Planning Skill

Use this skill when starting a new coding task to create a thorough implementation plan.

Steps

1. Understand the Task

• Read the issue/task description completely
• Identify the expected outcome and acceptance criteria
• Note any constraints or requirements mentioned

2. Explore the Codebase

• Find the repository root and read the project structure
• Identify the tech stack (language, framework, test runner)
• Read README, CONTRIBUTING, or similar docs if they exist
• Find existing tests to understand testing patterns

3. Identify Relevant Files

• Use grep to find code related to the task
• Read the most relevant files (entry points, related modules)
• Identify which files need to be modified vs. created
• Check for existing patterns you should follow

4. Write the Plan

Use write_todos to create a structured plan:

write_todos([
    "1. <specific change in specific file>",
    "2. <next specific change>",
    "3. Write tests for <feature>",
    "4. Run test suite and fix failures",
    "5. Review all changes"
])

5. Assess Risks

• Are there breaking changes?
• Are there edge cases to handle?
• Does this affect other parts of the codebase?
• Flag anything uncertain for review

Guidelines

• Plans should have 3-10 concrete steps
• Each step should be specific enough to execute without further planning
• Include test writing and test running as explicit steps
• End with a review/verification step