GOAP Agent Skill: Goal-Oriented Action Planning

Enable intelligent planning and execution of complex multi-step tasks through systematic decomposition, dependency mapping, and coordinated multi-agent execution.

Always use the plans/ folder for all files.

Quick Reference

See the GOAP Agent documentation (../agents/goap-agent.md) for detailed execution patterns and examples.

CRITICAL: Understanding Skills vs Task Agents

There are TWO different types of workers you can coordinate in GOAP planning:

Skills (invoked via Skill tool)

Skills are instruction sets that guide Claude directly. They provide specialized knowledge and workflows.

How to invoke: Skill(command="skill-name")

When to use:

• Need specialized knowledge/workflow guidance
• Task requires deep domain expertise (Rust quality, architecture validation)
• Want to follow a proven methodology
• Examples: Code quality review, gap analysis, architecture validation

Task Agents (invoked via Task tool)

Task Agents are autonomous sub-processes that execute tasks independently using tools.

How to invoke: Task(subagent_type="agent-name", prompt="...", description="...")

When to use:

• Need autonomous task execution
• Task requires tool usage (Read, Edit, Bash, etc.)
• Want parallel/independent execution
• Examples: Running tests, implementing features, debugging

Common Error to Avoid

WRONG: Task(subagent_type="rust-code-quality", ...) → ERROR! rust-code-quality is a Skill!

CORRECT: Skill(command="rust-code-quality") → SUCCESS

See the agent-coordination skill for the complete reference on Skills vs Agents.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when facing:

• Complex Multi-Step Tasks: Tasks requiring 5+ distinct steps or multiple specialized capabilities
• Cross-Domain Problems: Issues spanning multiple areas (storage, API, testing, documentation)
• Optimization Opportunities: Tasks that could benefit from parallel or hybrid execution
• Quality-Critical Work: Projects requiring validation checkpoints and quality gates
• Resource-Intensive Operations: Large refactors, migrations, or architectural changes
• Ambiguous Requirements: Tasks needing structured analysis before execution

Available Skills by Category

Quality & Validation Skills

• rust-code-quality: Comprehensive Rust code review against best practices
• architecture-validation: Validate implementation vs architecture plans
• plan-gap-analysis: Implementation gap analysis between plans and code
• code-quality: General code quality maintenance (formatting, linting)
• quality-unit-testing: High-quality test writing following best practices

Build & Testing Skills

• build-compile: Build management and compilation with error handling
• test-fix: Systematic test debugging and fixing
• test-runner: Test execution and management

Analysis & Decision-Making Skills

• analysis-swarm: Multi-perspective code analysis (RYAN, FLASH, SOCRATES)
• codebase-consolidation: Analyze, consolidate, document codebases
• debug-troubleshoot: Systematic async Rust debugging

Research Skills

• web-search-researcher: Web research for modern information
• context-retrieval: Episodic memory retrieval from learning system

Memory System Skills

• episode-start: Start learning episodes for task tracking
• episode-log-steps: Log execution steps during episodes
• episode-complete: Complete and score episodes
• memory-mcp: MCP server operations
• memory-cli-ops: CLI operations for memory system
• storage-sync: Storage synchronization between Turso and redb

Workflow & Coordination Skills

• task-decomposition: Break down complex tasks into atomic goals
• agent-coordination: Coordinate multiple Skills and Agents
• parallel-execution: Execute independent tasks simultaneously
• loop-agent: Iterative refinement with convergence detection
• github-workflows: Diagnose and optimize CI/CD workflows

Meta Skills

• skill-creator: Create new Claude Code skills
• feature-implement: Systematic feature implementation workflow

Available Task Agents

Execution Agents

• feature-implementer: Design, implement, test new features
• refactorer: Improve code quality, structure, maintainability
• debugger: Diagnose runtime issues, performance problems

Validation Agents

• code-reviewer: Review code quality, correctness, standards
• test-runner: Execute tests, diagnose failures

Meta Agents

• agent-creator: Create new Task Agents
• goap-agent: Complex multi-step task planning (recursive)
• loop-agent: Execute workflows iteratively
• Explore: Fast codebase exploration and search

