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: Planning is read-only. Use hive_feature_create + hive_plan_write and keep implementation out of the planning session.

Save plans to: hive_plan_write (writes to .hive/features/<feature>/plan.md)

Task Lookup and Working Notes

• If a feature or draft plan already exists, start from hive_status() to confirm the active feature, current task IDs, and any blocked or runnable work before revising the plan.
• Use todo only when shaping a multi-task plan or review response needs an active checklist.
• Use vscode/memory only for durable planning decisions or blocker history that future turns need.

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 Structure

Every plan MUST follow this structure:

# [Feature Name]

## Discovery

### Original Request
- "{User's exact words}"

### Interview Summary
- {Point}: {Decision}

### Research Findings
- `{file:lines}`: {Finding}

---

## Non-Goals (What we're NOT building)
- {Explicit exclusion}

---

## Design Summary

{Concise human-facing summary of the feature before task details. Optional Mermaid is allowed here for dependency or sequence overview only.}

---

## Tasks

### 1. Task Name

Use the Task Structure template below for every task.

Task Structure

The Depends on annotation declares task execution order:

• Depends on: none — No dependencies; can run immediately or in parallel
• Depends on: 1 — Depends on task 1
• Depends on: 1, 3 — Depends on tasks 1 and 3

Always include Depends on for each task. Use none to enable parallel starts.

### N. Task Name

**Depends on**: none

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

**What to do**:
- 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"
  ```

**Must NOT do**:
- {Task guardrail}

**References**:
- `{file:lines}` — {Why this reference matters}

**Verify**:
- [ ] Run: `{command}` → {expected}
- [ ] {Additional acceptance criteria}

All verification MUST be agent-executable (no human intervention):
✅ `bun test` → all pass
✅ `curl -X POST /api/x` → 201
❌ "User manually tests..."
❌ "Visually confirm..."

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
• All acceptance criteria must be agent-executable (zero human intervention)
• Treat plan.md as the human-facing review surface and execution truth
• Every plan needs a concise human-facing Design Summary before ## Tasks
• Make that section an overview/design summary before ## Tasks
• Use Copilot memory or normal file edits when planning notes are needed; do not depend on special-purpose note helpers

Execution Handoff

After saving the plan, ask whether to consult Hygienic (Consultant/Reviewer/Debugger) before offering execution choice.

Plan complete and saved to .hive/features/<feature>/plan.md.

Two execution options:

1. Agent-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 Agent-Driven chosen:

• Stay in this session
• Fresh subagent per task + code review

If Parallel Session chosen:

• Guide them to open a new Copilot session focused on execution
• REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: New session uses Refer to the skill at ../executing-plans/SKILL.md