# Ralplan

> Turn a clarified intent into an approved implementation plan with tradeoffs. Second step of the canonical coding workflow.

- Skill: `chainlesschain/ralplan` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add chainlesschain/ralplan`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/chainlesschain/ralplan/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Web & Frontend
- Author: chainlesschain (https://skillmd.com/u/chainlesschain)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/chainlesschain/ralplan

---


# Ralplan Skill

Second step of the canonical coding workflow. Reads `intent.md` written
by `$deep-interview` and produces a structured `plan.md` with steps and
tradeoffs. The plan starts as **unapproved** — the user (or agent with
user confirmation) must run `$ralplan --approve` before execution
skills (`$ralph` / `$team`) will accept it.

## Usage

```
$ralplan "approve the safest path for the auth change"
$ralplan --approve
```

## Inputs (params)

- `title` (string, optional) — plan title
- `steps` (string[], optional) — ordered implementation steps
- `tradeoffs` (string[], optional) — notable tradeoffs and their rationale
- `approve` (boolean, optional) — flip the approved flag on an existing plan
- `sessionId` (string, optional) — workflow session

## Output

Writes `plan.md` with YAML frontmatter (`approved: true|false`) and
returns LLM guidance asking the agent to walk the user through the plan
and request approval.

## Gates

- Refuses to run if `intent.md` is missing (user must run `$deep-interview` first).