Core GOAP Methodology

The GOAP Planning Cycle

1. ANALYZE → Understand goals, constraints, resources
2. DECOMPOSE → Break into atomic tasks with dependencies
3. STRATEGIZE → Choose execution pattern (parallel/sequential/swarm/hybrid/iterative)
4. COORDINATE → Assign tasks to specialized agents
5. EXECUTE → Run with monitoring and quality gates
6. SYNTHESIZE → Aggregate results and validate success

Phase 1: Task Analysis

Initial Assessment

## Task Analysis

**Primary Goal**: [Clear statement of what success looks like]

**Constraints**:
- Time: [Urgent / Normal / Flexible]
- Resources: [Available agents, tools, data]
- Dependencies: [External systems, prerequisites]

**Complexity Level**:
- Simple: Single agent, <3 steps
- Medium: 2-3 agents, some dependencies
- Complex: 4+ agents, mixed execution modes
- Very Complex: Multiple phases, many dependencies

**Quality Requirements**:
- Testing: [Unit / Integration / E2E]
- Standards: [AGENTS.md compliance, formatting, linting]
- Documentation: [API docs, examples, guides]
- Performance: [Speed, memory, scalability]

Context Gathering

1. Codebase Understanding: Use Explore agent to understand relevant code
2. Past Patterns: Check if similar tasks have been done before
3. Available Resources: Identify available agents and their capabilities
4. Current State: Understand starting conditions and existing implementations

Phase 2: Task Decomposition

Use the task-decomposition skill to break down the goal:

## Task Decomposition: [Task Name]

### Main Goal
[Clear statement of primary objective]

### Sub-Goals
1. [Component 1] - Priority: P0
   - Success Criteria: [How to verify]
   - Dependencies: [Prerequisites]
   - Complexity: [Low/Medium/High]

2. [Component 2] - Priority: P1
   - Success Criteria: [How to verify]
   - Dependencies: [Component 1]
   - Complexity: [Low/Medium/High]

### Atomic Tasks
**Component 1: [Name]**
- Task 1.1: [Action] (Agent: type, Deps: none)
- Task 1.2: [Action] (Agent: type, Deps: 1.1)

### Dependency Graph

Task 1.1 → Task 1.2 → Task 2.1 ↘ Task 1.3 (parallel) → Task 2.2

Key Decomposition Principles

• Atomic: Each task is indivisible and clear
• Testable: Can verify completion
• Independent where possible: Minimize dependencies
• Assigned: Each task maps to an agent capability

Phase 3: Strategy Selection

Choose execution strategy based on task characteristics. See the GOAP Agent documentation (../agents/goap-agent.md) for detailed execution patterns.

Quick Strategy Guide

Strategy	When to Use	Speed	Complexity
Parallel	Independent tasks, time-critical	Nx	High
Sequential	Dependent tasks, order matters	1x	Low
Swarm	Many similar tasks	~Nx	Medium
Hybrid	Mixed requirements	2-4x	Very High
Iterative	Progressive refinement, convergence	Varies	Medium

Decision Tree

Needs iterative refinement?
  ├─ Yes (until criteria met or converged) → ITERATIVE
  └─ No → Is time critical?
      ├─ Yes → Can tasks run in parallel?
      │   ├─ Yes → PARALLEL
      │   └─ No → SEQUENTIAL (prioritize critical path)
      └─ No → Are tasks similar?
          ├─ Yes (many similar) → SWARM
          ├─ No (mixed) → HYBRID
          └─ Simple linear → SEQUENTIAL

Phase 4: Agent Assignment

Agent Capability Matrix

Agent Type	Capabilities	Tools Available	Best For
feature-implementer	Design, implement, test, integrate features	Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep	New functionality, modules, APIs
debugger	Diagnose runtime issues, async problems	Read, Bash, Grep, Edit	Bug fixes, deadlocks, performance
test-runner	Execute tests, diagnose failures	Bash, Read, Grep, Edit	Test validation, debugging tests
refactorer	Improve structure, eliminate duplication	Read, Edit, Bash, Grep, Glob	Code quality, modernization
code-reviewer	Review quality, standards, security	Read, Glob, Grep, Bash	Quality assurance, pre-commit
loop-agent	Iterative refinement, convergence	Task, Read, TodoWrite, Glob, Grep	Progressive improvements, test-fix loops
agent-creator	Create new Task Agents	Write, Read, Glob, Grep, Edit	Building new autonomous capabilities
Explore	Fast codebase exploration	All tools	Finding files, understanding architecture
memory-cli	CLI development and testing	Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep	Memory CLI features and fixes

