How do I install planning-with-files?

Run `npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files` in your terminal. You need to have run `npx skills init` once in your project first.

Which agent frameworks does planning-with-files support?

planning-with-files works with any agent framework supported by the Skills registry, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, Codex, and Gemini CLI.

Is planning-with-files free to use?

Yes. planning-with-files is free to install and use. It is available from the open explainx.ai skill registry published by charon-fan.

Where can I read ratings and reviews for planning-with-files?

Community ratings and review text appear on this explainx.ai skill page below the description. Reviews use a 1–5 scale and may include short written feedback from signed-in members.

How do I install planning-with-files?

Run `npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files` in your terminal. You need to have run `npx skills init` once in your project first.

Which agent frameworks does planning-with-files support?

planning-with-files works with any agent framework supported by the Skills registry, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, Codex, and Gemini CLI.

Is planning-with-files free to use?

Yes. planning-with-files is free to install and use. It is available from the open explainx.ai skill registry published by charon-fan.

Where can I read ratings and reviews for planning-with-files?

Community ratings and review text appear on this explainx.ai skill page below the description. Reviews use a 1–5 scale and may include short written feedback from signed-in members.

How do I install planning-with-files?

Run `npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files` in your terminal. You need to have run `npx skills init` once in your project first.

Which agent frameworks does planning-with-files support?

planning-with-files works with any agent framework supported by the Skills registry, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, Codex, and Gemini CLI.

Is planning-with-files free to use?

Yes. planning-with-files is free to install and use. It is available from the open explainx.ai skill registry published by charon-fan.

Where can I read ratings and reviews for planning-with-files?

Community ratings and review text appear on this explainx.ai skill page below the description. Reviews use a 1–5 scale and may include short written feedback from signed-in members.

How do I install planning-with-files?

Run `npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files` in your terminal. You need to have run `npx skills init` once in your project first.

Which agent frameworks does planning-with-files support?

planning-with-files works with any agent framework supported by the Skills registry, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, Codex, and Gemini CLI.

Is planning-with-files free to use?

Yes. planning-with-files is free to install and use. It is available from the open explainx.ai skill registry published by charon-fan.

Where can I read ratings and reviews for planning-with-files?

Community ratings and review text appear on this explainx.ai skill page below the description. Reviews use a 1–5 scale and may include short written feedback from signed-in members.

How do I install planning-with-files?

Run `npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files` in your terminal. You need to have run `npx skills init` once in your project first.

Which agent frameworks does planning-with-files support?

planning-with-files works with any agent framework supported by the Skills registry, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, Codex, and Gemini CLI.

Is planning-with-files free to use?

Yes. planning-with-files is free to install and use. It is available from the open explainx.ai skill registry published by charon-fan.

Where can I read ratings and reviews for planning-with-files?

Community ratings and review text appear on this explainx.ai skill page below the description. Reviews use a 1–5 scale and may include short written feedback from signed-in members.

How do I install planning-with-files?

Run `npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files` in your terminal. You need to have run `npx skills init` once in your project first.

Which agent frameworks does planning-with-files support?

planning-with-files works with any agent framework supported by the Skills registry, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, Codex, and Gemini CLI.

Is planning-with-files free to use?

Yes. planning-with-files is free to install and use. It is available from the open explainx.ai skill registry published by charon-fan.

Where can I read ratings and reviews for planning-with-files?

Community ratings and review text appear on this explainx.ai skill page below the description. Reviews use a 1–5 scale and may include short written feedback from signed-in members.

How do I install planning-with-files?

Run `npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files` in your terminal. You need to have run `npx skills init` once in your project first.

Which agent frameworks does planning-with-files support?

planning-with-files works with any agent framework supported by the Skills registry, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, Codex, and Gemini CLI.

Is planning-with-files free to use?

Yes. planning-with-files is free to install and use. It is available from the open explainx.ai skill registry published by charon-fan.

Where can I read ratings and reviews for planning-with-files?

Community ratings and review text appear on this explainx.ai skill page below the description. Reviews use a 1–5 scale and may include short written feedback from signed-in members.

How do I install planning-with-files?

Run `npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files` in your terminal. You need to have run `npx skills init` once in your project first.

Which agent frameworks does planning-with-files support?

planning-with-files works with any agent framework supported by the Skills registry, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, Codex, and Gemini CLI.

Is planning-with-files free to use?

