Planning With Files
- 1.1k installs
- 65 repo stars
- Updated June 21, 2026
- charon-fan/agent-playbook
planning-with-files provides documented workflows for Uses persistent markdown files for general planning, progress tracking, and knowledge storage (Manus-style workflow). Use for multi-step tasks, research project
About
The planning-with-files skill 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. # 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.
- **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
- Create task_plan.md with goal and phases
Planning With Files by the numbers
- 1,104 all-time installs (skills.sh)
- +12 installs in the week ending Jul 28, 2026 (Skillselion tracking)
- Ranked #267 of 2,066 Data Science & ML skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
- Security screen: LOW risk (skills.sh audit)
- Data as of Jul 28, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
planning-with-files capabilities & compatibility
- Capabilities
- **volatile memory** todowrite tool disappears · **goal drift** original goals get forgotten af · **hidden errors** failures aren't tracked, mis · **context stuffing** everything crammed into c · create task_plan.md with goal and phases
- Use cases
- documentation · planning
npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-filesAdd your badge
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| Installs | 1.1k |
|---|---|
| repo stars | ★ 65 |
| Security audit | 3 / 3 scanners passed |
| Last updated | June 21, 2026 |
| Repository | charon-fan/agent-playbook ↗ |
How do I use planning-with-files for the task described in its SKILL.md triggers?
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 ment.
Who is it for?
Teams invoking planning-with-files when the user request matches documented triggers and prerequisites.
Skip if: Skip when cached docs are missing, the request is a negative trigger, or another sibling skill owns the workflow.
When should I use this skill?
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-s
What you get
Step-by-step guidance grounded in planning-with-files documentation and reference files.
- plan markdown files
- progress trackers
- knowledge notes
By the numbers
- Allows 6 tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Grep, Glob
- Uses 1 after_complete session-logger hook on task completion
Files
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:
task_plan.md → Track phases and progress
notes.md → Store research and findings
[deliverable].md → Final outputThe Workflow Loop
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 outputWhen 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:
ln -s /path/to/agent-playbook/skills/planning-with-files ~/.claude/skills/planning-with-filesIf you prefer the standalone workflow, see the upstream repository in the Links section.
The Manus Principles
| Principle | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Filesystem as memory | Store in files, not context |
| Attention manipulation | Re-read plan before decisions |
| Error persistence | Log failures in plan file |
| Goal tracking | Checkboxes show progress |
| Append-only context | Never modify history |
Example
You: "Research the benefits of TypeScript and write a summary"
Claude creates:
# 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 sourcesLinks
Planning With Files
A Claude Code skill for file-based planning and progress tracking.
Installation
This skill is part of the agent-playbook collection.
Usage
You: Plan a multi-step migration and track progress in files
You: Create a research plan and save notes and deliverables
You: Organize this project with persistent task filesCore Pattern
/task_plan.md -> Phases and progress
/notes.md -> Research and findings
/output.md -> Final deliverableNotes
If you prefer the original standalone workflow, see the upstream project linked in the skill documentation.
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Pick planning-with-files over prd-planner for general multi-step agent work; use prd-planner when the deliverable is a formal PRD.
FAQ
What does planning-with-files do?
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-s
When should I use planning-with-files?
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-s
What are common prerequisites?
--- name: planning-with-files description: Uses persistent markdown files for general planning, progress tracking, and knowledge storage (Manus-style workflow).
Is Planning With Files safe to install?
skills.sh reports 3 of 3 security scanners passed. Review the Security Audits panel on this page before installing in production.