Writing Plans

Activates with approved design. Breaks work into bite-sized tasks (2-5 minutes each) with exact file paths, complete code, and verification steps.

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Purpose

Transform approved designs into actionable, sequential task lists that guide implementation with precision and clarity.

Task Breakdown Principles

Bite-Sized Tasks

2-5 minutes each
One clear objective
Minimal context switching
Easy to verify completion

Specificity

Exact file paths - No guessing
Complete code snippets - Copy-paste ready
Clear acceptance criteria - Know when done
Verification steps - Test completion

Plan Structure

1. Overview

Brief summary of what will be built

2. Prerequisites

Dependencies to install
Files to create
Setup steps needed

3. Task List

Sequential steps with:

Task number
Description
File path
Code to write
Verification method

4. Testing

How to test
Expected results
Edge cases to check

Example Task Format

## Task 3: Add User Model

**File:** `src/models/User.ts`

**Action:** Create user model with validation

**Code:**
\`\`\`typescript
export interface User {
  id: string;
  email: string;
  name: string;
}
\`\`\`

**Verify:**
- File exists at correct path
- TypeScript compiles without errors
- Can import in other files

Task Types

File Creation

Create new file
Add boilerplate
Set up structure

Code Addition

Add function
Add component
Add test

Modification

Update existing code
Refactor section
Fix issue

Configuration

Update config file
Add dependency
Set environment variable

Testing

Write test
Run test
Verify behavior

Best Practices

Clear Sequencing

Tasks build on each other
No circular dependencies
Can pause and resume
Each task is testable

Complete Information

No assumptions
All paths specified
All code provided
All verification steps included

Realistic Estimates

Actually 2-5 minutes
Account for typing time
Include verification
Buffer for errors

Verification Methods

File exists at path
Code compiles
Tests pass
Linter passes
Type checker passes
Visual inspection
Manual testing
Console output

Example Plan

# Feature: User Authentication

## Overview
Add login/signup with JWT tokens

## Prerequisites
- Install jsonwebtoken
- Install bcrypt
- Create .env file

## Tasks

### 1. Create User Model (3 min)
[Details...]

### 2. Add Auth Middleware (4 min)
[Details...]

### 3. Create Login Route (5 min)
[Details...]

### 4. Add Tests (5 min)
[Details...]

## Testing
- Run `npm test`
- Test login endpoint
- Verify JWT generation

When to Use

After design approval
Before implementation
For complex features
When onboarding
For documentation
During handoffs

Skills