Best use case
plan is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Create a devloop workflow plan with autonomous exploration and task breakdown
Teams using plan should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/plan/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How plan Compares
| Feature / Agent | plan | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Create a devloop workflow plan with autonomous exploration and task breakdown
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Devloop Plan
Create actionable plan from topic. **Do the work directly.**
**Bash hygiene**: prefer quiet flags to minimize output (`npm install --silent`, `git status -sb`, pipe long output through `| tail -n 20`).
## Step 1: Parse Input
Extract topic from `$ARGUMENTS`. If missing, show usage: `/devloop:plan <topic> [--deep|--quick|--from-issue N]`.
If `--from-issue N`: Fetch with `gh issue view $N --json number,title,body,url`. Use title as topic, body as context.
## Step 2: Check Existing Plan (Silent)
If `.devloop/plan.md` exists:
1. Count tasks (no file read needed):
```bash
done=$(grep -cE "^\s*- \[x\]" .devloop/plan.md 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
total=$(grep -cE "^\s*- \[[ x~!-]\]" .devloop/plan.md 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
```
2. If `done == total` and `total > 0`: auto-archive silently:
```bash
"${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/archive-plan.sh" .devloop/plan.md --force
```
3. If incomplete (`done < total`): prompt to archive (force) or cancel.
4. If no plan file or `total == 0`: continue to Step 3.
## Step 3: Route by Mode
### If `--quick`: Fast Path
Use for bug fixes with known cause or small additions.
1. Create todo list (2-4 tasks).
2. If too complex, suggest removing `--quick`.
3. Implement directly: Read (3-5 files), Write/Edit, test, summarize.
4. **STOP** after completion.
### If `--deep`: Comprehensive Exploration
Use for unclear requirements or architectural changes.
1. **Define Scope**: Detect spike type (Tech decision, New feature, Risk, etc.).
2. **AskUserQuestion**: User selects aspects (Feasibility, Scope, Risk, Dependencies, Approach, Effort, Impact).
3. **Research**: Explore 8-10 files.
4. **Evaluate**: Provide verdict per aspect (Confidence, Blockers, Size, Hours/Days).
5. **Write Report**: Save to `.devloop/spikes/{topic}.md`.
6. **Display Summary**: Show direct answer, recommendation, and findings.
7. **Proceed to Step 4**.
### Default Mode: Autonomous Planning (Steps 4-7)
## Step 4: Context Detection (Silent)
Run `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/check-devloop-state.sh`. Detect tech stack and patterns from `CLAUDE.md`.
## Step 5: Exploration (Silent)
1. **Search**: Grep keywords, Glob patterns. For symbol-level searches, try `LSP.workspaceSymbol` for precise results -- fall back to Grep if LSP errors or is unavailable.
2. **Read**: 3-5 files (Standard) or 8-10 (Deep). For affected files, use `LSP.documentSymbol` to map their structure -- fall back to Read + Grep if LSP unavailable.
3. **Assess**: Affected files, dependencies, complexity (XS-XL), and risks.
> **Token efficiency**: Read only what is needed for planning. After exploration, filter your findings to the most relevant 3-5 facts (affected files, key dependencies, main risk). Do NOT carry raw file contents into the plan generation step -- summarize findings instead. This keeps the planning context lean and improves prompt caching on subsequent runs.
## Step 6: Plan Generation (Silent)
Create `.devloop/plan.md` with: Overview, Approach, Considerations, and Phased Tasks.
**Tasks**: Phased, specific, actionable, testable. (XS: 2-3 tasks, XL: 8-12 tasks).
### Model Annotations
Annotate each task with a model hint based on complexity:
- `[model:haiku]` — Simple/mechanical: writing tests from existing patterns, documentation, formatting, linting, config changes, file renames
- `[model:sonnet]` — Complex reasoning: architecture, debugging, multi-file refactoring, security, performance optimization
- No annotation — Inline by orchestrator: single-line edits, running commands, status checks
### Parallel Groups
Identify tasks that can execute concurrently and assign `[parallel:X]` groups:
- Tasks modifying different files with no data dependency → same parallel group
- Within a phase, default to looking for parallelism
- Add `[depends:N.M]` for tasks that require prior task output
## Step 7: Review Checkpoint
Display Summary: Complexity, Task/Phase count, Key files, and Approach.
**AskUserQuestion**:
- **Save and start**: Write plan, begin `/devloop:run`.
- **Save only**: Write plan, display path.
- **Show full plan**: Review before saving.
---
**Now**: Parse input and begin.Related Skills
plan-management
This skill should be used when creating, reading, or updating devloop plans in .devloop/plan.md, task tracking, progress logs, phase management, PR feedback
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