| name | planning-with-files |
| description | Manus-style file-based planning for complex tasks. Use task_plan.md, findings.md, and progress.md to maintain persistent context. Use for multi-step tasks, research, or work spanning many tool calls. |
| version | 1.1.0 |
| tools | ["Read","Write","Edit","TaskUpdate","TaskList"] |
| verified | true |
| lastVerifiedAt | "2026-02-22T00:00:00.000Z" |
| source | builtin |
| trust_score | 100 |
| provenance_sha | cf607bcd4c0a461c |
Planning with Files - Manus-Style File-Based Planning
Work like Manus (the $2B AI agent Meta acquired): Use persistent markdown files as your "working memory on disk."
Core Principle
Context Window = RAM (volatile, limited)
Filesystem = Disk (persistent, unlimited)
→ Anything important gets written to disk.
The 3-File Pattern
For every complex task, create THREE files in your project directory:
task_plan.md → Track phases and progress
findings.md → Store research and findings
progress.md → Session log and test results
Templates are available at: .claude/templates/planning/
When to Use This Pattern
Use for:
- Multi-step tasks (3+ steps)
- Research tasks
- Building/creating projects
- Tasks spanning many tool calls
- Anything requiring organization
Skip for:
- Simple questions
- Single-file edits
- Quick lookups
Critical Timing Rules
These rules simulate hooks to ensure proper workflow:
📌 At Task Start (SessionStart)
MUST create all three files FIRST before any other work:
- Create
task_plan.md using the template
- Create
findings.md using the template
- Create
progress.md using the template
- Fill in the Goal section in task_plan.md
Why: Without planning files, you'll forget goals after 50+ tool calls.
📌 Before Major Decisions (PreToolUse)
MUST re-read task_plan.md before:
- Writing or editing files
- Executing commands
- Making architectural decisions
- Implementing features
How: Use the Read tool to refresh the plan in your context.
Why: This keeps goals fresh in your attention window (Manus's "attention manipulation").
📌 After File Operations (PostToolUse)
MUST update status immediately after:
- Writing files
- Editing files
- Completing a task phase
How: Edit task_plan.md to update phase status:
