Executing Plans

Overview

Load plan, review critically, execute tasks in batches, report for review between batches.

Core principle: Batch execution with checkpoints for architect review.

Announce at start: "I'm using the executing-plans skill to implement this plan."

The Process

Step 1: Load and Review Plan

Plan directory format (.claude/plans/<plan-id>/):

1. Read orchestration plan at plan.md and manifest at manifest.json
2. For each task in the current batch, read its briefing file from briefings/task-NN.md
3. Only load briefings for the current batch (default 3), not all tasks at once
4. Review critically — identify any questions or concerns about the plan
5. If concerns: Raise them with your human partner before starting
6. If no concerns: Create TodoWrite and proceed

Legacy monolithic format (docs/plans/*.md):

1. Read the plan file directly
2. Follow the same review and batch process below

Format detection: If the path contains manifest.json or points to a directory, use plan directory format. If it points to a .md file, use legacy format. If no path given, check .claude/plans/ for the most recent directory, fall back to docs/plans/ for the most recent .md.

Step 2: Execute Batch

Default: First 3 tasks

For each task:

1. Mark as in_progress
2. Follow each step exactly (briefing files have bite-sized steps)
3. Run verifications as specified in the briefing's Success Criteria
4. Mark as completed

Step 3: Report

When batch complete:

• Show what was implemented
• Show verification output
• Say: "Ready for feedback."

Step 4: Continue

Based on feedback:

• Apply changes if needed
• Execute next batch (load next batch's briefing files)
• Repeat until complete

Step 5: Complete Development

After all tasks complete and verified:

1. If using plan directory format, clean up:
   • Optionally write .claude/plans/<plan-id>/summary.md with execution notes
   • Delete the plan directory: rm -rf .claude/plans/<plan-id>/
   • If deletion fails, warn but do not block
2. Announce: "I'm using the git-workflow skill to complete this work."
3. REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use git-workflow stack
4. Follow that skill to verify tests, present options, execute choice

Guardrails

Stop and ask when blocked — don't guess. See references/guardrails.md for full stop conditions and checklist.

Integration

Required workflow skills:

• git-workflow - REQUIRED: Worktrees for isolated workspaces, stack for completing development
• writing-plans - Creates the plan this skill executes