is not the default branch, then proceed in place

Step 2: Load and Review Plan

1. Read plan file
2. Review critically - identify any questions or concerns about the plan
3. If concerns: Raise them with your human partner before starting
4. If no concerns: Create TodoWrite and proceed

Step 3: Execute Phases

For each phase:

1. Mark the phase as in_progress
2. Follow each sub-task exactly (plan has bite-sized sub-tasks)
3. Run verifications as specified
4. At the phase checkpoint, run the two-stage review: spec compliance first, then simplification/code quality only after spec compliance passes and verification is green. Do not dispatch reviewers after individual sub-tasks unless the plan defines that sub-task as its own phase.
5. Fix review findings and re-review until both phase reviews pass
6. Mark the phase as completed

Step 4: Complete Development

After all phases complete and verified:

• Announce: "I'm using the finishing-a-development-branch skill to complete this work."
• REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use softpowers:finishing-a-development-branch
• Follow that skill to verify tests, present options, execute choice

When to Stop and Ask for Help

STOP executing immediately when:

• Hit a blocker (missing dependency, test fails, instruction unclear)
• Plan has critical gaps preventing starting
• You don't understand an instruction
• Verification fails repeatedly

Ask for clarification rather than guessing.

When to Revisit Earlier Steps

Return to Review (Step 2) when:

• Partner updates the plan based on your feedback
• Fundamental approach needs rethinking

Don't force through blockers - stop and ask.

Remember

• Review plan critically first
• Follow plan steps exactly
• Don't skip verifications
• Run review gates at phase boundaries, not after every task/sub-task
• Reference skills when plan says to
• Stop when blocked, don't guess
• Never start implementation on the default branch without explicit user consent

Integration

Required workflow skills:

• softpowers:using-git-worktrees - REQUIRED only when the chosen workspace mode is New worktree
• softpowers:writing-plans - Creates the plan this skill executes
• softpowers:finishing-a-development-branch - Complete development after all phases