
create-implementation-plan
Create a new implementation plan file for new features, refactoring existing code or upgrading packages, design, architecture or infrastructure.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill create-implementation-plan- 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 create-implementation-plan automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
Security audits
Independent scans of the skill's instructions and bundled files.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Create Implementation Plan
Primary Directive
Your goal is to create a new implementation plan file for ${input:PlanPurpose}. Your output must be machine-readable, deterministic, and structured for autonomous execution by other AI systems or humans.
Execution Context
This prompt is designed for AI-to-AI communication and automated processing. All instructions must be interpreted literally and executed systematically without human interpretation or clarification.
Core Requirements
- Generate implementation plans that are fully executable by AI agents or humans
- Use deterministic language with zero ambiguity
- Structure all content for automated parsing and execution
- Ensure complete self-containment with no external dependencies for understanding
Plan Structure Requirements
Plans must consist of discrete, atomic phases containing executable tasks. Each phase must be independently processable by AI agents or humans without cross-phase dependencies unless explicitly declared.
Phase Architecture
- Each phase must have measurable completion criteria
- Tasks within phases must be executable in parallel unless dependencies are specified
- All task descriptions must include specific file paths, function names, and exact implementation details
- No task should require human interpretation or decision-making
AI-Optimized Implementation Standards
- Use explicit, unambiguous language with zero interpretation required
- Structure all content as machine-parseable formats (tables, lists, structured data)
- Include specific file paths, line numbers, and exact code references where applicable
- Define all variables, constants, and configuration values explicitly
- Provide complete context within each task description
- Use standardized prefixes for all identifiers (REQ-, TASK-, etc.)
- Include validation criteria that can be automatically verified
Output File Specifications
- Save implementation plan files in
/plan/directory - Use naming convention:
[purpose]-[component]-[version].md - Purpose prefixes:
upgrade|refactor|feature|data|infrastructure|process|architecture|design - Example:
upgrade-system-command-4.md,feature-auth-module-1.md - File must be valid Markdown with proper front matter structure
Mandatory Template Structure
All implementation plans must strictly adhere to the following template. Each section is required and must be populated with specific, actionable content. AI agents must validate template compliance before execution.
Template Validation Rules
- All front matter fields must be present and properly formatted
- All section headers must match exactly (case-sensitive)
- All identifier prefixes must follow the specified format
- Tables must include all required columns
- No placeholder text may remain in the final output
- Identifiers must be uniquely declared. Every identifier (
REQ-NNN,SEC-NNN,CON-NNN,GUD-NNN,PAT-NNN,GOAL-NNN,TASK-NNN,ALT-NNN,DEP-NNN,FILE-NNN,TEST-NNN,RISK-NNN,ASSUMPTION-NNN) must be declared exactly once. A declaration is where the identifier introduces a row: the leading cell in a TASK/GOAL table row, or the bolded prefix in a bullet line like- **REQ-001**: .... The same identifier may then appear any number of times as a reference elsewhere in the plan (aTASKbody citing aREQ, oneTASKciting anotherTASK, the Dependencies section pointing at aDEPalready declared upstream, etc.). References are expected and not collisions.
Identifier Uniqueness Check
Run these checks before finalizing the plan. Checks (1) and (2) target declarations and must return zero rows. Check (3) is a broad informational scan: it will surface valid references too, so use it for awareness rather than as a gate.
# Set PLAN_FILE to the plan being validated.
PLAN_FILE="/plan/<purpose>-<component>-<version>.md"
# 1) Duplicate TASK / GOAL declarations in table rows.
grep -oE '\| (TASK|GOAL)-[0-9]+ \|' "$PLAN_FILE" \
| sed -E 's/.*((TASK|GOAL)-[0-9]+).*/\1/' \
| sort | uniq -d
# 2) Duplicate declaration IDs in bullet-style spec lines.
grep -oE '^- \*\*(REQ|SEC|CON|GUD|RISK|ASSUMPTION|TASK|GOAL|FILE|TEST|PAT|ALT|DEP)-[0-9]+\*\*:' "$PLAN_FILE" \
| sed -E 's/^- \*\*([A-Z]+-[0-9]+)\*\*:.*/\1/' \
| sort | uniq -d
# 3) Broad duplicate scan (diagnostic only; may include valid references).
grep -oE '(REQ|SEC|CON|GUD|RISK|ASSUMPTION|TASK|GOAL|FILE|TEST|PAT|ALT|DEP)-[0-9]+' "$PLAN_FILE" \
| sort | uniq -d
Prerequisites: a POSIX-compatible shell (sh / bash) with grep, sed, sort, and uniq. On Windows without these tools, use equivalent platform-native commands and preserve the same declaration-vs-reference logic.
