planning-with-files

Original：🇺🇸 English
Translated

Uses persistent markdown files for general planning, progress tracking, and knowledge storage (Manus-style workflow). Use for multi-step tasks, research projects, or general organization WITHOUT mentioning PRD. For PRD-specific work, use prd-planner skill instead.

21installs
Sourcecharon-fan/agent-playbook
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NPX Install

npx skill4agent add charon-fan/agent-playbook planning-with-files

Tags

Translated version includes tags in frontmatter
planning-with-filesclaude-skillmanus-workflowmarkdown-trackingai-agent-workflow

SKILL.md Content

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Planning with Files

"Work like Manus" — Uses persistent markdown files for planning, progress tracking, and knowledge storage.

Description

A Claude Code skill that transforms your workflow to use persistent markdown files for planning and progress tracking — the pattern that made Manus AI worth billions.

The Problem

Claude Code (and most AI agents) suffer from:
  • Volatile memory — TodoWrite tool disappears on context reset
  • Goal drift — Original goals get forgotten after many tool calls
  • Hidden errors — Failures aren't tracked, mistakes repeat
  • Context stuffing — Everything crammed into context instead of stored

The Solution: 3-File Pattern

For every complex task, create THREE files:
text
task_plan.md      → Track phases and progress
notes.md          → Store research and findings
[deliverable].md  → Final output

The Workflow Loop

text
1. Create task_plan.md with goal and phases
2. Research → save to notes.md → update task_plan.md
3. Read notes.md → create deliverable → update task_plan.md
4. Deliver final output

When to Use

Use this pattern 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

Installation

This skill is typically installed globally at 
~/.claude/skills/planning-with-files/
.
From this repository:
bash
ln -s /path/to/agent-playbook/skills/planning-with-files ~/.claude/skills/planning-with-files
If you prefer the standalone workflow, see the upstream repository in the Links section.

The Manus Principles

PrincipleImplementation
Filesystem as memoryStore in files, not context
Attention manipulationRe-read plan before decisions
Error persistenceLog failures in plan file
Goal trackingCheckboxes show progress
Append-only contextNever modify history

Example

You: "Research the benefits of TypeScript and write a summary"
Claude creates:
markdown
# Task Plan: TypeScript Benefits Research

## Goal
Create a research summary on TypeScript benefits.

## Phases
- [x] Phase 1: Create plan ✓
- [ ] Phase 2: Research and gather sources (CURRENT)
- [ ] Phase 3: Synthesize findings
- [ ] Phase 4: Deliver summary

## Status
**Currently in Phase 2** - Searching for sources

Links