plan-design

name	plan-design
description	Use when creating or developing, before writing code or implementation plans - refines rough ideas into fully-formed designs through collaborative questioning, alternative exploration, and incremental validation. Don't use during clear 'mechanical' processes

Idea to Design

1. Initial Setup (Mandatory)

• Create Plan Immediately: Before any dialogue, create .claude/docs/plans/<topic>-design.md.
• Initial Content: Problem statement, goals, and known requirements.
• The Golden Rule: Update this file after every user response. Do not wait until the end.

2. Discovery Phase

• Context Check: Review existing files, docs, and commits first.
• Batch Questions: Use the ask tool to group up to 4 related questions (purpose, constraints, success metrics).
• Preference: Use multiple-choice or multi-select options in the tool whenever possible.
• Loop: Question -> Answer -> Edit Plan -> Follow-up.

3. Design Exploration

• Propose Alternatives: Present 2–3 approaches with trade-offs.
• Recommend: Lead with a preferred option and explain the "Why."
• Keep it Lean: Apply YAGNI (You Ain't Gonna Need It) to prune scope.

4. Presentation & Validation

• Chunking: Present the design in 200–300 word sections (Architecture, Data Flow, etc.).
• Incremental Approval: Use AskUserQuestion after each section to confirm alignment.
• Scope: High-level conceptual flow only (e.g., "Use React Query for state").

5. Strict Boundaries (Design vs. Implementation)

In Scope (Design)	Out of Scope (Implementation)
High-level architecture & tech stack	Specific file paths & directory structures
Component responsibilities	Numbered implementation phases/steps
Data flow logic	Complete code snippets or Git commands
Trade-offs & assumptions	"Files to create/modify" lists

CAUTION: If you start writing "Phase 1: Setup" or specific file paths, STOP. Transition to the plan-write skill instead.

6. Closing

• Final Review: Ensure the .claude/docs/plans/ file is polished and complete.
• Next Step: Ask: "Ready to set up for implementation?"
  • If Yes: Transition to plan-write.