Assignment Principles

1. Match agent capabilities to task requirements
2. Balance workload across agents
3. Consider agent specialization
4. Plan for quality validation

Phase-Specific Skill/Agent Recommendations

Phase 1: Research & Analysis

Skills (Parallel):

• web-search-researcher - Research best practices, modern solutions
• context-retrieval - Find similar past implementations
• codebase-consolidation - Understand current architecture

Agents (Parallel):

• Explore - Fast codebase exploration
• code-reviewer - Audit current code quality

Use when: Beginning new features, investigating issues, understanding requirements

Phase 2: Decision-Making & Planning

Skills (Sequential):

• task-decomposition - Break down complex goals
• analysis-swarm - Multi-perspective architectural decisions (RYAN, FLASH, SOCRATES)

Use when: Multiple valid approaches, significant trade-offs, architectural decisions

Phase 3: Quality Validation (Pre-Implementation)

Skills (Parallel):

• rust-code-quality - Rust best practices review
• architecture-validation - Validate vs architectural plans
• plan-gap-analysis - Verify all requirements covered

Use when: Before major implementation, validating design decisions

Phase 4: Implementation

Agents (Parallel or Sequential):

• feature-implementer - Build new functionality
• refactorer - Improve existing code

Skills (Guidance):

• feature-implement - Feature implementation workflow

Use when: Executing planned work, building features

Phase 5: Testing & Debugging

Skills (Sequential):

• test-fix - Systematic test debugging
• quality-unit-testing - High-quality test writing

Agents (Parallel or Sequential):

• test-runner - Execute test suites
• debugger - Diagnose runtime issues

Use when: Validating implementations, fixing test failures

Phase 6: Build & CI/CD

Skills (Sequential):

• build-compile - Build verification and optimization
• github-workflows - CI/CD pipeline validation

Use when: Preparing for deployment, troubleshooting CI failures

Phase 7: Quality Assurance (Post-Implementation)

Skills (Parallel):

• rust-code-quality - Final Rust review
• architecture-validation - Validate vs architecture
• plan-gap-analysis - Verify completeness

Agents (Parallel):

• code-reviewer - Final quality check
• test-runner - Full test suite validation

Use when: Pre-commit, pre-merge, release preparation

Phase 5: Execution Planning

Create the Execution Plan

## Execution Plan: [Task Name]

### Overview
- Strategy: [Parallel/Sequential/Swarm/Hybrid/Iterative]
- Total Tasks: [N]
- Estimated Duration: [Time]
- Quality Gates: [N checkpoints]

### Phase 1: [Phase Name]
**Tasks**:
- Task 1: [Description] (Agent: type)
- Task 2: [Description] (Agent: type)

**Quality Gate**: [Validation criteria]

### Phase 2: [Phase Name]
**Tasks**:
- Task 3: [Description] (Agent: type)

**Quality Gate**: [Validation criteria]

### Overall Success Criteria
- [ ] All tasks complete
- [ ] Quality gates passed
- [ ] Tests passing
- [ ] Documentation updated

### Contingency Plans
- If Phase 1 fails → [Recovery plan]
- If tests fail → [Diagnostic approach]

Phase 6: Coordinated Execution

Parallel Execution

**Launching parallel agents:**
- Agent 1 (feature-implementer) → Task A
- Agent 2 (feature-implementer) → Task B
- Agent 3 (test-runner) → Task C

**Coordination**:
- All agents work simultaneously
- Monitor progress independently
- Aggregate results when all complete

Sequential Execution

**Launching sequential agents:**
Phase 1: Agent 1 (debugger) → Diagnose issue
  ↓ Quality Gate: Root cause identified
Phase 2: Agent 2 (refactorer) → Apply fix
  ↓ Quality Gate: Tests pass
Phase 3: Agent 3 (code-reviewer) → Validate

Monitoring During Execution

• Track agent progress
• Monitor for failures
• Validate intermediate results
• Adjust plan if needed

