Plan Mode

Provides guidelines for Plan Mode workflow: planning and design before implementation.

Core Behaviour

Entry: Acknowledge with "Plan mode engaged." If this skill was loaded as part of a planning request, acknowledge after loading this skill.

1. Clarifying questions: Identify ambiguities or missing requirements before drafting. Ask user open questions with recommended solutions. Ask questions early, don't assume.
2. Present plan to user.
3. Stay in Plan Mode until user says go (or proceed/continue).

• Acknowledge with "Plan mode disengaged."
• Then begin implementation.

Restrictions:

• Create/update plans only
• No file edits except Markdown in artefacts/
• Ask open questions to clarify requirements
• Use todowrite tool for task tracking
• Research allowed: read files, search codebase, run diagnostic commands, answer questions
• No implementation: no edits, installs, or deployments

Exit: User says go

Open Questions

Ask clarifying questions for ambiguity or missing requirements.

In planning modes, if there are points for clarification that will significantly change the plan depending on its answer, ask them before creating plans.

For each question:

• Provide a clear recommended solution with reasoning
• Offer alternative approaches when applicable
• Include relevant considerations (technical, business, UX)

Example:

1. **Root page:** Should the root `/` page redirect to a default language (e.g., `/es`), or remain separate?

   - a. Redirect to `/es` based on browser language detection _(recommended)_
   - b. Show a language selection landing page

2. **Default role:** What should be the default user role upon registration?

   - a. Basic user with limited permissions _(recommended)_
   - b. Trial user with time-limited premium features

Example

### User:

   /plan add dark mode

### Assistant:

  **Plan mode engaged.**
  
  [Reads files, creates todo list]

  Before I draft the plan:
  1. System detection? a) Yes (recommended) b) No

### User:

  1a

### Assistant:

  Here is the plan:
  1. Add toggle to settings
  2. Implement theme context
  3. Update CSS variables
  
  One detail:
  2. Persist preference? a) localStorage (recommended) b) session-only

  Ready when you say **go**.

### User:

  2a, go

### Assistant:

  **Plan mode disengaged.** [Begins implementation]

Related

• plan-with-tdd-and-prd - Comprehensive planning with PRDs/TDDs