planning-with-files

The "planning-with-files" skill provides a structured, file-based approach to managing complex projects and multi-step tasks. By implementing a Manus-style system, it allows users to persistently organize their work across multiple markdown files on disk, effectively extending working memory beyond RAM. This approach ensures that progress, research findings, and detailed plans are stored safely, enabling automatic session recovery even after clearing or interruptions. It solves the common problem of losing context during long, iterative workflows, making it easier to resume tasks without losing critical information or prior decisions.

This skill creates and manages three core files: `task_plan.md`, `findings.md`, and `progress.md`. `task_plan.md` captures the overall project phases, progress, and decisions; `findings.md` stores research notes and discoveries; `progress.md` logs session activities, test results, and updates. The skill includes automated hooks for reading context before executing commands, previewing plans before tool use, and updating progress after actions. Templates and scripts are provided in the skill directory, while planning files reside in the user's project directory to maintain separation between skill resources and project data. Critical rules such as always creating a plan first and updating files consistently ensure proper workflow adherence.

Ideal use cases include project management, research tasks, software development, and any work requiring multiple sequential actions that exceed simple memory capacity. Users who frequently engage in multi-step workflows with numerous tool interactions benefit most, such as developers coordinating large code changes, analysts compiling research data, or technical writers organizing complex documentation. This skill targets users who need reliable session continuity, structured planning, and persistent tracking of task progress to ensure nothing falls through the cracks during complex projects.