planning-with-files

name: planning-with-files description: Implements Manus-style file-based planning to organize and track progress on complex tasks. Creates task_plan.md, findings.md, and progress.md. Use when asked to plan out, break down, or organize a multi-step project, research task, or any work requiring >5 tool calls. Supports automatic session recovery after /clear. metadata: version: "2.16.1"

Planning with Files

Work like Manus: Use persistent markdown files as your "working memory on disk."

FIRST: Check for Previous Session (v2.2.0)

Before starting work, check for unsynced context from a previous session:

python3 .continue/skills/planning-with-files/scripts/session-catchup.py "$(pwd)" || python .continue/skills/planning-with-files/scripts/session-catchup.py "$(pwd)"

If catchup report shows unsynced context:

1. Run git diff --stat to see actual code changes
2. Read current planning files
3. Update planning files based on catchup + git diff
4. Then proceed with task

Quick Start

Before any complex task:

1. Create task_plan.md, findings.md, progress.md in your project root
2. If they don't exist yet, initialize them using:
   • macOS/Linux: bash .continue/skills/planning-with-files/scripts/init-session.sh
   • Windows: powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .continue/skills/planning-with-files/scripts/init-session.ps1
3. Re-read task_plan.md before major decisions
4. Update task_plan.md after each phase completes
5. Write discoveries to findings.md (especially after web/search/image/PDF viewing)

The Core Pattern

Context Window = RAM (volatile, limited)
Filesystem = Disk (persistent, unlimited)

→ Anything important gets written to disk.

File Purposes

Critical Rules

1. Create Plan First

Never start a complex task without task_plan.md.

2. The 2-Action Rule

After every 2 view/browser/search operations, save key findings to text files.

3. Read Before Decide

Before major decisions, read task_plan.md to refresh goals.

4. Update After Act

After completing any phase, update statuses and log errors in task_plan.md.

5. Log ALL Errors

Every error goes in the plan file so you don't repeat it.

6. Never Repeat Failures

If an action failed, the next action must be different.

References

• reference.md
• examples.md