ai-coding-skills/skills/create-plan/claude-code/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. ALWAYS invoke when user says "create a plan", "make a plan", "plan this", "start planning", or similar planning requests.
---

# Create Plan (Claude Code)

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

## Prerequisite Check (MANDATORY)

This Claude Code variant depends on Superpowers planning skills and explicit sub-skill invocation.

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 with exploration agents.
- Understand existing patterns and context.

### Phase 2: Gather Requirements
- Ask questions ONE AT A TIME until user says ready.
- Cover scope, constraints, success criteria, dependencies.
- Summarize before proceeding.

### 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

3. **Max review rounds for the plan?** (default: 10)
   - If the user does not provide a value, set `MAX_ROUNDS=10`.

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

### Phase 4: Design (REQUIRED SUB-SKILL)
- Invoke `superpowers:brainstorming` explicitly.
- Present 2-3 approaches and recommend one.
- Validate design in sections.

### Phase 5: Plan (REQUIRED SUB-SKILL)
- Invoke `superpowers:writing-plans` explicitly.
- Break into milestones and bite-sized stories (2-5 min each).
- 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 (default max 10 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 the installed Claude Code skills directory:

```bash
REVIEWER_RUNTIME=~/.claude/skills/reviewer-runtime/run-review.sh
```

Set helper success-artifact args before writing the command script:

```bash
HELPER_SUCCESS_FILE_ARGS=()
case "$REVIEWER_CLI" in
  codex)
    HELPER_SUCCESS_FILE_ARGS+=(--success-file /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.md)
    ;;
  cursor)
    HELPER_SUCCESS_FILE_ARGS+=(--success-file /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.json)
    ;;
esac
```

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

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

#### Review Contract (Applies to Every Round)

The reviewer response must use this structure:

```text
## Summary
...

## Findings
### P0
- ...
### P1
- ...
### P2
- ...
### P3
- ...

## Verdict
VERDICT: APPROVED
```

Rules:
- Order findings from `P0` to `P3`.
- `P0` = total blocker, `P1` = major risk, `P2` = must-fix before approval, `P3` = cosmetic / nice to have.
- Use `- None.` when a severity has no findings.
- `VERDICT: APPROVED` is allowed only when no `P0`, `P1`, or `P2` findings remain. `P3` findings are non-blocking.
- The calling agent should still try to fix `P3` findings when they are cheap and safe.

#### Liveness Contract (Applies While Review Is Running)

- The shared reviewer runtime emits `state=in-progress note="In progress N"` heartbeats every 60 seconds while the reviewer child is alive.
- The calling agent must keep waiting as long as a fresh `In progress N` heartbeat keeps arriving roughly once per minute.
- Do not abort just because the review is slow, a soft timeout fired, or a `stall-warning` line appears, as long as the `In progress N` heartbeat continues.
- Treat missing heartbeats, `state=failed`, `state=completed-empty-output`, and `state=needs-operator-decision` as escalation signals.

#### 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?

Return exactly these sections in order:
## Summary
## Findings
### P0
### P1
### P2
### P3
## Verdict

Rules:
- Order findings from highest severity to lowest.
- Use `- None.` when a severity has no findings.
- `P0` = total blocker, `P1` = major risk, `P2` = must-fix before approval, `P3` = cosmetic / nice to have.
- End with exactly one verdict line: `VERDICT: APPROVED` or `VERDICT: REVISE`
- `VERDICT: APPROVED` is allowed only when there are no `P0`, `P1`, or `P2` findings. `P3` findings are non-blocking."
```

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?

Return exactly these sections in order:
## Summary
## Findings
### P0
### P1
### P2
### P3
## Verdict

Rules:
- Order findings from highest severity to lowest.
- Use `- None.` when a severity has no findings.
- `P0` = total blocker, `P1` = major risk, `P2` = must-fix before approval, `P3` = cosmetic / nice to have.
- End with exactly one verdict line: `VERDICT: APPROVED` or `VERDICT: REVISE`
- `VERDICT: APPROVED` is allowed only when there are no `P0`, `P1`, or `P2` findings. `P3` findings are non-blocking." \
  --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?

Return exactly these sections in order:
## Summary
## Findings
### P0
### P1
### P2
### P3
## Verdict

Rules:
- Order findings from highest severity to lowest.
- Use `- None.` when a severity has no findings.
- `P0` = total blocker, `P1` = major risk, `P2` = must-fix before approval, `P3` = cosmetic / nice to have.
- End with exactly one verdict line: `VERDICT: APPROVED` or `VERDICT: REVISE`
- `VERDICT: APPROVED` is allowed only when there are no `P0`, `P1`, or `P2` findings. `P3` findings are non-blocking." \
  > /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. If `jq` is not installed, inform the user: `brew install jq` (macOS) or equivalent.

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 \
    "${HELPER_SUCCESS_FILE_ARGS[@]}"
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
```

Run the helper in the foreground and watch its live stdout for `state=in-progress` heartbeats. If your agent environment buffers command output until exit, start the helper in the background and poll `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.status` separately instead of treating heartbeats as post-hoc-only data.

