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**

```python
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**

```python
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**

```bash
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, use the AskUserQuestion tool to present the execution choice. Include a single-select question with these 3 options:

Subagent-Driven (this session) — Fresh subagent per task, review between tasks, fast iteration
Parallel Session (separate) — Open new session with executing-plans, batch execution with checkpoints
Headless Runner (background) — Background claude -p sessions, minimal context cost, structured results back

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

If Headless Runner chosen:

First: If not already in a worktree, use superpowers:using-git-worktrees to create an isolated workspace — headless sessions run --dangerously-skip-permissions and should not operate on the main working tree
REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use superpowers:headless-runner
Dispatch tasks via claude-runner.js using Bash tool with run_in_background, with --cwd pointing to the worktree
Check context_warning after each batch to decide resume vs new session
When all batches complete, use superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch

writing-plans