# plan-writing

Breaks work into short tasks, each with its own verification step. Useful for feature work, refactoring, or any multi-step job.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code · 188 installs
- Author: davila7
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/productivity/plan-writing
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/plan-writing

## What it does

The skill gives the agent a frame for planning: one task equals one clear action of 2–5 minutes, verifiable on its own. A plan opens with the goal in a single sentence, then lists tasks, and closes with done criteria. The file lands in the project root as `{task-slug}.md` — adding auth becomes `auth-feature.md`. Not inside `.claude/`, `docs/`, or temp folders.

There are no fixed templates on purpose. For a new project the plan asks about the stack and the smallest useful feature set; for a bug it asks about the root cause and the line to change; for a feature, which files are affected. Keep it to ten tasks or fewer — beyond that, split the work into several plans. Verification stays concrete: a command to run or a click to make, not a vague "check it works".

Only `Read`, `Glob` and `Grep` are allowed. So the skill writes the plan and leaves the code alone — edits stay with you. If you expect the agent to start executing the checklist, look elsewhere.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **claude-code-templates**
```bash
npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill productivity/plan-writing
```

2. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill plan-writing -a claude-code
```

3. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/plan-writing/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/plan-writing/

### Codex

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/plan-writing/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/plan-writing/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install davila7/claude-code-templates plan-writing
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/plan-writing/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates --path cli-tool/components/skills/productivity/plan-writing
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/plan-writing/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/productivity/plan-writing

## When to use it
- split a feature into verifiable steps
- pin down done criteria before coding starts
- map dependencies and find work that can run in parallel
- plan a refactor that touches several files
- describe a tricky bug fix through its cause and the spot to change

## Example prompts
- write a plan for adding auth with next-auth
- break the payment module refactor into tasks with checks
- plan the fix for duplicate rows in the database

## Similar
- [ce-plan](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ce-plan.md) — skill · 3700 installs
- [speckit-plan](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/speckit-plan.md) — skill · 2500 installs
- [re0-plan](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/re0-plan.md) — skill · 1200 installs
- [plan](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/owainlewis-plan.md) — skill · 747 installs
- [make-plan](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/make-plan.md) — skill · 7200 installs
- [planning-and-task-breakdown](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/planning-and-task-breakdown.md) — skill · 64300 installs

From the same set: [davila7/claude-code-templates](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/davila7/claude-code-templates.md) — 205 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md