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.
- If `REVIEWER_CLI=claude`, promote stdout captured by the helper or fallback runner into the markdown review file:

```bash
cp /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.runner.out /tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.md
```

Fallback is allowed only when the helper is missing or not executable.

#### 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]
```

4. While the reviewer is still running, keep waiting as long as fresh `state=in-progress note="In progress N"` heartbeats continue to appear roughly once per minute.
5. Check verdict:
   - **VERDICT: APPROVED** with no `P0`, `P1`, or `P2` findings → proceed to Phase 7 (Initialize workspace)
   - **VERDICT: APPROVED** with only `P3` findings → optionally fix the `P3` items if they are cheap and safe, then proceed
   - **VERDICT: REVISE** or any `P0`, `P1`, or `P2` finding → go to Step 5
   - No clear verdict but `P0`, `P1`, and `P2` are all `- None.` → 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 extend the timeout, abort, or retry with different helper parameters
   - Max rounds (`MAX_ROUNDS`) reached → present the outcome to the user for a manual decision (proceed or stop)

#### Step 5: Revise the Plan

Address the reviewer findings in priority order (`P0` → `P1` → `P2`, then `P3` when practical). 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-N)

Rewrite `/tmp/plan-review-${REVIEW_ID}.sh` for the next round. The script should contain the reviewer invocation only; do not run it directly.

**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 using the same `## Summary`, `## Findings`, and `## Verdict` structure as before.
Keep findings ordered `P0` to `P3`, use `- None.` when a severity has no findings, and only use `VERDICT: APPROVED` when no `P0`, `P1`, or `P2` findings remain. `P3` findings are non-blocking."
```

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 using the same `## Summary`, `## Findings`, and `## Verdict` structure as before.
Keep findings ordered `P0` to `P3`, use `- None.` when a severity has no findings, and only use `VERDICT: APPROVED` when no `P0`, `P1`, or `P2` findings remain. `P3` findings are non-blocking." \
  --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 using the same `## Summary`, `## Findings`, and `## Verdict` structure as before.
Keep findings ordered `P0` to `P3`, use `- None.` when a severity has no findings, and only use `VERDICT: APPROVED` when no `P0`, `P1`, or `P2` findings remain. `P3` findings are non-blocking." \
  > /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 (`MAX_ROUNDS`) 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 - DO NOT SKIP)

**PLAN MODE CHECK:** If currently in plan mode:
1. Inform user that plan files cannot be written while in plan mode.
2. Instruct user to exit plan mode (approve plan or use ExitPlanMode).
3. Proceed with file generation only after exiting plan mode.

Create `ai_plan/YYYY-MM-DD-<short-title>/` with ALL files:
1. `original-plan.md` - Copy the plan file from `~/.claude/plans/` as-is.
2. `final-transcript.md` - Copy of final planning transcript for reference.
3. `milestone-plan.md` - Full specification (template-based).
4. `story-tracker.md` - Status tracking (template-based, all stories start as `pending`).
5. `continuation-runbook.md` - Resume context and execution protocol (template-based).

Use templates from this skill's `templates/` folder (or `~/.claude/skills/create-plan/templates/` when installed directly in Claude Code).

### Phase 9: Handoff Instructions

When handing off to execution, instruct:
> Read `ai_plan/YYYY-MM-DD-<short-title>/continuation-runbook.md` first, then execute from `ai_plan` files only.

Private plan files under `~/.claude/plans/` are planning artifacts and must not be used as execution source of truth.

### Phase 10: Telegram Completion Notification (MANDATORY)

Resolve the Telegram notifier helper from the installed Claude Code skills directory:

```bash
TELEGRAM_NOTIFY_RUNTIME=~/.claude/skills/reviewer-runtime/notify-telegram.sh
```

On every terminal outcome for the create-plan run (approved, max rounds reached, skipped reviewer, or failure), send a Telegram summary if the helper exists and both `TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN` and `TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID` are configured:

```bash
if [ -x "$TELEGRAM_NOTIFY_RUNTIME" ] && [ -n "${TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN:-}" ] && [ -n "${TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID:-}" ]; then
  "$TELEGRAM_NOTIFY_RUNTIME" --message "create-plan completed for <plan-folder-name>: <status summary>"
fi
```

Rules:
- Telegram is the only supported completion notification path. Do not use desktop notifications, `say`, email, or any other notifier.
- Notification failures are non-blocking, but they must be surfaced to the user.
- If Telegram is not configured, state that no completion notification was sent.

## Tracker Discipline (MANDATORY)

**ALWAYS update `story-tracker.md` before/after each story. NEVER proceed with stale tracker state.**

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.

## 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
- [ ] Max review rounds confirmed (default: 10)
- [ ] Plan review completed (approved or max rounds) — or skipped
- [ ] `original-plan.md` copied from `~/.claude/plans/` plan file
- [ ] `final-transcript.md` present
- [ ] `milestone-plan.md` present
- [ ] `story-tracker.md` created with all stories as `pending`
- [ ] `continuation-runbook.md` present
- [ ] Handoff explicitly says to read runbook first and execute from plan folder
- [ ] Telegram completion notification attempted if configured

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