Ultraplan

Ultraplan Skill

When to activate

• Designing system architecture for a new service or major feature
• Planning multi-phase refactors that span 10+ files
• Evaluating technology choices with significant trade-offs
• Breaking down ambiguous requirements into concrete implementation steps
• Creating migration plans with zero-downtime requirements

When NOT to use

• Simple bug fixes or single-file changes
• Tasks with obvious solutions
• Quick prototyping where speed matters more than thoroughness

Instructions

1. Define the problem space. What's the current state? What's the desired state? What constraints exist?

2. Explore the codebase thoroughly. Read relevant files, trace dependencies, understand patterns before proposing changes.

3. Generate multiple approaches. At minimum 3 options with pros/cons for each:

   • Option A: Minimal change (lowest risk)
   • Option B: Moderate refactor (balanced)
   • Option C: Major restructure (highest impact)

4. Evaluate trade-offs explicitly. For each option assess:

   • Development effort (hours/days)
   • Risk (blast radius if wrong)
   • Reversibility (how hard to undo)
   • Performance impact
   • Testing complexity

5. Recommend with reasoning. Pick the best option and explain WHY. Include a phased execution plan:

   Phase 1: [Low-risk foundation] → verify
   Phase 2: [Core implementation] → verify  
   Phase 3: [Integration + polish] → verify
   

6. Define success criteria. How do we know the plan worked?

   • Metrics (latency < 200ms, error rate < 0.1%)
   • Tests (specific test cases that must pass)
   • Rollback plan (how to undo if things go wrong)

Example

Task: "Migrate from REST to GraphQL for our public API"

Ultraplan output:

Option A: Add GraphQL alongside REST (additive)
  Pros: Zero risk to existing clients, incremental migration
  Cons: Dual maintenance burden, 2x the surface area
  Effort: 2-3 weeks

Option B: GraphQL gateway in front of REST (strangler fig)
  Pros: No backend changes, clean client API
  Cons: Extra latency hop, gateway is new dependency
  Effort: 1-2 weeks

Option C: Full GraphQL rewrite
  Pros: Clean architecture, single API surface
  Cons: High risk, requires all clients to migrate
  Effort: 6-8 weeks

Recommendation: Option B (gateway)
Reasoning: Lowest risk while delivering client value.
Can evolve to Option A or C based on adoption.

Phase 1: Set up Apollo Server gateway → test with internal tooling
Phase 2: Add top 10 queries (covers 80% of usage) → beta testers
Phase 3: Full schema + migration guide → public launch
Phase 4: Deprecate REST endpoints → sunset after 6 months

Success: 90% of API calls go through GraphQL within 3 months.
Rollback: Remove gateway, REST continues unchanged.

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