Yes. planning-with-files is free to install and use. It is available from the open explainx.ai skill registry published by charon-fan.

Where can I read ratings and reviews for planning-with-files?

Community ratings and review text appear on this explainx.ai skill page below the description. Reviews use a 1–5 scale and may include short written feedback from signed-in members.

How do I install planning-with-files?

Run `npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files` in your terminal. You need to have run `npx skills init` once in your project first.

Which agent frameworks does planning-with-files support?

planning-with-files works with any agent framework supported by the Skills registry, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, Codex, and Gemini CLI.

Is planning-with-files free to use?

Yes. planning-with-files is free to install and use. It is available from the open explainx.ai skill registry published by charon-fan.

Where can I read ratings and reviews for planning-with-files?

Community ratings and review text appear on this explainx.ai skill page below the description. Reviews use a 1–5 scale and may include short written feedback from signed-in members.

How do I install planning-with-files?

Run `npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files` in your terminal. You need to have run `npx skills init` once in your project first.

Which agent frameworks does planning-with-files support?

planning-with-files works with any agent framework supported by the Skills registry, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, Codex, and Gemini CLI.

Is planning-with-files free to use?

Yes. planning-with-files is free to install and use. It is available from the open explainx.ai skill registry published by charon-fan.

Where can I read ratings and reviews for planning-with-files?

Community ratings and review text appear on this explainx.ai skill page below the description. Reviews use a 1–5 scale and may include short written feedback from signed-in members.

How do I install planning-with-files?

Run `npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files` in your terminal. You need to have run `npx skills init` once in your project first.

Productivity

planning-with-files

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

charon-fan/agent-playbook|Updated Apr 8, 2026

Works with

Claude CodeCursorClineWindsurfCodexGooseGitHub CopilotZed

total installs

this week

GitHub stars

upvotes

Install Skill

Run in your terminal

$npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files

installs

this week

stars

View on GitHub

planning with files

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Installation Guide

Select your AI agent

How to use planning-with-files on Cursor

AI-first code editor with Composer

Prerequisites

Before installing skills in Cursor, ensure your development environment meets these requirements:

›Cursor installed and configured on your machine
›Node.js 16+ with npm — verify with node --version
›Active project directory where you want to add planning-with-files

Run the install command

Execute the skills CLI command in your project's root directory to begin installation:

$npx skills add https://github.com/charon-fan/agent-playbook --skill planning-with-files

Fetches planning-with-files from charon-fan/agent-playbook and configures it for Cursor.

Select Cursor when prompted

The CLI shows a list of agents. Use arrow keys and space to select Cursor:

◆ Which agents do you want to install to?

│

│ ── Universal (.agents/skills) ────────────────

│ · Cline · Codex · Goose · Windsurf

│ ●Cursor(selected)

│ · Cursor · Aider · Continue

Verify installation

Confirm successful installation by checking the skill directory location:

.cursor/skills/planning-with-files

Restart Cursor to activate planning-with-files. Access via /planning-with-files in your agent's command palette.

⚠

Security Notice

We perform automated surface-level scans (Gen AI Scanner, Socket, Snyk) during installation. These checks detect common vulnerabilities but do not guarantee complete security. Always review skill source code and verify the publisher's reputation before production use.

Skills execute code in your environment. Always review source, verify the publisher, and test in isolation before production.

›View source on GitHub ›Skills CLI docs ›About Cursor ›What are agent skills?

Documentation

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 output

The 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 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:

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

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 sources

Use Cases

User Story & Requirements Generation

Create detailed user stories, acceptance criteria, and feature specs

Example

Generate user stories for 'password reset feature' with acceptance criteria, edge cases, and test scenarios

✓

Reduce spec writing time by 50%, ensure comprehensive coverage

Competitive Analysis

Research competitors, compare features, identify gaps

Example

Analyze 5 competitor products, create feature comparison matrix, suggest differentiation opportunities

✓

Complete competitive research in 2 hours instead of 2 days

Roadmap Prioritization

Evaluate features using frameworks (RICE, ICE, Kano) and create prioritized backlogs

Example

Score 20 feature ideas using RICE framework, generate prioritized roadmap with rationale

✓

Make data-driven prioritization decisions faster

Stakeholder Communication

Draft PRDs, status updates, and stakeholder presentations

Example

Create executive summary of Q3 roadmap, monthly progress report, feature launch announcement

