Planning With Files

Community

zhaono1

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-specific work, use prd-planner skill instead.

Overview

Publisher	zhaono1
Repository	`agent-playbook`
Skill name	`planning-with-files`
Stars	79
Forks	12
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by zhaono1 on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Planning With Files AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/zhaono1/agent-playbook.git /tmp/agent-playbook
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/agent-playbook/skills/planning-with-files .claude/skills/planning-with-files

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Planning With Files in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Planning With Files on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Planning With Files is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Planning with Files

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

Description

A skill that transforms your workflow to use persistent markdown files for planning and progress tracking.

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. 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:

bash
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:

markdown
# 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

Frequently asked questions

What does the Planning With Files AI skill do?

Why use Planning With Files on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Planning With Files is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Planning With Files in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/zhaono1/agent-playbook/tree/main/skills/planning-with-files. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Planning With Files?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Planning With Files?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Planning With Files with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Planning With Files AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by zhaono1 under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Planning with Files

Description

The Problem

The Solution: 3-File Pattern

The Workflow Loop

When to Use

Installation

The Manus Principles

Example

Links

Frequently asked questions

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