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Writing Plans

Turns a spec or requirements into a step-by-step, bite-sized implementation plan for an engineer.

Source Download skill
Repository
obra/superpowers
Stars
310,931
Licence
MIT
Files
1 file

What it does

When you have a spec or set of requirements for a multi-step coding task, this skill makes the agent write a detailed implementation plan before touching code. The plan lists the files to create or change, exact function names and signatures, the tests that prove each task, and small steps (write the failing test, run it, implement, commit). The result is a plan that another engineer or agent could follow without asking questions.

Great for

  • Developers starting a multi-step feature who want a written plan before coding
  • Teams that hand implementation tasks to other engineers or sub-agents
  • People using test-driven development who want tests defined up front

Skip it if

  • Small one-line fixes or quick edits, where a full plan adds overhead without value
  • Work with no written spec or requirements, since the skill assumes one exists
  • Non-coding tasks, because the plan format is built around code, tests and commits

Try asking

  • “I have a spec for adding CSV export to our reports page. Write an implementation plan.”
  • “Turn these requirements for a new login rate limiter into a plan with bite-sized tasks.”
  • “Create a plan for migrating our user table, listing files, signatures and tests for each step.”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Writing PlansInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 1 original files, the MIT licence and an attribution note.

    writing-plans.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip writing-plans.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip writing-plans.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Give the agent the full spec or requirements document first, since the plan is only as complete as its input.
  • Expect the plan to be saved under docs/superpowers/plans/ by default; change that in your instructions if you prefer another location.
  • The skill refers to other superpowers skills (such as git worktrees and subagent-driven development); those need to be installed for the referenced workflow to work.

What's inside

  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from obra/superpowers under the MIT licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.