✓

Save 3-5 hours/week on communication overhead

Implementation Guide

Prerequisites

›Claude Desktop or compatible AI client
›Access to product documentation and roadmap tools (Jira, Notion, etc.)
›Understanding of product management frameworks (RICE, Jobs-to-be-Done, etc.)
›Stakeholder contact information and communication channels

Time Estimate

30-60 minutes to see productivity improvements

Steps

1Install product management skill
2Start with user story generation for known feature
3Progress to competitive analysis: research 2-3 competitors
4Use for roadmap prioritization: apply RICE/ICE scoring
5Draft stakeholder communications and refine based on feedback
6Build template library for recurring PM tasks
7Share effective prompts with product team

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not validating competitive research—verify facts before sharing
⚠Accepting user stories without involving engineering team
⚠Over-relying on frameworks without qualitative judgment
⚠Not customizing outputs to company culture and communication style
⚠Skipping stakeholder validation of generated requirements

Best Practices

✓ Do

+Validate research and competitive analysis with real data
+Collaborate with engineering when generating technical requirements
+Customize frameworks and templates to your company context
+Use skill for first drafts, refine with stakeholder input
+Document successful prompt patterns for PM tasks
+Combine AI efficiency with human judgment and intuition

✗ Don't

−Don't publish competitive analysis without fact-checking
−Don't finalize user stories without engineering review
−Don't make prioritization decisions solely on AI scoring
−Don't skip customer validation of generated requirements
−Don't ignore company-specific context and culture

💡 Pro Tips

★Provide context: company goals, constraints, customer feedback
★Ask for alternatives: 'Show 3 ways to prioritize this roadmap'
★Request stakeholder-specific formatting: 'Executive summary vs. engineering spec'
★Use skill for 70% generation + 30% customization to company needs

When to Use This

✓ Use when

Use for user story writing, competitive research, roadmap prioritization, stakeholder communication, and PRD drafting. Best for reducing repetitive documentation and research work.

✗ Avoid when

Avoid for strategic product vision (requires deep customer empathy), pricing decisions (needs market and financial expertise), or when face-to-face customer discovery is more valuable than speed.

Learning Path

1Basic: user stories, feature specs, status updates
2Intermediate: competitive analysis, prioritization frameworks, PRDs
3Advanced: product strategy, go-to-market planning, OKR setting
4Expert: product vision, market positioning, business model innovation

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Reviews

4.5★★★★★34 reviews

M
Maya Khan★★★★★Dec 12, 2024
I recommend planning-with-files for anyone iterating fast on agent tooling; clear intent and a small, reviewable surface area.
D
Dhruvi Jain★★★★★Dec 8, 2024
planning-with-files fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.
H
Hassan Verma★★★★★Dec 8, 2024
planning-with-files fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.
O
Oshnikdeep★★★★★Nov 27, 2024
planning-with-files is among the better-maintained entries we tried; worth keeping pinned for repeat workflows.
A
Anaya Flores★★★★★Nov 27, 2024
planning-with-files is among the better-maintained entries we tried; worth keeping pinned for repeat workflows.
A
Anika Iyer★★★★★Nov 23, 2024
planning-with-files reduced setup friction for our internal harness; good balance of opinion and flexibility.
K
Kaira Perez★★★★★Nov 3, 2024
Solid pick for teams standardizing on skills: planning-with-files is focused, and the summary matches what you get after install.
K
Kiara Gonzalez★★★★★Oct 22, 2024
planning-with-files has been reliable in day-to-day use. Documentation quality is above average for community skills.
G
Ganesh Mohane★★★★★Oct 18, 2024
Keeps context tight: planning-with-files is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.
A
Anaya Farah★★★★★Oct 18, 2024
Keeps context tight: planning-with-files is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.

planning-with-files

Install Skill

Installation Guide

How to use planning-with-files on Cursor

Prerequisites

Run the install command

Select Cursor when prompted

Verify installation

Security Notice

Documentation

Planning with Files

Description

The Problem

The Solution: 3-File Pattern

The Workflow Loop

When to Use

Installation

The Manus Principles

Example

Links

List & Monetize Your Skill

Use Cases

User Story & Requirements Generation

Competitive Analysis

Roadmap Prioritization

Stakeholder Communication

Implementation Guide

Best Practices

When to Use This

Learning Path

Related Skills

improve

grill-me

premortem

deslop

framer-motion

write-a-prd

Reviews

Discussion