planning-with-files

Planning with Files

Work like Manus: Use persistent markdown files as your "working memory on disk." This skill helps you plan, track, and checkpoint complex tasks that span multiple files, APIs, or sessions.

WHEN TO USE THIS SKILL

ALWAYS use this skill when:

• Task involves 3+ phases or steps
• Implementing wrappers for multiple REST APIs
• Migrating or refactoring code across multiple files
• Research tasks requiring exploration
• Any task requiring >5 tool calls
• Work that may span multiple sessions
• Tasks with dependencies between components

Skip this skill for:

• Simple questions or quick lookups
• Single-file edits
• Tasks completable in 1-2 tool calls

The Core Principle

Context Window = RAM (volatile, limited)
Filesystem = Disk (persistent, unlimited)

-> Anything important gets written to disk.
-> After ~50 tool calls, you FORGET original goals.
-> Re-reading plan files keeps goals in your attention window.

File Structure

All planning files go in .agent_cache/<task-name>/:

.agent_cache/
└── <task-name>/
    ├── task_plan.md    # Phases, progress, decisions (YOUR ROADMAP)
    ├── findings.md     # Research, discoveries, technical decisions
    └── progress.md     # Session log, test results, files modified

Naming Convention

• Use lowercase with hyphens for <task-name>
• Be descriptive but concise
• Examples:
  • .agent_cache/add-admin-apis/
  • .agent_cache/migrate-lakehouse-module/
  • .agent_cache/add-direct-lake-functions/

The 3-File Pattern

Quick Start: Before ANY Complex Task

# 1. Create the planning directory
mkdir -p .agent_cache/<task-name>

# 2. Create all 3 files using templates below
# 3. Re-read plan before major decisions
# 4. Update after each phase completes

Critical Rules

Rule 1: Create Plan FIRST

Never start a complex task without task_plan.md. Non-negotiable.

Rule 2: The 2-Action Rule

"After every 2 view/search/explore operations, IMMEDIATELY save key findings to files."

This prevents information from being lost as context grows.

Rule 3: Read Before Decide

Before major decisions, read the plan file. This pushes goals into your attention window.

Rule 4: Update After Act

After completing any phase:

• Mark phase status: in_progress -> complete
• Log files created/modified
• Note any errors encountered

Rule 5: Log ALL Errors

Every error goes in the plan file. This builds knowledge and prevents repetition.

Rule 6: Never Repeat Failures

if action_failed:
    next_action != same_action

Track what you tried. Mutate the approach.

The 3-Strike Error Protocol

ATTEMPT 1: Diagnose & Fix
  -> Read error carefully
  -> Identify root cause
  -> Apply targeted fix

ATTEMPT 2: Alternative Approach
  -> Same error? Try different method
  -> Different tool? Different pattern?
  -> NEVER repeat exact same failing action

ATTEMPT 3: Broader Rethink
  -> Question assumptions
  -> Search for solutions (use github-repo-explore skill)
  -> Consider updating the plan

AFTER 3 FAILURES: Escalate to User
  -> Explain what you tried
  -> Share the specific error
  -> Ask for guidance

Workflow: The Agent Loop

+--------------------------------------------+
|  1. READ PLAN                              |
|     - cat .agent_cache/<task>/task_plan.md |
|     - Understand current phase             |
|     - Review goals                         |
+--------------------------------------------+
|  2. ANALYZE                                |
|     - What's the next task?                |
|     - Are there blockers?                  |
|     - Do I have what I need?               |
+--------------------------------------------+
|  3. EXECUTE                                |
|     - Perform ONE logical action           |
|     - Write code to files                  |
|     - Run tests                            |
+--------------------------------------------+
|  4. UPDATE FILES                           |
|     - Log progress in progress.md          |
|     - Save discoveries in findings.md      |
|     - Update status in task_plan.md        |
+--------------------------------------------+
|  5. REPEAT                                 |
|     - Read plan again before next phase    |
+--------------------------------------------+

Template: task_plan.md

# Task Plan: [Brief Description]

## Goal
[One clear sentence describing the end state]

## Current Phase
Phase 1

## Guidelines
<!-- Project-specific constraints and references -->
- Follow numpydoc style for docstrings
- Use `@log` decorator for all public functions
- Use `_base_api` helper for REST calls
- Reference: [add-function skill](../../.claude/skills/add-function/SKILL.md)
- Reference: [rest-api-patterns skill](../../.claude/skills/rest-api-patterns/SKILL.md)

---

## Phases

### Phase 1: Requirements & Discovery
- [ ] Understand user intent and scope
- [ ] Identify files/APIs involved
- [ ] Document findings in findings.md
- **Status:** in_progress

### Phase 2: Dependency Analysis
- [ ] Map dependencies between components
- [ ] Determine implementation order
- [ ] Update plan with detailed tasks
- **Status:** pending

### Phase 3: Implementation
- [ ] Implement each component in order
- [ ] Write code following project conventions
- [ ] Document decisions in findings.md
- **Status:** pending

### Phase 4: Testing
- [ ] Write unit tests (see write-tests skill)
- [ ] Run tests with `pytest -sv tests/ -k <test_name>`
- [ ] Document results in progress.md
- **Status:** pending

