task-planning

name	task-planning
description	Plan and organize software development tasks effectively. Use when breaking down features, creating user stories, or planning sprints. Handles task breakdown, user stories, acceptance criteria, and backlog management.
metadata	{"tags":"task-planning, user-stories, backlog, sprint-planning, agile","platforms":"Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini"}

Task Planning

When to use this skill

• Feature development: Break down a new feature into small tasks
• Sprint Planning: Select work to include in the sprint
• Backlog Grooming: Clean up the backlog and set priorities

Instructions

Step 1: Write User Stories (INVEST)

INVEST principles:

• Independent: Independent
• Negotiable: Negotiable
• Valuable: Valuable
• Estimable: Estimable
• Small: Small
• Testable: Testable

Template:

## User Story: [title]

**As a** [user type]
**I want** [feature]
**So that** [value/reason]

### Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] Given [context] When [action] Then [outcome]
- [ ] Given [context] When [action] Then [outcome]
- [ ] Given [context] When [action] Then [outcome]

### Technical Notes
- API endpoint: POST /api/users
- Database: users table
- Frontend: React component

### Estimation
- Story Points: 5
- T-Shirt: M

### Dependencies
- User authentication must be completed first

### Priority
- MoSCoW: Must Have
- Business Value: High

Example:

## User Story: User Registration

**As a** new visitor
**I want** to create an account
**So that** I can access personalized features

### Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] Given valid email and password When user submits form Then account is created
- [ ] Given duplicate email When user submits Then error message is shown
- [ ] Given weak password When user submits Then validation error is shown
- [ ] Given successful registration When account created Then welcome email is sent

### Technical Notes
- Hash password with bcrypt
- Validate email format
- Send welcome email via SendGrid
- Store user in PostgreSQL

### Estimation
- Story Points: 5

### Dependencies
- Email service integration (#123)

### Priority
- MoSCoW: Must Have

Step 2: Decompose Epic → Story → Task

## Epic: User Management System

### Story 1: User Registration
- **Points**: 5
- Tasks:
  - [ ] Design registration form UI (2h)
  - [ ] Create POST /api/users endpoint (3h)
  - [ ] Implement email validation (1h)
  - [ ] Add password strength checker (2h)
  - [ ] Write unit tests (2h)
  - [ ] Integration testing (2h)

### Story 2: User Login
- **Points**: 3
- Tasks:
  - [ ] Design login form (2h)
  - [ ] Create POST /api/auth/login endpoint (2h)
  - [ ] Implement JWT token generation (2h)
  - [ ] Add "Remember Me" functionality (1h)
  - [ ] Write tests (2h)

### Story 3: Password Reset
- **Points**: 5
- Tasks:
  - [ ] "Forgot Password" UI (2h)
  - [ ] Generate reset token (2h)
  - [ ] Send reset email (1h)
  - [ ] Reset password form (2h)
  - [ ] Update password API (2h)
  - [ ] Tests (2h)

Step 3: MoSCoW prioritization

## Feature Prioritization (MoSCoW)

### Must Have (Sprint 1)
- User Registration
- User Login
- Basic Profile Page

### Should Have (Sprint 2)
- Password Reset
- Email Verification
- Profile Picture Upload

### Could Have (Sprint 3)
- Two-Factor Authentication
- Social Login (Google, GitHub)
- Account Deletion

### Won't Have (This Release)
- Biometric Authentication
- Multiple Sessions Management

Step 4: Sprint Planning

## Sprint 10 Planning

**Sprint Goal**: Complete user authentication system

**Duration**: 2 weeks
**Team Capacity**: 40 hours × 4 people = 160 hours
**Estimated Velocity**: 30 story points

### Selected Stories
1. User Registration (5 points) - Must Have
2. User Login (3 points) - Must Have
3. Password Reset (5 points) - Must Have
4. Email Verification (3 points) - Should Have
5. Profile Edit (5 points) - Should Have
6. JWT Refresh Token (3 points) - Should Have
7. Rate Limiting (2 points) - Should Have
8. Security Audit (4 points) - Must Have

**Total**: 30 points

### Sprint Backlog
- [ ] User Registration (#101)
- [ ] User Login (#102)
- [ ] Password Reset (#103)
- [ ] Email Verification (#104)
- [ ] Profile Edit (#105)
- [ ] JWT Refresh Token (#106)
- [ ] Rate Limiting (#107)
- [ ] Security Audit (#108)

### Definition of Done
- [ ] Code written and reviewed
- [ ] Unit tests passing (80%+ coverage)
- [ ] Integration tests passing
- [ ] Documentation updated
- [ ] Deployed to staging
- [ ] QA approved

Output format

Task board structure

Backlog → To Do → In Progress → Review → Done

Backlog:
- Sorted by priority
- Groomed stories

To Do:
- Work selected for the sprint
- Owner assigned

In Progress:
- WIP Limit: 2 per person
- Work in progress

Review:
- Waiting for code review
- In QA testing

Done:
- Meets DoD
- Deployed

Constraints

Required rules (MUST)

1. Clear AC: Acceptance Criteria required
2. Estimation done: Assign points to every story
3. Dependencies identified: Specify prerequisite work

Prohibited (MUST NOT)

1. Stories too large: Split anything 13+ points
2. Vague requirements: Avoid "improve" and "optimize"

Best practices

1. INVEST: Write good user stories
2. Definition of Ready: Ready before sprint start
3. Definition of Done: Clear completion criteria

References

• User Story Guide
• MoSCoW Prioritization

Metadata

Version

• Current version: 1.0.0
• Last updated: 2025-01-01
• Compatible platforms: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini

Tags

#task-planning #user-stories #backlog #sprint-planning #agile #project-management

Examples

Example 1: Basic usage

Example 2: Advanced usage