---
name: plan
description: Create implementation plans with intelligent input detection
usage: /workflow:plan
argument-hint: "text description"|file.md|ISS-001
examples:
- /workflow:plan "Build authentication system"
- /workflow:plan requirements.md
- /workflow:plan ISS-001
---
# Workflow Plan Command
## Usage
```bash
/workflow:plan
```
## Input Detection
- **Files**: `.md/.txt/.json/.yaml/.yml` → Reads content and extracts requirements
- **Issues**: `ISS-*`, `ISSUE-*`, `*-request-*` → Loads issue data and acceptance criteria
- **Text**: Everything else → Parses natural language requirements
## Core Workflow
### Analysis & Planning Process
The command performs comprehensive analysis through:
**0. Pre-Analysis Documentation Check** ⚠️ FIRST STEP
- **Selective documentation loading based on task requirements**:
- **Always check**: `.workflow/docs/README.md` - System navigation and module index
- **For architecture tasks**: `.workflow/docs/architecture/system-design.md`, `module-map.md`
- **For specific modules**: `.workflow/docs/modules/[relevant-module]/overview.md`
- **For API tasks**: `.workflow/docs/api/unified-api.md`
- **Context-driven selection**: Only load documentation relevant to the specific task scope
- **Foundation for analysis**: Use relevant docs to understand affected components and dependencies
**1. Context Gathering & Intelligence Selection**
- Reading relevant CLAUDE.md documentation based on task requirements
- Automatic tool assignment based on complexity:
- **Simple tasks** (≤3 modules): Direct CLI tools with intelligent path navigation and multi-round analysis
```bash
# Analyze specific directory
cd "src/auth" && ~/.claude/scripts/gemini-wrapper -p "
PURPOSE: Analyze authentication patterns
TASK: Review auth implementation for security patterns
CONTEXT: Focus on JWT handling and user validation
EXPECTED: Security assessment and recommendations
RULES: Focus on security vulnerabilities and best practices
"
# Implement in specific directory
codex -C src/components --full-auto exec "
PURPOSE: Create user profile component
TASK: Build responsive profile component with form validation
CONTEXT: Use existing component patterns
EXPECTED: Complete component with tests
RULES: Follow existing component architecture
" -s danger-full-access
```
- **Complex tasks** (>3 modules): Specialized general-purpose with autonomous CLI tool orchestration and cross-module coordination
- Flow control integration with automatic tool selection
**2. Project Structure Analysis** ⚠️ CRITICAL PRE-PLANNING STEP
- **Documentation Context First**: Reference existing documentation at `.workflow/docs/README.md`, `.workflow/docs/modules/*/overview.md`, `.workflow/docs/architecture/*.md` if available
- **Complexity assessment**: Count total saturated tasks
- **Decomposition strategy**: Flat (≤5) | Hierarchical (6-10) | Re-scope (>10)
- **Module boundaries**: Identify relationships and dependencies using existing documentation
- **File grouping**: Cohesive file sets and target_files generation
- **Pattern recognition**: Existing implementations and conventions
**3. Analysis Artifacts Generated**
- **ANALYSIS_RESULTS.md**: Context analysis, codebase structure, pattern identification, task decomposition
- **Context mapping**: Project structure, dependencies, cohesion groups
- **Implementation strategy**: Tool selection and execution approach
## Implementation Standards
### Context Management & Agent Execution
**Agent Context Loading** ⚠️ CRITICAL
The following pre_analysis steps are generated for agent execution:
```json
// Example pre_analysis steps generated by /workflow:plan for agent execution
"flow_control": {
"pre_analysis": [
{
"step": "load_planning_context",
"action": "Load plan-generated analysis and context",
"command": "bash(cat .workflow/WFS-[session]/.process/ANALYSIS_RESULTS.md 2>/dev/null || echo 'planning analysis not found')",
"output_to": "planning_context"
},
{
"step": "mcp_codebase_exploration",
"action": "Explore codebase structure and patterns using MCP tools",
"command": "mcp__code-index__find_files(pattern=\"[focus_paths_pattern]\") && mcp__code-index__search_code_advanced(pattern=\"[context_requirements_pattern]\", file_pattern=\"[target_extensions]\")",
"output_to": "codebase_structure"
},
{
"step": "mcp_external_context",
"action": "Get external API examples and best practices",
"command": "mcp__exa__get_code_context_exa(query=\"[meta_type] [context_requirements]\", tokensNum=\"dynamic\")",
"output_to": "external_context"
},
{
"step": "load_dependencies",
"action": "Retrieve dependency task summaries",
"command": "bash(cat .workflow/WFS-[session]/.summaries/IMPL-[dependency_id]-summary.md 2>/dev/null || echo 'dependency summary not found')",
"output_to": "dependency_context"
},
{
"step": "load_base_documentation",
"action": "Load core documentation files",
"commands": [