Phase 7: Result Synthesis

Aggregate Results

## Execution Summary: [Task Name]

### ✓ Completed Tasks
- [Task 1]: Success
- [Task 2]: Success

### 📦 Deliverables
- [File/Feature 1]
- [File/Feature 2]

### ✅ Quality Validation
- Tests: [Pass/Fail] ([coverage]%)
- Linting: [Pass/Fail]
- Standards: [Compliant]

### 📊 Performance Metrics
- Duration: [actual vs estimated]
- Efficiency: [parallel speedup if applicable]

### 💡 Recommendations
- [Improvement 1]
- [Improvement 2]

### 🎓 Lessons Learned
- [What worked well]
- [What to improve]

Integration with Self-Learning Memory

GOAP coordination tasks can be tracked as learning episodes to improve future planning decisions.

Starting a GOAP Episode

**Use**: Skill(command="episode-start")

**TaskContext**:
- language: "coordination"
- domain: "goap"
- tags: ["multi-agent", "parallel", "sequential", etc.]

**Description**: "GOAP coordination for [task description]"

Logging GOAP Steps

**Use**: Skill(command="episode-log-steps")

**Log during**:
- Decomposition decisions (how goals were broken down)
- Agent assignments (which agents chosen for which tasks)
- Strategy selection (why parallel vs sequential vs swarm)
- Quality gate results (pass/fail and why)
- Recovery actions (how failures were handled)

Completing a GOAP Episode

**Use**: Skill(command="episode-complete")

**Score based on**:
- Goal achievement (all tasks completed?)
- Efficiency (parallel speedup, resource utilization)
- Quality (all quality gates passed?)
- Adaptability (how well recovered from failures?)

**Patterns extracted**:
- Successful decomposition strategies
- Effective agent assignments
- Optimal execution patterns
- Quality gate effectiveness

Retrieving Past GOAP Context

**Use**: Skill(command="context-retrieval")

**Query for**:
- Similar coordination tasks
- Past parallel/sequential decisions
- Agent assignment patterns
- Quality gate strategies

**Apply learnings**:
- Reuse successful decompositions
- Avoid past mistakes
- Apply proven strategies
- Optimize based on history

Example: Learning-Enabled GOAP

Task: Implement authentication system

Phase 0: Retrieve Context
└─ Skill(command="context-retrieval")
   Query: "authentication implementation coordination"
   → Found: 3 past auth implementations
   → Pattern: Parallel (model + middleware + endpoints) worked well
   → Lesson: Sequential integration after parallel build

Phase 1: Start Episode
└─ Skill(command="episode-start")
   Context: {domain: "goap", tags: ["auth", "parallel"]}

Phase 2-N: Execute with logging
└─ Skill(command="episode-log-steps")
   Log each: decomposition, assignment, quality gate

Phase Final: Complete Episode
└─ Skill(command="episode-complete")
   Score: High (reused successful pattern)
   Pattern: Confirmed parallel → sequential integration strategy

Dynamic Capability Creation

When existing Skills and Agents are insufficient, create new capabilities dynamically.

When to Create New Skills

Create Skill when:

• Recurring workflow pattern identified
• Deep domain knowledge needed
• Reusable methodology discovered
• No existing Skill covers the domain

Examples:

• Custom quality standards for your domain
• Specialized testing workflows
• Domain-specific architecture patterns
• Project-specific best practices

How to create:

Use: Skill(command="skill-creator")

Provide:
- Skill name and description
- When to use this skill
- Step-by-step methodology
- Examples and patterns
- Integration points

When to Create New Agents

Create Agent when:

• New autonomous execution capability needed
• Specialized tool usage pattern required
• Cross-cutting concern needs dedicated agent
• Complex multi-step execution to automate

Examples:

• Custom deployment agent
• Specialized migration agent
• Domain-specific analyzer agent
• Project-specific workflow agent

How to create:

Use: Task(subagent_type="agent-creator", ...)