If check (1) or (2) returns any row, re-number the duplicate so each identifier is declared exactly once, then re-run the checks until both are empty.
Status
The status of the implementation plan must be clearly defined in the front matter and must reflect the current state of the plan. The status can be one of the following (status_color in brackets): Completed (bright green badge), In progress (yellow badge), Planned (blue badge), Deprecated (red badge), or On Hold (orange badge). It should also be displayed as a badge in the introduction section.
---
goal: [Concise Title Describing the Package Implementation Plan's Goal]
version: [Optional: e.g., 1.0, Date]
date_created: [YYYY-MM-DD]
last_updated: [Optional: YYYY-MM-DD]
owner: [Optional: Team/Individual responsible for this spec]
status: 'Completed'|'In progress'|'Planned'|'Deprecated'|'On Hold'
tags: [Optional: List of relevant tags or categories, e.g., `feature`, `upgrade`, `chore`, `architecture`, `migration`, `bug` etc]
---
# Introduction

[A short concise introduction to the plan and the goal it is intended to achieve.]
## 1. Requirements & Constraints
[Explicitly list all requirements & constraints that affect the plan and constrain how it is implemented. Use bullet points or tables for clarity.]
- **REQ-001**: Requirement 1
- **SEC-001**: Security Requirement 1
- **[3 LETTERS]-001**: Other Requirement 1
- **CON-001**: Constraint 1
- **GUD-001**: Guideline 1
- **PAT-001**: Pattern to follow 1
## 2. Implementation Steps
### Implementation Phase 1
- GOAL-001: [Describe the goal of this phase, e.g., "Implement feature X", "Refactor module Y", etc.]
| Task | Description | Completed | Date |
|------|-------------|-----------|------|
| TASK-001 | Description of task 1 | ✅ | 2025-04-25 |
| TASK-002 | Description of task 2 | | |
| TASK-003 | Description of task 3 | | |
### Implementation Phase 2
- GOAL-002: [Describe the goal of this phase, e.g., "Implement feature X", "Refactor module Y", etc.]
| Task | Description | Completed | Date |
|------|-------------|-----------|------|
| TASK-004 | Description of task 4 | | |
| TASK-005 | Description of task 5 | | |
| TASK-006 | Description of task 6 | | |
## 3. Alternatives
[A bullet point list of any alternative approaches that were considered and why they were not chosen. This helps to provide context and rationale for the chosen approach.]
- **ALT-001**: Alternative approach 1
- **ALT-002**: Alternative approach 2
## 4. Dependencies
[List any dependencies that need to be addressed, such as libraries, frameworks, or other components that the plan relies on.]
- **DEP-001**: Dependency 1
- **DEP-002**: Dependency 2
## 5. Files
[List the files that will be affected by the feature or refactoring task.]
- **FILE-001**: Description of file 1
- **FILE-002**: Description of file 2
## 6. Testing
[List the tests that need to be implemented to verify the feature or refactoring task.]
- **TEST-001**: Description of test 1
- **TEST-002**: Description of test 2
## 7. Risks & Assumptions
[List any risks or assumptions related to the implementation of the plan.]
- **RISK-001**: Risk 1
- **ASSUMPTION-001**: Assumption 1
## 8. Related Specifications / Further Reading
[Link to related spec 1]
[Link to relevant external documentation]
FAQ
What does the create-implementation-plan skill do?
Create a new implementation plan file for new features, refactoring existing code or upgrading packages, design, architecture or infrastructure.
How do I install create-implementation-plan?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill create-implementation-plan 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/create-implementation-plan/ (personal) or .claude/skills/create-implementation-plan/ (project).
Which AI agents can use create-implementation-plan?
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 create-implementation-plan safe to install?
Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk passed; Runlayer flagged items to review; ZeroLeaks passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.
Who maintains create-implementation-plan?
It is published by github in github/awesome-copilot, and it is an official skill from the maker of the technology it covers. It has 12,565 recorded installs.
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