tools-only Planning with Files Workflow
Use persistent markdown files as your "working memory on disk" — the Manus pattern that made a $2B acquisition.
The Core Pattern
Context Window = RAM (volatile, limited)
Filesystem = Disk (persistent, unlimited)
→ Anything important gets written to disk.
Required Files
Create these three files in your project root before starting complex tasks:
| File | Purpose | When to Update |
|---|---|---|
task_plan.md |
Phases, progress, decisions | After each phase |
findings.md |
Research, discoveries | After ANY discovery |
progress.md |
Session log, test results | Throughout session |
Quick Start
- Create
task_plan.mdwith goal, phases, and status tracking - Create
findings.mdfor research and technical decisions - Create
progress.mdfor session logging - Re-read plan before decisions — keeps goals in attention
- Update after each phase — mark complete, log errors
When to Use This Pattern
Use for:
- Multi-step tasks (3+ steps)
- Research tasks
- Building/creating projects
- Tasks spanning many tool calls
Skip for:
- Simple questions
- Single-file edits
- Quick lookups