"bash(cat .workflow/docs/README.md 2>/dev/null || echo 'Base docs not found')",
"bash(cat CLAUDE.md README.md 2>/dev/null || echo 'Project docs not found')"
],
"output_to": "base_docs"
},
{
"step": "load_task_specific_docs",
"action": "Load documentation relevant to task type",
"commands": [
"bash(cat .workflow/docs/architecture/*.md 2>/dev/null || echo 'Architecture docs not found')",
"bash(cat .workflow/docs/api/*.md 2>/dev/null || echo 'API docs not found')"
],
"output_to": "task_docs"
},
{
"step": "analyze_task_patterns",
"action": "Analyze existing code patterns for task context",
"commands": [
"bash(cd \"[context.focus_paths]\")",
"bash(~/.claude/scripts/gemini-wrapper -p \"PURPOSE: Analyze task patterns for '[title]' TASK: Review existing patterns and dependencies CONTEXT: @{[session.task_json_path]} @{CLAUDE.md} @{[context.focus_paths]/**/*} EXPECTED: Pattern analysis with recommendations RULES: Focus on existing patterns and integration points\")"
],
"output_to": "task_context",
"on_error": "fail"
}
]
}
```
**Context Accumulation Guidelines**:
Flow_control design should follow these principles:
1. **Structure Analysis**: Project hierarchy and patterns
2. **Dependency Mapping**: Previous task summaries → inheritance context
3. **Task Context Generation**: Combined analysis → task.context fields
4. **CLI Tool Analysis**: Use Gemini/Codex appropriately for pattern analysis when needed
**MCP Integration Principles**:
- **Code Index First**: Use `mcp__code-index__` for internal codebase exploration before external tools
- **Exa for Context**: Use `mcp__exa__get_code_context_exa` to supplement with external API patterns and examples
- **Automatic Fallback**: If MCP tools unavailable, workflow uses traditional bash/CLI tools
- **Enhanced Analysis**: MCP tools provide deeper codebase understanding and external best practices
**Benefits of MCP Integration**:
- **Faster Analysis**: Direct codebase indexing vs. manual file searching
- **External Context**: Real-world API patterns and implementation examples
- **Pattern Recognition**: Advanced code pattern matching and similarity detection
- **Comprehensive Coverage**: Both internal code exploration and external best practice lookup
**Implementation Approach Planning**:
Each task's `flow_control.implementation_approach` defines execution strategy (planning phase):
1. **task_description**: Implementation strategy definition:
- Clear implementation goal to be executed later
- Planned reference to patterns from pre_analysis results
- Integration strategy with existing codebase
2. **modification_points**: Planned code modification targets:
- Specific code changes to be made during execution
- Planned use of parent task patterns via `[parent]` context
- Integration points with existing components via `[context]` from dependencies
3. **logic_flow**: Business logic execution plan:
- Step-by-step workflow to be implemented
- Planned data flow between components
- Integration points using `[inherited]` and `[shared]` context
4. **target_files**: Target file specifications for execution:
- `src/auth/login.ts:handleLogin:75-120` (planned function and line range)
- `src/middleware/auth.ts:validateToken` (planned function target)
- Must align with task's `context.focus_paths`
**Variable Reference System**:
- `[design]` - Results from pre_analysis steps
- `[parent]` - Context inherited from parent tasks
- `[context]` - Dependencies from related tasks
- `[inherited]` - Shared context from session
- `[shared]` - Global rules and patterns
**Content Sources**:
- Task summaries: `.workflow/WFS-[session]/.summaries/`
- Documentation: `.workflow/docs/`, `CLAUDE.md`, `README.md`, config files
- Analysis artifacts: `.workflow/WFS-[session]/.process/ANALYSIS_RESULTS.md`
- Dependency contexts: `.workflow/WFS-[session]/.task/IMPL-*.json`
### Task Decomposition Standards
**Core Principle: Task Merging Over Decomposition**
- **Merge Rule**: Tasks that can be executed together should not be separated - avoid unnecessary decomposition
- **Decomposition Criteria**: Only decompose tasks in the following situations:
- **Excessive Workload**: Code exceeds 2500 lines or modifies more than 6 files
- **Context Separation**: Involves completely different tech stacks or business domains
- **Dependency Blocking**: Subsequent tasks must wait for prerequisite task completion
- **Parallel Execution**: Independent features that can be developed simultaneously by different developers
**Rules**:
- **Maximum 10 tasks**: Hard limit - exceeding requires re-scoping
- **Function-based**: Complete functional units with related files (logic + UI + tests + config)
- **File cohesion**: Group tightly coupled components in same task
- **Hierarchy**: Flat (≤5 tasks) | Two-level (6-10 tasks) | Re-scope (>10 tasks)
### Session Management ⚠️ CRITICAL
- **⚡ FIRST ACTION**: Check for all `.workflow/.active-*` markers before any planning