Or use: Skill(command="skill-creator") for agent definition

Provide:
- Agent purpose and capabilities
- Tools the agent needs
- Input/output specification
- Success criteria

Update GOAP Knowledge

After creating new capabilities:

1. Document in GOAP:

   • Add to Skills or Agents list
   • Update capability matrix
   • Add to phase-specific recommendations

2. Test the capability:

   • Use in real scenario
   • Validate effectiveness
   • Refine as needed

3. Share the pattern:

   • Document in project
   • Add examples
   • Enable reuse

Example: Creating Custom Capability

Problem: Need specialized security audit for authentication code

Step 1: Identify gap
→ No existing Skill covers auth security audit specifically

Step 2: Create Skill
└─ Skill(command="skill-creator")
   Name: "auth-security-audit"
   Purpose: "Audit authentication code for security vulnerabilities"
   Methodology: [OWASP auth checklist, crypto review, token validation, ...]

Step 3: Integrate into GOAP
→ Add to Quality & Validation Skills
→ Add to Phase 3 and Phase 7 recommendations
→ Document in project CLAUDE.md

Step 4: Use in workflow
└─ Phase 3: Skill(command="auth-security-audit")
   → Validates auth design before implementation

Common GOAP Patterns

Pattern 1: Research → Decide → Implement → Validate (Full Stack)

Task: Implement complex feature with architectural impact

Phase 0: Retrieve Context [Skills]
├─ Skill(command="context-retrieval")
│  Query: "similar feature implementations"
│  → Apply past learnings
└─ Skill(command="episode-start")
   → Start tracking this coordination

Phase 1: Research [Parallel Skills + Agents]
├─ Skill(command="web-search-researcher")
│  → Research modern best practices
├─ Skill(command="codebase-consolidation")
│  → Understand current architecture
└─ Task(subagent_type="Explore")
   → Fast codebase exploration
Quality Gate: Architecture and requirements clear

Phase 2: Decision [Skill]
└─ Skill(command="analysis-swarm")
   → Multi-perspective architectural decision (RYAN, FLASH, SOCRATES)
   → Evaluate trade-offs, choose approach
Quality Gate: Architecture approved

Phase 3: Pre-Implementation Validation [Parallel Skills]
├─ Skill(command="architecture-validation")
│  → Validate design vs plans
├─ Skill(command="plan-gap-analysis")
│  → Ensure complete requirements coverage
└─ Skill(command="rust-code-quality")
   → Review design for Rust best practices
Quality Gate: Design validated

Phase 4: Implementation [Parallel Agents]
├─ Task(subagent_type="feature-implementer")
│  Prompt: "Implement Module A"
├─ Task(subagent_type="feature-implementer")
│  Prompt: "Implement Module B"
└─ Task(subagent_type="feature-implementer")
   Prompt: "Implement Module C"
Quality Gate: All modules implemented

Phase 5: Testing [Skills + Agents]
├─ Task(subagent_type="test-runner")
│  → Execute all tests
├─ Skill(command="test-fix")
│  → Fix any failing tests systematically
└─ Skill(command="quality-unit-testing")
   → Ensure high-quality tests
Quality Gate: All tests passing

Phase 6: Quality Validation [Parallel Skills + Agents]
├─ Skill(command="rust-code-quality")
│  → Final Rust review
├─ Skill(command="architecture-validation")
│  → Validate vs architecture
├─ Skill(command="plan-gap-analysis")
│  → Verify completeness
└─ Task(subagent_type="code-reviewer")
   → Final quality check
Quality Gate: Quality standards met

Phase 7: Build & CI [Skills]
├─ Skill(command="build-compile")
│  → Build verification
└─ Skill(command="github-workflows")
   → CI validation
Quality Gate: Ready for merge

Phase 8: Learning [Skills]
└─ Skill(command="episode-complete")
   Score: High (all phases successful)
   Patterns: Document successful strategies

Pattern 2: Investigate → Diagnose → Fix → Verify

Phase 1: Investigate
  - debugger → Reproduce issue
  - Quality Gate: Issue reproduced

Phase 2: Diagnose
  - debugger → Root cause analysis
  - Quality Gate: Root cause identified

Phase 3: Fix
  - refactorer → Apply fix
  - Quality Gate: Fix implemented

Phase 4: Verify
  - test-runner → Regression tests
  - Quality Gate: Tests pass

Pattern 3: Audit → Improve → Validate

Phase 1: Audit
  - code-reviewer → Quality audit
  - Quality Gate: Issues identified

