ai-coding-skills/skills/create-plan/cursor/SKILL.md

---
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 in Cursor Agent CLI workflows. ALWAYS invoke when user says "create a plan", "make a plan", "plan this", "start planning", or similar planning requests.
---

# Create Plan (Cursor Agent CLI)

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

## Overview

This skill wraps the current Superpowers flow for the Cursor Agent CLI (`cursor-agent`):
1. Design first with `superpowers:brainstorming`
2. Then build an implementation plan with `superpowers:writing-plans`
3. Review the plan iteratively with a second model/provider
4. Persist a local execution package in `ai_plan/YYYY-MM-DD-<short-title>/`

**Core principle:** Cursor Agent CLI discovers skills from `.cursor/skills/` (repo-local or `~/.cursor/skills/` global). It also reads `AGENTS.md` at the repo root for additional instructions.

## Prerequisite Check (MANDATORY)

Required:
- Cursor Agent CLI: `cursor-agent --version` (install via `curl https://cursor.com/install -fsS | bash`). The binary is `cursor-agent` (installed to `~/.local/bin/`). Some environments alias it as `cursor agent` (subcommand of the Cursor IDE CLI) — both forms work, but this skill uses `cursor-agent` throughout.
- `jq` (required only if using `cursor` as the reviewer CLI): `jq --version` (install via `brew install jq` or your package manager)
- Superpowers repo: `https://github.com/obra/superpowers`
- Superpowers skills installed under `.cursor/skills/` (repo-local) or `~/.cursor/skills/` (global)
- `superpowers:brainstorming`
- `superpowers:writing-plans`

Verify before proceeding:

```bash
cursor-agent --version
test -f .cursor/skills/superpowers/skills/brainstorming/SKILL.md || test -f ~/.cursor/skills/superpowers/skills/brainstorming/SKILL.md
test -f .cursor/skills/superpowers/skills/writing-plans/SKILL.md || test -f ~/.cursor/skills/superpowers/skills/writing-plans/SKILL.md
# Only if using cursor as reviewer CLI:
# jq --version
```

If any dependency is missing, stop and return:

`Missing dependency: Superpowers planning skills are required (superpowers:brainstorming, superpowers:writing-plans). Install from https://github.com/obra/superpowers and copy into .cursor/skills/ or ~/.cursor/skills/, then retry.`

## Required Skill Invocation Rules

- Invoke relevant skills through workspace discovery (`.cursor/skills/`).
- Announce skill usage explicitly:
  - `I've read the [Skill Name] skill and I'm using it to [purpose].`
- For skills with checklists, track checklist items explicitly in conversation.

## 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: Configure Reviewer

If the user has already specified a reviewer CLI and model (e.g., "create a plan, review with codex o4-mini"), use those values. Otherwise, ask:

1. **Which CLI should review the plan?**
   - `codex` — OpenAI Codex CLI (`codex exec`)
   - `claude` — Claude Code CLI (`claude -p`)
   - `cursor` — Cursor Agent CLI (`cursor-agent -p`)
   - `skip` — No external review, proceed directly to file generation

2. **Which model?** (only if a CLI was chosen)
   - For `codex`: default `o4-mini`, alternatives: `gpt-5.3-codex`, `o3`
   - For `claude`: default `sonnet`, alternatives: `opus`, `haiku`
   - For `cursor`: **run `cursor-agent models` first** to see your account's available models (availability varies by subscription)
   - Accept any model string the user provides

Store the chosen `REVIEWER_CLI` and `REVIEWER_MODEL` for Phase 6 (Iterative Plan Review).

### Phase 4: Design (REQUIRED SUB-SKILL)

Invoke `superpowers:brainstorming`, then propose 2-3 approaches and recommend one.

### Phase 5: Plan (REQUIRED SUB-SKILL)

Invoke `superpowers:writing-plans`, then break work into milestones and bite-sized stories.
Story IDs: `S-{milestone}{sequence}`.

### Phase 6: Iterative Plan Review

Send the plan to the configured reviewer CLI for feedback. Revise and re-submit until approved (max 5 rounds).

**Skip this phase entirely if reviewer was set to `skip`.**

#### Step 1: Generate Session ID

```bash
REVIEW_ID=$(uuidgen | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]' | head -c 8)
```

Use for temp artifacts:
- `/tmp/plan-${REVIEW_ID}.md`
- `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.md`
- `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.json` (Cursor only)
- `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.stderr`
- `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.status`
- `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.runner.out`
- `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.sh`

Resolve the shared reviewer helper from Cursor's installed skills directory:

```bash
if [ -x .cursor/skills/reviewer-runtime/run-review.sh ]; then
  REVIEWER_RUNTIME=.cursor/skills/reviewer-runtime/run-review.sh
else
  REVIEWER_RUNTIME=~/.cursor/skills/reviewer-runtime/run-review.sh
fi
```

#### Step 2: Write Plan to Temp File

Write the complete plan (milestones, stories, design decisions, specs) to `/tmp/plan-${REVIEW_ID}.md`.

