plan-mode

Plan Mode

When triggered, switch into planning mode: analyze the task, produce a structured plan, and wait for explicit user approval before writing any code or making changes.

The core philosophy: think deeply, communicate clearly, execute only when aligned.

When to Enter Plan Mode

• User explicitly requests it (/plan, "plan this", "think first", etc.)
• Task touches 3+ files or components
• Task involves architecture decisions, new patterns, or breaking changes
• Task is ambiguous and could be approached multiple ways
• Task involves infrastructure, CI/CD, database changes, or migrations
• You're unsure about the right approach

Plan Output Structure

Produce a plan with these sections. Adapt depth to task complexity — a small bug fix needs a lighter plan than a new feature.

1. Understanding (What)

Restate the task in your own words to confirm understanding. Call out any ambiguities or assumptions you're making. This catches misalignment early.

## Understanding
[Restate the goal in 2-3 sentences]

**Assumptions:**
- [List anything you're assuming that wasn't explicitly stated]

**Open questions:**
- [List anything you need clarified before proceeding]

If there are open questions that would significantly change the approach, STOP here and ask the user before continuing with the plan. Don't build a full plan on shaky assumptions.

2. Approach Options (How)

For non-trivial tasks, present 2-3 distinct approaches. For simple tasks, present one recommended approach with brief justification.

For each option include:

• Summary: One-line description
• How it works: Key implementation steps (keep high-level, not line-by-line)
• Pros: Why this approach is good
• Cons: Tradeoffs and risks
• Effort estimate: Relative complexity (small / medium / large)

End with a clear recommendation and why.

## Approach Options

### Option A: [Name]
**Summary:** [One line]
**How it works:** [3-5 bullet points, high-level]
**Pros:** [What's good about this]
**Cons:** [Tradeoffs]
**Effort:** [small / medium / large]

### Option B: [Name]
...

**Recommendation:** Option [X] because [reason tied to project context].