Phase 2 (Swarm): Improve
  - Multiple refactorer agents
  - Work queue: [issue list]
  - Quality Gate: All issues addressed

Phase 3: Validate
  - test-runner → Full test suite
  - code-reviewer → Final check
  - Quality Gate: Quality targets met

Error Handling & Recovery

Agent Failure Recovery

**If agent fails:**
1. Log failure reason
2. Check quality gate status
3. Options:
   - Retry same agent (transient error)
   - Assign to different agent (agent issue)
   - Modify task (requirements issue)
   - Escalate to user (blocking issue)

Quality Gate Failure

**If quality gate fails:**
1. Identify failing criteria
2. Diagnose root cause
3. Options:
   - Re-run previous phase with fixes
   - Adjust quality criteria (if appropriate)
   - Change strategy (e.g., parallel → sequential for debugging)

Blocked Dependencies

**If dependency blocks progress:**
1. Identify blocking task
2. Prioritize unblocking
3. Options:
   - Execute dependency first (re-order)
   - Remove dependency (refactor plan)
   - Parallel work on independent tasks

Best Practices

DO:

✓ Break tasks into atomic, testable units ✓ Define clear quality gates between phases ✓ Match agent capabilities to task requirements ✓ Monitor progress and validate incrementally ✓ Document decisions and rationale ✓ Learn from execution for future planning ✓ Use parallel execution where safe ✓ Validate dependencies before execution

DON'T:

✗ Create monolithic tasks (break them down) ✗ Skip quality gates (leads to cascading failures) ✗ Assume tasks are independent (verify carefully) ✗ Ignore agent failures (address immediately) ✗ Over-complicate simple tasks (use sequential) ✗ Under-estimate coordination overhead ✗ Forget to aggregate and synthesize results

Integration with Other Skills

• task-decomposition: Use for Phase 2 (breaking down complex goals)
• agent-coordination: Use for Phase 6 (coordinating multiple agents)
• parallel-execution: Use for parallel strategy implementation
• loop-agent: Use for iterative refinement strategy implementation
• All specialized agents (feature-implementer, debugger, test-runner, etc.)

Quick Example

Task: Implement authentication system

## GOAP Plan

### Phase 1: Analysis (Sequential)
- goap-agent → Define requirements
- Quality Gate: Requirements clear

### Phase 2: Implementation (Parallel)
- Agent A → User model + database
- Agent B → Auth middleware
- Agent C → API endpoints
- Quality Gate: All components implemented

### Phase 3: Integration (Sequential)
- feature-implementer → Wire components together
- test-runner → Integration tests
- Quality Gate: Tests pass

### Phase 4: Validation (Sequential)
- code-reviewer → Security review
- Quality Gate: Approved for deployment

Success Metrics

Planning Quality

• Clear decomposition with measurable tasks
• Realistic time estimates
• Appropriate strategy selection
• Well-defined quality gates

Execution Quality

• Tasks completed as planned
• Quality gates passed
• Minimal re-work required
• Efficient resource utilization

Learning

• Document what worked well
• Identify improvement areas
• Update patterns for future use
• Share knowledge with team

Advanced Topics

Dynamic Re-Planning

If during execution:

• Dependencies change
• Requirements clarified
• Blockers discovered
• Performance issues found

Then:

1. Pause execution
2. Re-analyze with new information
3. Adjust plan (tasks, dependencies, strategy)
4. Resume with updated plan

Optimization Techniques

• Critical path optimization: Parallelize non-critical-path tasks
• Resource pooling: Share agents across similar tasks
• Incremental delivery: Complete and validate phases incrementally
• Adaptive strategy: Switch strategies based on progress

Summary

GOAP enables systematic planning and execution of complex tasks through:

1. Structured Analysis: Understand goals, constraints, and context
2. Intelligent Decomposition: Break into atomic, testable tasks
3. Strategic Execution: Choose optimal execution pattern
4. Quality Assurance: Validate at checkpoints
5. Coordinated Agents: Leverage specialized capabilities
6. Continuous Learning: Improve from each execution

Use GOAP when facing complex, multi-step challenges requiring coordination, optimization, and quality assurance.