#### Step 3: Submit to Reviewer (Round 1)

Write the reviewer invocation to `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.sh` as a bash script:

```bash
#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail
```

**If `REVIEWER_CLI` is `codex`:**

```bash
codex exec \
  -m ${REVIEWER_MODEL} \
  -s read-only \
  -o /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.md \
  "Review the implementation plan in /tmp/plan-${REVIEW_ID}.md. Focus on:
1. Correctness — Will this plan achieve the stated goals?
2. Risks — What could go wrong? Edge cases? Data loss?
3. Missing steps — Is anything forgotten?
4. Alternatives — Is there a simpler or better approach?
5. Security — Any security concerns?

Be specific and actionable. If the plan is solid, end with exactly: VERDICT: APPROVED
If changes are needed, end with exactly: VERDICT: REVISE"
```

Do not try to capture the Codex session ID yet. When using the helper, extract it from `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.runner.out` after the command completes (look for `session id: <uuid>`), then store it as `CODEX_SESSION_ID` for resume in subsequent rounds.

**If `REVIEWER_CLI` is `claude`:**

```bash
claude -p \
  "Review the implementation plan below. Focus on:

$(cat /tmp/plan-${REVIEW_ID}.md)

1. Correctness — Will this plan achieve the stated goals?
2. Risks — What could go wrong? Edge cases? Data loss?
3. Missing steps — Is anything forgotten?
4. Alternatives — Is there a simpler or better approach?
5. Security — Any security concerns?

Be specific and actionable. If the plan is solid, end with exactly: VERDICT: APPROVED
If changes are needed, end with exactly: VERDICT: REVISE" \
  --model ${REVIEWER_MODEL} \
  --strict-mcp-config \
  --setting-sources user
```

**If `REVIEWER_CLI` is `cursor`:**

```bash
cursor-agent -p \
  --mode=ask \
  --model ${REVIEWER_MODEL} \
  --trust \
  --output-format json \
  "Read the file /tmp/plan-${REVIEW_ID}.md and review the implementation plan. Focus on:
1. Correctness — Will this plan achieve the stated goals?
2. Risks — What could go wrong? Edge cases? Data loss?
3. Missing steps — Is anything forgotten?
4. Alternatives — Is there a simpler or better approach?
5. Security — Any security concerns?

Be specific and actionable. If the plan is solid, end with exactly: VERDICT: APPROVED
If changes are needed, end with exactly: VERDICT: REVISE" \
  > /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.json
```

For `cursor`, the command script writes raw JSON to `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.json`. Do not run `jq` extraction until after the helper or fallback execution completes.

Notes on Cursor flags:
- `--mode=ask` — read-only mode, no file modifications
- `--trust` — trust workspace without prompting (required for non-interactive use)
- `-p` / `--print` — non-interactive mode, output to stdout
- `--output-format json` — structured output with `session_id` and `result` fields

Run the command script through the shared helper when available:

```bash
if [ -x "$REVIEWER_RUNTIME" ]; then
  "$REVIEWER_RUNTIME" \
    --command-file /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.sh \
    --stdout-file /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.runner.out \
    --stderr-file /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.stderr \
    --status-file /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.status
else
  echo "Warning: reviewer runtime helper not found at $REVIEWER_RUNTIME; falling back to direct synchronous review." >&2
  bash /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.sh >/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.runner.out 2>/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.stderr
fi
```

After the command completes:
- If `REVIEWER_CLI=cursor`, extract the final review text:

```bash
CURSOR_SESSION_ID=$(jq -r '.session_id' /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.json)
jq -r '.result' /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.json > /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.md
```

- If `REVIEWER_CLI=codex`, extract `CODEX_SESSION_ID` from `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.runner.out` after the helper or fallback run. If the review text is only in `.runner.out`, move or copy the actual review body into `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.md` before verdict parsing.

#### Step 4: Read Review & Check Verdict

1. Read `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.md`
2. If the review failed, produced empty output, or reached helper timeout, also read:
   - `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.stderr`
   - `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.status`
   - `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.runner.out`
3. Present review to the user:

```
## Plan Review — Round N (reviewer: ${REVIEWER_CLI} / ${REVIEWER_MODEL})

[Reviewer feedback]
```

3. Check verdict:
   - **VERDICT: APPROVED** → proceed to Phase 7 (Initialize workspace)
   - **VERDICT: REVISE** → go to Step 5
   - No clear verdict but positive / no actionable items → treat as approved
   - Helper state `completed-empty-output` → treat as failed review attempt, surface stderr/status, fix invocation or prompt handling, then retry
   - Helper state `needs-operator-decision` → surface status log and decide whether to keep waiting, abort, or retry with different helper parameters
   - Max rounds (5) reached → proceed with warning

#### Step 5: Revise the Plan

Address each issue the reviewer raised. Update the plan in conversation context and rewrite `/tmp/plan-${REVIEW_ID}.md`.

Summarize revisions for the user:

```
### Revisions (Round N)
- [Change and reason, one bullet per issue addressed]
```

If a revision contradicts the user's explicit requirements, skip it and note it for the user.

