Create and manage persistent markdown planning files for structured task execution. Use when the user asks to "create a plan", "track progress", "start a research project", or when a task requires more than 5 tool calls and needs structured phase tracking to stay focused and avoid goal drift.
Solve the execution problem -- staying focused during complex, multi-step tasks. Uses persistent markdown files to track goals, findings, and progress so you never lose context. Part of the AI Maestro suite.
Create in docs_dev/ (or $AIMAESTRO_PLANNING_DIR):
| File | Purpose | Update When |
|---|---|---|
task_plan.md | Goals, phases, decisions, errors |
| After each phase |
findings.md | Research, discoveries, resources | During research |
progress.md | Session log, test results | Throughout session |
PLAN_DIR="${AIMAESTRO_PLANNING_DIR:-docs_dev}"
mkdir -p "$PLAN_DIR"
Then create task_plan.md with:
# Task: [Goal]
## Phases
- [ ] Phase 1: Research
- [ ] Phase 2: Design
- [ ] Phase 3: Implement
- [ ] Phase 4: Test
## Decisions
| Decision | Rationale | Date |
|----------|-----------|------|
## Errors Encountered
| Error | Attempt | Resolution |
|-------|---------|------------|
task_plan.mdfindings.md| Strike | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnose root cause, apply targeted fix |
| 2 | Try a different approach entirely |
| 3 | Question assumptions, search for similar issues |
| After 3 | Escalate to user with all attempts documented |
Lost? Answer these from your planning files:
task_plan.md)findings.md)progress.md)This skill works standalone with no dependencies. For the complete experience including memory search, docs search, graph query, agent messaging, and agent management, install the full AI Maestro platform.