planning-with-files
Implements Manus-style file-based planning for complex tasks. Creates taskplan.md, findings.md, and progress.md. Use when starting complex multi-step tasks, research projects, or any task requiring 5 tool calls.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates --skill planning-with-files- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads planning-with-files automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Planning with Files
Work like Manus: Use persistent markdown files as your "working memory on disk."
Important: Where Files Go
When using this skill:
- Templates are stored in the skill directory at
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/templates/ - Your planning files (
task_plan.md,findings.md,progress.md) should be created in your project directory — the folder where you're working
| Location | What Goes There |
|---|---|
Skill directory (${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/) | Templates, scripts, reference docs |
| Your project directory | task_plan.md, findings.md, progress.md |
This ensures your planning files live alongside your code, not buried in the skill installation folder.
Quick Start
Before ANY complex task:
- Create
task_plan.mdin your project — Use templates/task_plan.md as reference - Create
findings.mdin your project — Use templates/findings.md as reference - Create
progress.mdin your project — Use templates/progress.md as reference - Re-read plan before decisions — Refreshes goals in attention window
- Update after each phase — Mark complete, log errors
Note: All three planning files should be created in your current working directory (your project root), not in the skill's installation folder.
The Core Pattern
Context Window = RAM (volatile, limited)
Filesystem = Disk (persistent, unlimited)
→ Anything important gets written to disk.
File Purposes
| File | Purpose | When to Update |
|---|---|---|
task_plan.md | Phases, progress, decisions | After each phase |
findings.md | Research, discoveries | After ANY discovery |
progress.md | Session log, test results | Throughout session |
Critical Rules
1. Create Plan First
Never start a complex task without task_plan.md. Non-negotiable.
2. The 2-Action Rule
"After every 2 view/browser/search operations, IMMEDIATELY save key findings to text files."
This prevents visual/multimodal information from being lost.
3. Read Before Decide
Before major decisions, read the plan file. This keeps goals in your attention window.
4. Update After Act
After completing any phase:
- Mark phase status:
in_progress→complete - Log any errors encountered
- Note files created/modified
5. Log ALL Errors
Every error goes in the plan file. This builds knowledge and prevents repetition.
## Errors Encountered
| Error | Attempt | Resolution |
|-------|---------|------------|
| FileNotFoundError | 1 | Created default config |
| API timeout | 2 | Added retry logic |
6. Never Repeat Failures
if action_failed:
next_action != same_action
Track what you tried. Mutate the approach.
The 3-Strike Error Protocol
ATTEMPT 1: Diagnose & Fix
→ Read error carefully
→ Identify root cause
→ Apply targeted fix
ATTEMPT 2: Alternative Approach
→ Same error? Try different method
→ Different tool? Different library?
→ NEVER repeat exact same failing action
ATTEMPT 3: Broader Rethink
→ Question assumptions
→ Search for solutions
→ Consider updating the plan
AFTER 3 FAILURES: Escalate to User
→ Explain what you tried
→ Share the specific error
→ Ask for guidance
Read vs Write Decision Matrix
| Situation | Action | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Just wrote a file | DON'T read | Content still in context |
| Viewed image/PDF | Write findings NOW | Multimodal → text before lost |
| Browser returned data | Write to file | Screenshots don't persist |
| Starting new phase | Read plan/findings | Re-orient if context stale |
| Error occurred | Read relevant file | Need current state to fix |
| Resuming after gap | Read all planning files | Recover state |
The 5-Question Reboot Test
If you can answer these, your context management is solid:
| Question | Answer Source |
|---|---|
| Where am I? | Current phase in task_plan.md |
| Where am I going? | Remaining phases |
| What's the goal? | Goal statement in plan |
| What have I learned? | findings.md |
| What have I done? | progress.md |
When to Use This Pattern
Use for:
- Multi-step tasks (3+ steps)
- Research tasks
- Building/creating projects
- Tasks spanning many tool calls
- Anything requiring organization
Skip for:
- Simple questions
- Single-file edits
- Quick lookups
Templates
Copy these templates to start:
- templates/task_plan.md — Phase tracking
- templates/findings.md — Research storage
- templates/progress.md — Session logging
Scripts
Helper scripts for automation:
scripts/init-session.sh— Initialize all planning filesscripts/check-complete.sh— Verify all phases complete
Advanced Topics
- Manus Principles: See reference.md
- Real Examples: See examples.md
Anti-Patterns
| Don't | Do Instead |
|---|---|
| Use TodoWrite for persistence | Create task_plan.md file |
| State goals once and forget | Re-read plan before decisions |
| Hide errors and retry silently | Log errors to plan file |
| Stuff everything in context | Store large content in files |
| Start executing immediately | Create plan file FIRST |
| Repeat failed actions | Track attempts, mutate approach |
| Create files in skill directory | Create files in your project |
FAQ
What does the planning-with-files skill do?
Implements Manus-style file-based planning for complex tasks. Creates taskplan.md, findings.md, and progress.md. Use when starting complex multi-step tasks, research projects, or any task requiring 5 tool calls.
How do I install planning-with-files?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates --skill planning-with-files in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/planning-with-files/ (personal) or .claude/skills/planning-with-files/ (project).
Which AI agents can use planning-with-files?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is planning-with-files safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains planning-with-files?
It is published by davila7 in davila7/claude-code-templates. It has 557 recorded installs.
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