#### Step 6: Re-submit to Reviewer (Rounds 2-5)

**If `REVIEWER_CLI` is `codex`:**

Resume the existing session:

```bash
codex exec resume ${CODEX_SESSION_ID} \
  -o /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.md \
  "I've revised the plan based on your feedback. Updated plan is in /tmp/plan-${REVIEW_ID}.md.

Changes made:
[List specific changes]

Re-review. If solid, end with: VERDICT: APPROVED
If more changes needed, end with: VERDICT: REVISE"
```

If resume fails (session expired), fall back to fresh `codex exec` with context about prior rounds.

**If `REVIEWER_CLI` is `claude`:**

Fresh call with accumulated context (Claude CLI has no session resume):

```bash
claude -p \
  "You previously reviewed an implementation plan and requested revisions.

Previous feedback summary: [key points from last review]

I've revised the plan. Updated version is below.

$(cat /tmp/plan-${REVIEW_ID}.md)

Changes made:
[List specific changes]

Re-review the full plan. If solid, end with: VERDICT: APPROVED
If more changes needed, end with: VERDICT: REVISE" \
  --model ${REVIEWER_MODEL} \
  --strict-mcp-config \
  --setting-sources user
```

**If `REVIEWER_CLI` is `cursor`:**

Resume the existing session:

```bash
cursor-agent --resume ${CURSOR_SESSION_ID} -p \
  --mode=ask \
  --model ${REVIEWER_MODEL} \
  --trust \
  --output-format json \
  "I've revised the plan based on your feedback. Updated plan is in /tmp/plan-${REVIEW_ID}.md.

Changes made:
[List specific changes]

Re-review. If solid, end with: VERDICT: APPROVED
If more changes needed, end with: VERDICT: REVISE" \
  > /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.json

jq -r '.result' /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.json > /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.md
```

If resume fails, fall back to fresh `cursor-agent -p` with context about prior rounds.

After updating `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.sh`, run the same helper/fallback flow from Round 1.

Return to Step 4.

#### Step 7: Present Final Result

```
## Plan Review — Final (reviewer: ${REVIEWER_CLI} / ${REVIEWER_MODEL})

**Status:** Approved after N round(s)
[or]
**Status:** Max rounds (5) reached — not fully approved

[Final feedback / remaining concerns]
```

#### Step 8: Cleanup

```bash
rm -f /tmp/plan-${REVIEW_ID}.md \
  /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.md \
  /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.json \
  /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.stderr \
  /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.status \
  /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.runner.out \
  /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.sh
```

If the round failed, produced empty output, or reached operator-decision timeout, keep `.stderr`, `.status`, and `.runner.out` until the issue is diagnosed instead of deleting them immediately.

### Phase 7: 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 8: 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 9: 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.

## Quick Reference

| Phase | Action | Required Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Analyze codebase/context | Constraints and known patterns |
| 2 | Gather requirements (one question at a time) | Confirmed scope and success criteria |
| 3 | Configure reviewer CLI and model | `REVIEWER_CLI` and `REVIEWER_MODEL` (or `skip`) |
| 4 | Invoke `superpowers:brainstorming` | Chosen design approach |
| 5 | Invoke `superpowers:writing-plans` | Milestones and bite-sized stories |
| 6 | Iterative plan review (max 5 rounds) | Reviewer approval or max-rounds warning |
| 7 | Initialize `ai_plan/` + `.gitignore` | Local planning workspace ready |
| 8 | Build plan package from templates | Full plan folder with required files |
| 9 | Handoff with runbook-first instruction | Resumable execution context |

## Tracker Discipline (MANDATORY)

Before starting any story:
1. Open `story-tracker.md`
2. Mark story `in-dev`
3. Add notes if relevant
4. Then begin implementation

After completing any story:
1. Mark story `completed`
2. Add commit hash in Notes
3. Review pending stories
4. Update Last Updated and Stories Complete counts

## 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.

## Common Mistakes

- Forgetting `--trust` flag when running `cursor-agent` non-interactively (causes interactive prompt).
- Using `--mode=agent` or `--force` for reviews (reviewer should be read-only, use `--mode=ask`).
- Jumping to implementation planning without running `superpowers:brainstorming` first.
- Asking multiple requirement questions in one message.
- Forgetting to create/update `.gitignore` for `/ai_plan/`.
- Omitting one or more required files in the plan package.
- Handoff without explicit "read runbook first" direction.
- Skipping the reviewer phase without explicit user opt-out.

## Red Flags - Stop and Correct

- You started writing milestones before design validation.
- You did not announce which skill you invoked and why.
- You are marking planning complete without all required files.
- Handoff does not explicitly point to `continuation-runbook.md`.
- You are applying a reviewer suggestion that contradicts user requirements.
- Reviewer CLI is running with write permissions (must be read-only).

## 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>/`
- [ ] Reviewer configured or explicitly skipped
- [ ] Plan review completed (approved or max rounds) — or skipped
- [ ] `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

## Exit Triggers for Question Phase
User says: "ready", "done", "let's plan", "proceed", "enough questions"