Planning With Files

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Transforms workflow to use Manus-style persistent markdown files for planning, progress tracking, and knowledge storage. Use when starting complex tasks, multi-step projects, research tasks, or when the user mentions planning, organizing work, tracking progress, or wants structured output.

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CONTENT

Planning with Files

Work like Manus: Use persistent markdown files as your "working memory on disk."

Quick Start

Before ANY complex task:

**Create task_plan.md** in the working directory

Define phases with checkboxes

Update after each phase - mark [x] and change status

Read before deciding - refresh goals in attention window

The 3-File Pattern

For every non-trivial task, create THREE files:

File	Purpose	When to Update
`task_plan.md`	Track phases and progress	After each phase
`notes.md`	Store findings and research	During research
`[deliverable].md`	Final output	At completion

Core Workflow

Loop 1: Create task_plan.md with goal and phases
Loop 2: Research → save to notes.md → update task_plan.md
Loop 3: Read notes.md → create deliverable → update task_plan.md
Loop 4: Deliver final output

The Loop in Detail

Before each major action:

bashcode

Read task_plan.md  # Refresh goals in attention window

After each phase:

bashcode

Edit task_plan.md  # Mark [x], update status

When storing information:

bashcode

Write notes.md     # Don't stuff context, store in file

task_plan.md Template

Create this file FIRST for any complex task:

markdowncode

# Task Plan: [Brief Description]

## Goal
[One sentence describing the end state]

## Phases
- [ ] Phase 1: Plan and setup
- [ ] Phase 2: Research/gather information
- [ ] Phase 3: Execute/build
- [ ] Phase 4: Review and deliver

## Key Questions
1. [Question to answer]
2. [Question to answer]

## Decisions Made
- [Decision]: [Rationale]

## Errors Encountered
- [Error]: [Resolution]

## Status
**Currently in Phase X** - [What I'm doing now]

notes.md Template

For research and findings:

markdowncode

# Notes: [Topic]

## Sources

### Source 1: [Name]
- URL: [link]
- Key points:
  - [Finding]
  - [Finding]

## Synthesized Findings

### [Category]
- [Finding]
- [Finding]

Critical Rules

1. ALWAYS Create Plan First

Never start a complex task without task_plan.md. This is non-negotiable.

2. Read Before Decide

Before any major decision, read the plan file. This keeps goals in your attention window.

3. Update After Act

After completing any phase, immediately update the plan file:

Mark completed phases with [x]

Update the Status section

Log any errors encountered

4. Store, Don't Stuff

Large outputs go to files, not context. Keep only paths in working memory.

5. Log All Errors

Every error goes in the "Errors Encountered" section. This builds knowledge for future tasks.

When to Use This Pattern

Use 3-file pattern for:

Multi-step tasks (3+ steps)

Research tasks

Building/creating something

Tasks spanning multiple tool calls

Anything requiring organization

Skip for:

Simple questions

Single-file edits

Quick lookups

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Don't	Do Instead
Use TodoWrite for persistence	Create `task_plan.md` file
State goals once and forget	Re-read plan before each decision
Hide errors and retry	Log errors to plan file
Stuff everything in context	Store large content in files
Start executing immediately	Create plan file FIRST

Advanced Patterns

See reference.md for:

Attention manipulation techniques

Error recovery patterns

Context optimization from Manus

See examples.md for:

Real task examples

Complex workflow patterns

How to Use & Getting Started

Protected

# Step 1: Initialize skill agent setup

npx skills add Planning With Files --install-production

python -m pip install -r requirements.txt

codex plugin install Planning With Files@latest

export API_KEY=secret_token_key_here

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Planning With Files

Interactive Terminal Locked

Planning with Files

Quick Start

The 3-File Pattern

Core Workflow

The Loop in Detail

task_plan.md Template

notes.md Template

Critical Rules

1. ALWAYS Create Plan First

2. Read Before Decide

3. Update After Act

4. Store, Don't Stuff

5. Log All Errors

When to Use This Pattern

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Advanced Patterns

How to Use & Getting Started

Installation Runbook & Walkthrough Locked

Unlock full access to Planning With Files

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