Implementation Planning

Implementation Planning

Convert a spec into a concrete implementation plan that an autonomous coding agent can execute safely.

The output is a saved Markdown plan, not only chat text.

User Input

Use ask_user_question for any blocking missing input or product/contract decision. Ask one concise question, include likely options when useful, and provide a decisive recommendation. Do not ask in plain chat unless the tool is unavailable.

Primary Goal

Produce a plan with:

• enough repository context for implementation without re-discovering the whole codebase;
• well-scoped, independently verifiable tasks;
• explicit file touch points, contracts, tests, and risks;
• Ralphex-compatible task headings.

Workflow

1. Identify the source spec and target plan path.
   • If the user names a spec file, use it.
   • If not, search likely locations: docs/, docs/specs/, docs/implementation/, specs/, requirements/, issues, or the current prompt.
   • If no usable spec exists, use ask_user_question to ask for exactly one missing input: the spec location or spec text.
2. Read the full source spec.
3. Inspect only the repository context needed to make the plan executable:
   • project guidance files (AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, README.md, package/build files);
   • existing architecture, API, schema, migration, and testing docs mentioned by the spec;
   • relevant source files, tests, fixtures, generated-code scripts, and CI commands.
4. Determine the implementation path.
   • Prefer the smallest coherent sequence that preserves existing conventions.
   • If the spec is ambiguous, make a reasonable assumption and record it in the plan.
   • Use ask_user_question only when a product/contract decision blocks planning.
5. Write or update a Markdown plan.
6. If the plan was created from a specific item in docs/backlog.md, load the backlog skill and invoke its cleanup option with the exact item heading and saved plan path. Do this immediately after the plan is successfully saved; do not clean up the item if plan creation failed. The cleanup must remove only that item and preserve the remaining backlog.
7. Confirm the plan is executable by the implementation skill:
   • it contains at least one task heading matching ### Task N: <title> or ### Iteration N: <title>;
   • every task section contains at least one unchecked checklist item;
   • every task includes verification and observable completion criteria.
8. Run the revdiff skill against the saved plan (--only <plan-path>; add --untracked for a new file). Process captured annotations and update the plan when needed.
9. Report the saved file path and no more than three important caveats.

Default Plan Location

Use the first matching convention:

1. Existing project plan convention if obvious.
2. docs/plans/YYYYMMDD-<kebab-case-title>.md.
3. docs/implementation-plan.md if the repository already uses a single rolling implementation plan.

Ralphex Compatibility Rules

Ralphex task execution requires executable sections. The plan must include task headings in this form:

### Task 1: Short imperative task title

Rules:

• Use ### Task N: headings for implementation tasks.
• Number tasks consecutively starting at 1.
• Do not hide task headings inside code blocks.
• Each task must be completable in one focused implementation pass.
• Each task must include a verification command or manual verification step.
• Include at least one unchecked checklist item (- [ ]) in every task so progress can be marked and resumed.
• Do not include tasks that only say "review", "investigate", or "decide" unless they produce a concrete repository artifact.
• If discovery is needed, make it a bounded implementation task with an output file, fixture, test, or documented decision.

Required Plan Structure

Use this template unless the repository has a stronger established format:

# <Plan Title>

## Overview
<What will be built and why.>

## Source Spec
- Spec: `<path or prompt>`
- Status: <Draft/Approved/Assumed>
- Last reviewed: YYYY-MM-DD

## Repository Context
- `<path>` — <why it matters>
- `<path>` — <why it matters>

## Implementation Constraints
- <Language/framework/runtime constraints>
- <Contract/API compatibility constraints>
- <Security/privacy/migration constraints>
- <Generated-code or schema constraints>

## Assumptions
- <Assumption made because the spec or repo did not decide it.>

## Non-goals
- <Explicitly excluded work.>

## Task Summary
1. <Task 1 title and outcome>
2. <Task 2 title and outcome>

## Implementation Tasks

### Task 1: <Short imperative title>

Goal: <Concrete outcome.>

Context:
- <Relevant repo behavior, invariant, or prior decision.>
- <Important dependency from the source spec.>

Files:
- Create: `<path>` — <purpose>
- Modify: `<path>` — <purpose>
- Test: `<path>` — <purpose>

Steps:
- [ ] <Specific implementation step.>
- [ ] <Specific implementation step.>
- [ ] <Update docs/contracts/generated artifacts if applicable.>

Verification:
- `<command>`
- <Manual check if no command exists.>

Completion criteria:
- <Observable done condition.>
- <Observable done condition.>

### Task 2: <Short imperative title>

Goal: <Concrete outcome.>

Context:
- <Relevant repo behavior, invariant, or prior decision.>

Files:
- Modify: `<path>` — <purpose>
- Test: `<path>` — <purpose>

Steps:
- [ ] <Specific implementation step.>

Verification:
- `<command>`

Completion criteria:
- <Observable done condition.>

## Cross-Task Verification
- `<command that should pass after all tasks>`
- <Release/build/manual acceptance check>

## Risks and Mitigations
- Risk: <risk>
  Mitigation: <mitigation>

## Open Questions
- <Question, or `None`.>

Task Design Standards

A good task has:

• a narrow goal;
• a concrete file touch list;
• enough context to avoid broad rediscovery;
• implementation steps in dependency order;
• tests or validation commands;
• completion criteria that can be checked from the repository.

Split tasks when:

• one task would touch unrelated layers;
• contract/schema changes need to land before implementation;
• data migration or generated code must be verified separately;
• UI, API, persistence, and tests are separable;
• rollback or feature-flag work deserves independent validation.

Combine tasks when:

• splitting would force repeated edits to the same tiny code path;
• verification only makes sense after the pieces are together;
• one change is just a test for the other.

Context to Capture

Prefer concrete, implementation-useful context:

• current architecture and entry points;
• relevant modules/classes/functions/components;
• existing patterns to copy;
• naming conventions;
• schema/API/contract owners;
• generated files and generation commands;
• migrations and backward compatibility rules;
• test fixtures and smallest relevant test commands;
• deployment, build, lint, or contract gates;
• security, privacy, permissions, and data-retention constraints;
• known pitfalls from current code.

Avoid generic context:

• broad summaries of the whole repo;
• restating the entire spec;
• obvious language/framework facts;
• speculative alternatives not chosen.

Behavior Rules

• Be concise and decisive.
• Make reasonable assumptions and record them.
• Do not brainstorm multiple plans unless asked.
• Do not implement the plan unless the user explicitly asks.
• Do not create vague tasks.
• Do not leave placeholders like TBD except in Open Questions.
• Preserve existing user edits when updating an existing plan.