Plan mode for implementation strategy before coding

Helps you plan before coding. Creates detailed strategies to make development smoother.

Usage

bash
# Request Plan Mode from Claude
"Create an implementation plan for [implementation content]"

Basic Examples

bash
# Implementation plan for new feature
"Create an implementation plan for user authentication functionality"

# System design plan
"Create an implementation plan for microservice splitting"

# Refactoring plan
"Create a refactoring plan for legacy code"

Collaboration with Claude

bash
# Complex feature implementation
"Create an implementation plan for chat functionality, including WebSocket, real-time notifications, and history management"

# Database design
"Create a database design plan for an e-commerce site, including product, order, and user management"

# API design
"Create an implementation plan for GraphQL API, including authentication, caching, and rate limiting"

# Infrastructure design
"Create an implementation plan for Dockerization, including development environment, production environment, and CI/CD"

How Plan Mode Works

Automatic Start

• Starts automatically when you describe what to build
• Or just say "Create an implementation plan"

What You Get

• Clear requirements (user stories, success criteria)
• Design docs (architecture, data model, UI)
• Implementation steps (tasks, tracking, quality checks)
• Risk analysis and solutions

Getting Your Approval

• I'll show you the plan using ExitPlanMode
• Important: I always wait for your explicit OK
• I won't code without your approval
• You can request changes anytime
• TaskCreate tracking starts after you approve

Detailed Examples

bash
# Complex system implementation
"Create an implementation plan for an online payment system, including Stripe integration, security, and error handling"

# Frontend implementation
"Create an implementation plan for a React dashboard, including state management, component design, and testing"

# Backend implementation
"Create an implementation plan for a RESTful API, including authentication, validation, and logging"

# DevOps implementation
"Create an implementation plan for a CI/CD pipeline, including test automation, deployment, and monitoring"

3-Phase Workflow

Phase 1: Requirements

• User Stories: What are we building and why?
• Success Criteria: How do we know it's done?
• Constraints: What limits do we have?
• Priority: What's must-have vs nice-to-have?

Phase 2: Design

• Architecture: How will the system work?
• Data Model: Database schema and APIs
• UI/UX: Screen layouts and user flow
• Risks: What could go wrong and how to prevent it

Phase 3: Implementation

• Task Breakdown: Split into manageable chunks
• Progress Tracking: TaskUpdate manages status
• Quality Checks: Testing and verification plan
• Your Approval: Show plan and wait for your OK

Notes

When to Use This

• Best for complex projects
• Skip for simple fixes
• Great for 3+ step tasks or new features

Technical Notes

• Don't rely on ExitPlanMode return values
• Only your explicit approval counts
• Works differently than CLI plan mode

Important Rules

• Never start coding before you approve
• Always wait for your response
• Offer alternatives if something fails

Execution Example

bash
# Usage example
"Create an implementation plan for a user management system"

# What happens:
# 1. Plan Mode starts
# 2. Analyze requirements and pick tech
# 3. Structure the implementation
# 4. Show you the plan
# 5. Start coding after you approve