---
name: create-plan
description: Use when starting a new feature, project, or complex task that needs structured planning with milestones, bite-sized stories, and resumable execution context. Trigger for "create a plan", "make a plan", "plan this", "start planning", and similar requests.
---

# Create Plan (Claude Code)

Create and maintain a local plan folder under `ai_plan/` at project root.

## Prerequisite Check (MANDATORY)

This skill depends on Superpowers planning skills. Before proceeding, verify required dependencies exist.

Required:
- Superpowers repo: `https://github.com/obra/superpowers`
- `brainstorming` skill
- `writing-plans` skill

If any dependency is missing, stop immediately and return:

"Missing dependency: Superpowers planning skills are required (`brainstorming`, `writing-plans`). Install from https://github.com/obra/superpowers, then retry."

## Process

### Phase 1: Analyze
- Explore the codebase and existing patterns.

### Phase 2: Gather Requirements
- Ask questions one at a time until user says ready.
- Confirm scope, constraints, success criteria, dependencies.

### Phase 3: Design
- Invoke `superpowers:brainstorming`.
- Propose 2-3 approaches and recommend one.

### Phase 4: Plan
- Invoke `superpowers:writing-plans`.
- Break into milestones and bite-sized stories.

### Phase 5: Initialize Local Plan Workspace (MANDATORY)

At project root:
1. Ensure `ai_plan/` exists. Create it if missing.
2. Ensure `.gitignore` contains `/ai_plan/`.
3. If `.gitignore` was changed, commit that change immediately (local commit only).

Recommended commit message:
- `chore(gitignore): ignore ai_plan local planning artifacts`

### Phase 6: Generate Plan Files (MANDATORY)

Create `ai_plan/YYYY-MM-DD-<short-title>/` with all files below:
1. `original-plan.md` - copy of original planner-generated plan.
2. `final-transcript.md` - copy of final planning transcript used to reach approved plan.
3. `milestone-plan.md` - full implementation spec (from template).
4. `story-tracker.md` - story/milestone status tracker (from template).
5. `continuation-runbook.md` - execution instructions and context (from template).

Use templates from this skill's `templates/` folder.

### Phase 7: Handoff

Always instruct the executing agent:
> Read `ai_plan/YYYY-MM-DD-<short-title>/continuation-runbook.md` first, then execute from that folder.

Do not rely on planner-private files during implementation.

## Execution Rules to Include in Plan (MANDATORY)

- Run lint/typecheck/tests after each milestone.
- Prefer linting changed files only for speed.
- Commit locally after each completed milestone (**do not push**).
- Stop and ask user for feedback.
- Apply feedback, rerun checks, and commit again.
- Move to next milestone only after user approval.
- After all milestones are completed and approved, ask permission to push.
- Only after approved push: mark plan as completed.

## Gitignore Note

`ai_plan/` is intentionally local and must stay gitignored. Do not treat inability to commit plan-file updates in `ai_plan/` as a problem.

## Verification Checklist

- [ ] `ai_plan/` exists at project root
- [ ] `.gitignore` includes `/ai_plan/`
- [ ] `.gitignore` ignore-rule commit was created if needed
- [ ] Plan directory created under `ai_plan/YYYY-MM-DD-<short-title>/`
- [ ] `original-plan.md` present
- [ ] `final-transcript.md` present
- [ ] `milestone-plan.md` present
- [ ] `story-tracker.md` present
- [ ] `continuation-runbook.md` present
- [ ] Handoff explicitly says to read runbook first and execute from plan folder