### Phase 5: Completion
- [ ] Run code style checks: `black src/sempy_labs tests && flake8 src/sempy_labs tests`
- [ ] Verify all checkboxes complete
- [ ] Mark directory as done
- **Status:** pending

---

## Errors Encountered
| Error | Attempt | Resolution |
|-------|---------|------------|
|       |         |            |

---

## Decisions Made
| Decision | Rationale |
|----------|-----------|
|          |           |

Template: findings.md

# Findings & Decisions

## Task
[Brief description of the task]

---

## Requirements
<!-- Captured from user request -->
-

## Research Findings
<!-- Key discoveries during exploration -->
<!-- UPDATE AFTER EVERY 2 SEARCH/EXPLORE OPERATIONS -->
-

## Code Patterns Found
<!-- Existing patterns in codebase to follow -->
| Pattern | Location | Usage |
|---------|----------|-------|
|         |          |       |

## Technical Decisions
| Decision | Rationale |
|----------|-----------|
|          |           |

## Files to Modify
| File | Change |
|------|--------|
|      |        |

## API/Function Inventory
<!-- For API wrapper tasks -->
| Function | Source | Status |
|----------|--------|--------|
|          |        |        |

## Issues Encountered
| Issue | Resolution |
|-------|------------|
|       |            |

## External References
<!-- Links to docs, GitHub repos, etc. -->
-

Template: progress.md

# Progress Log

## Session: [DATE]

### Phase 1: [Title]
- **Status:** in_progress
- **Started:** [timestamp]
- Actions taken:
  -
- Files created/modified:
  -

### Phase 2: [Title]
- **Status:** pending
- Actions taken:
  -
- Files created/modified:
  -

---

## Test Results
| Test | Expected | Actual | Status |
|------|----------|--------|--------|
|      |          |        |        |

---

## Commands Run
```bash
# Useful commands executed during this session

Session Notes

---

## Project-Specific Patterns

### For Semantic Link Labs API Wrapper Tasks

When implementing REST API wrappers, include in findings.md:

```markdown
## API Analysis
| API | Fabric Path | Power BI Path | Notes |
|-----|-------------|---------------|-------|
| list_items | /v1/workspaces/{id}/items | /v1.0/myorg/groups/{id}/... | Paginated |

## Implementation Pattern
- Use `_base_api` helper for all REST calls
- Use `resolve_workspace_name_and_id` for workspace resolution
- Use `_create_dataframe` for empty DataFrame initialization
- Return `pandas.DataFrame` for list operations

## Required Decorator
- `@log` -- Enable logging and telemetry

## Function Naming
| Prefix | Use Case |
|--------|----------|
| `list_` | Retrieves a collection |
| `get_` | Retrieves a single item |
| `create_` | Creates a new resource |
| `update_` | Modifies existing resource |
| `delete_` | Removes a resource |

For Test Writing Tasks

Include in findings.md:

## Test Structure
| Type | Location |
|------|----------|
| Unit tests | tests/ |

## Key Patterns
- Use `pytest.mark.parametrize` for multiple inputs
- Mock `_base_api` for API wrapper tests
- Use `_create_dataframe` to verify empty DataFrame structure
- See write-tests skill for full patterns

Completion Workflow

After finishing all work:

# 1. Verify all checkboxes are marked complete
grep -c "\[x\]" .agent_cache/<task-name>/task_plan.md
grep -c "\[ \]" .agent_cache/<task-name>/task_plan.md

# 2. Rename directory with [done] suffix
mv .agent_cache/<task-name> .agent_cache/<task-name>-[done]

The 5-Question Reboot Test

When resuming work, verify you can answer:

If you can't answer these, read all 3 planning files before continuing.

Read vs Write Decision Matrix

Anti-Patterns

Example: Adding Admin API Wrappers

task_plan.md

# Task Plan: Add Admin Workspace APIs

## Goal
Implement wrapper functions for Fabric Admin Workspace APIs in the sempy_labs.admin module.

## Current Phase
Phase 3

## Guidelines
- Use `@log` decorator on all public functions
- Use `_base_api` helper for REST calls
- Reference: add-function skill, rest-api-patterns skill

---

## Phases

### Phase 1: Requirements & Discovery
- [x] Read Fabric Admin API documentation
- [x] Identify workspace-related endpoints
- [x] Document in findings.md
- **Status:** complete

### Phase 2: Dependency Analysis
- [x] Check existing workspace implementations
- [x] Create function inventory
- **Status:** complete

### Phase 3: Implementation
- [x] `list_workspaces`
- [x] `get_workspace`
- [ ] `list_workspace_access_details`
- [ ] `update_workspace`
- **Status:** in_progress

### Phase 4: Testing
- [ ] Write unit tests with mocks
- [ ] Run tests
- **Status:** pending

### Phase 5: Completion
- [ ] Run black, flake8
- [ ] Verify all tests pass
- **Status:** pending

---

## Errors Encountered
| Error | Attempt | Resolution |
|-------|---------|------------|
| Pagination not working | 1 | Need uses_pagination=True in _base_api |

Related Skills