claude-engineering-plugin/plugins/compound-engineering/skills/ce-plan/references/universal-planning.md

Universal Planning Workflow

This file is loaded when ce-plan detects a non-software task (Phase 0.1b). It replaces the software-specific phases (0.2 through 5.1) with a domain-agnostic planning workflow.

Before starting: verify classification

The detection stub in SKILL.md routes here for anything that isn't clearly software. Verify the classification is correct before proceeding:

• Is this actually a software task? The key distinction is task-type, not topic-domain. A study guide about Rust is non-software (producing educational content). A Rust library refactor is software (modifying code). If this is actually software, return to Phase 0.2 in the main SKILL.md.
• Is this a quick-help request, not a planning task? Error messages, factual questions, and single-step tasks don't need a plan. Respond directly and exit. Examples: "zsh: command not found: brew", "what's the capital of France."
• Pipeline mode? If invoked from LFG, SLFG, or any disable-model-invocation context: output "This is a non-software task. The LFG/SLFG pipeline requires ce-work, which only supports software tasks. Use /ce-plan directly for non-software planning." and stop.

Once past these checks, commit to producing a plan. Do not exit because the task looks like a "lookup" or "research question" — the user invoked ce-plan because they want a structured output.

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Step 1: Assess Ambiguity and Research Need

Evaluate two things before planning:

Would 1-3 quick questions meaningfully improve this plan?

• Default: ask 1-3 questions via Step 1b when the answers would change the plan's structure or content. Always include a final option like "Skip — just make the plan with reasonable assumptions" so the user can opt out instantly.
• Skip questions entirely only when the request already specifies all major variables or the task is simple enough that reasonable assumptions cover it well.

Research need — does this plan depend on facts that change faster than training data?

Research need	Signals	Action
None	Generic, timeless, or conceptual plan (study curriculum methodology, project management approach, personal goal breakdown)	Skip research. Model knowledge is sufficient. After structuring the plan, offer: "I based this on general knowledge. Want me to search for [specific thing research would improve]?" — e.g., sourced recipes, current product recommendations, expert frameworks. Only if the user accepts.
Recommended	Plan references specific locations, venues, dates, prices, schedules, seasonal availability, or current events — anything where stale information would break the plan (closed restaurants, changed prices, cancelled events, wrong seasonal dates).	Research before planning. Decompose into 2-5 focused research questions and dispatch parallel web searches. In Claude Code, use the Agent tool with model: "haiku" for each search to reduce cost. Collate findings before structuring the plan.

When research is recommended, do it — don't just offer. Stale recommendations (closed restaurants, rethemed attractions, outdated prices) are worse than no recommendations. The user invoked /ce-plan because they want a good plan, not a disclaimer about training data.

Research decomposition pattern:

1. Identify 2-5 independent research questions based on the task. Good questions target facts the model is least confident about: current prices, hours, availability, recent changes, seasonal specifics.
2. Dispatch parallel research. Prefer user-named surfaces first per Core Principle 8 in SKILL.md; fall back to web search for questions those surfaces don't cover.
3. Collate findings into a brief research summary before proceeding to planning.

Example for "plan a date night in Seattle this Saturday":

• "Best restaurants open late Saturday in Capitol Hill Seattle 2026"
• "Events happening in Seattle [specific date]"
• "Seattle waterfront current status and hours"

Step 1b: Focused Q&A

Ask up to 3 questions targeting the unknowns that would most change the plan. Use the platform's blocking question tool: AskUserQuestion in Claude Code (call ToolSearch with select:AskUserQuestion first if its schema isn't loaded), request_user_input in Codex, ask_user in Gemini, ask_user in Pi (requires the pi-ask-user extension). Fall back to numbered options in chat only when no blocking tool exists or the call errors (e.g., Codex edit modes) — not because a schema load is required. Never silently skip the question.

