Agent skill · operations · davila7
planning
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.
Why this skill is useful
Provides a structured approach to managing complex tasks with specific markdown file patterns and protocols that the AI wouldn't generate on its own.
What it needs
About 2k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-06. 30,138 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
AI Maestro Planning 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. When to Use Multi-step tasks (3+ steps) Research projects Building features requiring >5 tool calls Any task where you might lose track of the goal The 3-File Pattern Create in docsdev/ (or $AIMAESTROPLANNINGDIR): File Purpose Update When ------ --------- ------------- taskplan.md Goals, phases, decisions, errors After each phase findings.md Research, discoveries, resources During research progress.md Session log, test results Throughout session Quick Start Then create taskplan.md with: The 6 Rules 1. Create plan first -- Never start complex work without taskplan.md 2. Read before decide -- Re-read the plan before any major decision 3. Update after act -- Mark phases complete, log what changed 4. 2-action rule -- After every 2 search/browse operations, save findings to findings.md 5. Log all errors -- Every error goes in the plan with attempt number and resolution 6. Never repeat failures -- If an action failed, change your approach The 3-Strike Protocol 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 The 5-Question Reboot Lost? Answer these from your planning files: 1. Where am I? (current phase in taskplan.md) 2. Where am I going? (remaining phases) 3. What's the goal? (goal section) 4. What have I learned? (findings.md) 5. What have I done? (progress.md) Full AI Maestro Experience 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.
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills davila7/planning