- **Multiple sessions support**: Different Claude instances can have different active sessions
- **User selection**: If multiple active sessions found, prompt user to select which one to work with
- **Auto-session creation**: `WFS-[topic-slug]` only if no active session exists
- **Session continuity**: MUST use selected active session to maintain context
- **⚠️ Dependency context**: MUST read ALL previous task summary documents from selected session before planning
- **Session isolation**: Each session maintains independent context and state
**Task Patterns**:
- ✅ **Correct (Function-based)**: `IMPL-001: User authentication system` (models + routes + components + middleware + tests)
- ❌ **Wrong (File/step-based)**: `IMPL-001: Create database model`, `IMPL-002: Create API endpoint`
## Document Generation
**Workflow**: Identifier Creation → Folder Structure → IMPL_PLAN.md → .task/IMPL-NNN.json → TODO_LIST.md
**Always Created**:
- **IMPL_PLAN.md**: Requirements, task breakdown, success criteria
- **Session state**: Task references and paths
**Auto-Created (complexity > simple)**:
- **TODO_LIST.md**: Hierarchical progress tracking
- **.task/*.json**: Individual task definitions with flow_control
- **.process/ANALYSIS_RESULTS.md**: Analysis results and planning artifacts
**Document Structure**:
```
.workflow/WFS-[topic]/
├── IMPL_PLAN.md # Main planning document
├── TODO_LIST.md # Progress tracking (if complex)
├── .process/
│ └── ANALYSIS_RESULTS.md # Analysis results and planning artifacts
└── .task/
├── IMPL-001.json # Task definitions with flow_control
└── IMPL-002.json
```
### IMPL_PLAN.md Structure ⚠️ REQUIRED FORMAT
**File Header** (required):
- **Identifier**: Unique project identifier and session ID, format WFS-[topic]
- **Source**: Input type, e.g. "User requirements analysis"
- **Analysis**: Analysis document reference
**Summary** (execution overview):
- Concise description of core requirements and objectives
- Technical direction and implementation approach
**Context Analysis** (context analysis):
- **Project** - Project type and architectural patterns
- **Modules** - Involved modules and component list
- **Dependencies** - Dependency mapping and constraints
- **Patterns** - Identified code patterns and conventions
**Task Breakdown** (task decomposition):
- **Task Count** - Total task count and complexity level
- **Hierarchy** - Task organization structure (flat/hierarchical)
- **Dependencies** - Inter-task dependency graph
**Implementation Plan** (implementation plan):
- **Execution Strategy** - Execution strategy and methodology
- **Resource Requirements** - Required resources and tool selection
- **Success Criteria** - Success criteria and acceptance conditions
## Reference Information
### Task JSON Schema (5-Field Architecture)
Each task.json uses the standardized 5-field schema (aligned with task-core.md and execute.md):
```json
{
"id": "IMPL-N[.M]",
"title": "Descriptive task name",
"status": "pending|active|completed|blocked|container",
"meta": {
"type": "feature|bugfix|refactor|test|docs",
"agent": "@code-developer|@planning-agent|@code-review-test-agent"
},
"context": {
"requirements": ["requirement1", "requirement2"],
"focus_paths": ["src/path1", "src/path2", "specific_file.ts"],
"acceptance": ["criteria1", "criteria2"],
"parent": "IMPL-N",
"depends_on": ["IMPL-N.M"],
"inherited": {
"from": "parent_task_id",
"context": ["inherited_info"]
},
"shared_context": {
"key": "shared_value"
}
},
"flow_control": {
"pre_analysis": [
{
"step": "step_name",
"action": "description",
"command": "executable_command",
"output_to": "variable_name",
"on_error": "skip_optional|fail|retry_once"
}
],
"implementation_approach": {
"task_description": "detailed implementation strategy",
"modification_points": ["specific changes"],
"logic_flow": ["step by step process"]
},
"target_files": ["file:function:lines"]
}
}
```
**MCP Tools Integration**: Enhanced with optional MCP servers for advanced analysis:
- **Code Index MCP**: `mcp__code-index__find_files()`, `mcp__code-index__search_code_advanced()`
- **Exa MCP**: `mcp__exa__get_code_context_exa()` for external patterns
### File Structure Reference
**Architecture**: @~/.claude/workflows/workflow-architecture.md
### Execution Integration
Documents created for `/workflow:execute`:
- **IMPL_PLAN.md**: Context loading and requirements
- **.task/*.json**: Agent implementation context
- **TODO_LIST.md**: Status tracking (container tasks with ▸, leaf tasks with checkboxes)
## Error Handling
- **Vague input**: Auto-reject ("fix it", "make better", etc.)
- **File not found**: Clear suggestions
- **>10 tasks**: Force re-scoping into iterations
## Planning-Only Constraint
This command creates implementation plans but does not execute them.
Use `/workflow:execute` for actual implementation.