How to ask well:

• Offer informed options, not open-ended blanks. Instead of "When are you going?", try "Mid-week visits have 30-40% shorter lines — are you flexible on timing?" The question should give the user a frame of reference, not just extract information.
• Use multi-select when several independent choices can be captured in one question. This is compact and respects the user's time.
• Always include a final option like "Skip — just make the plan with reasonable assumptions" so the user can opt out at any point.

Focus on the unknowns specific to this task that would change what the plan recommends or how it's structured. Do not ask more than 3 — after that, proceed with assumptions for anything remaining.

Step 2: Structure the Plan

Create a structured plan guided by these quality principles. Do NOT use the software plan template (implementation units, test scenarios, file paths, etc.).

Format: when to prescribe vs. present options

Not every plan should be a single linear path. Match the format to the task:

Task type	Best format	Why
High personal preference (food, entertainment, activities, gifts)	Curated options per category — present 2-3 choices and let the user compose	Preferences vary; a single pick may miss. Options respect the user's taste.
Logical sequence (study plan, project timeline, multi-day trip logistics)	Single prescriptive path with clear ordering	Sequencing matters; options at each step create decision paralysis.
Hybrid (event with fixed structure but variable details)	Fixed structure with choice points marked	The skeleton is set but specific vendors/venues/activities are options.

Example: A date night plan should present 2-3 restaurant options, 2-3 activity options, and a suggested flow — not pick one restaurant and build the whole evening around it. A study plan should prescribe a single weekly progression — not present 3 different curricula to choose from.

Formatting: bullets over prose

• Prefer bullets and tables for actionable content (steps, options, logistics, budgets)
• Use prose only for context, rationale, or explanations that connect the dots
• Plans are for scanning and executing, not reading cover-to-cover

Quality principles

• Actionable steps: Each step is specific enough to execute without further research
• Sequenced by dependency: Steps are in the right order, with dependencies noted
• Time-aware: When relevant, include timing, durations, deadlines, or phases
• Resource-identified: Specify what's needed — tools, materials, people, budget, locations
• Contingency-aware: For important decisions, note alternatives or what to do if plans change
• Appropriately detailed: Match detail to task complexity. A weekend trip needs less structure than a 3-month curriculum. A dinner plan should be concise, not a 200-line document.
• Domain-appropriate format: Choose a structure that fits the domain:
  • Itinerary for travel (day-by-day, with times and locations)
  • Syllabus or curriculum for study plans (topics, resources, milestones)
  • Runbook for events (timeline, responsibilities, logistics)
  • Project plan for business or operational tasks (phases, owners, deliverables)
  • Research plan for investigations (questions, methods, sources)
  • Options menu for preference-driven tasks (curated picks per category)

Step 3: Save or Share

After structuring the plan, ask the user how they want to receive it using the platform's blocking question tool: AskUserQuestion in Claude Code (call ToolSearch with select:AskUserQuestion first if its schema isn't loaded), request_user_input in Codex, ask_user in Gemini, ask_user in Pi (requires the pi-ask-user extension). Fall back to numbered options in chat only when no blocking tool exists or the call errors (e.g., Codex edit modes) — not because a schema load is required. Never silently skip the question.

Question: "Plan ready. How would you like to receive it?"

Options:

1. Save to disk — Write the plan as a markdown file. Ask where:

   • docs/plans/ (only show if this directory exists)
   • Current working directory
   • /tmp
   • A custom path
   • Use filename convention: YYYY-MM-DD-<descriptive-name>-plan.md
   • Start the document with a # Title heading, followed by Created: YYYY-MM-DD on the next line. No YAML frontmatter.

2. Open in Proof (web app) — review and comment to iterate with the agent — Open the doc in Every's Proof editor, iterate with the agent via comments, or copy a link to share with others. Load the ce-proof skill to create and open the document.

3. Save to disk AND open in Proof — Do both: write the markdown file to disk and open the doc in Proof for review.

Do not offer /ce-work (software-only) or issue creation (not applicable to non-software plans).