Project Management

Overview

This is a meta-skill that orchestrates the complete project management workflow by coordinating other specialized skills.

Announce at start: "I'm using the project-management skill to guide this workflow."

The Complete Workflow

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1. BRAINSTORMING (Optional)                                 │
│    Skill: brainstorming                                     │
│    → Explore requirements, clarify scope                    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                            ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2. PLANNING                                                 │
│    Skill: writing-plans                                     │
│    → Create: project/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-feature.md           │
│    → Detailed task-by-task implementation plan              │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                            ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 3. EXECUTION                                                │
│    Skill: executing-plans                                   │
│    → Execute tasks in batches with checkpoints              │
│    → Validate with: core-project-rules                      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                            ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 4. STATE TRACKING                                           │
│    Skill: project-orientation                               │
│    → Update: project/STATE.md                               │
│    → Document decisions, completions, next steps            │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

When to Use This Skill

Use this meta-skill when:

• Starting a new feature or major task
• User says "help me implement X"
• You need to guide the user through the full workflow
• The task requires multiple steps and coordination

The Process

Step 1: Assess Scope

Ask the user:

1. Do you have clear requirements? (If no → use brainstorming)
2. Is this a multi-step task? (If yes → continue)
3. Do you have an existing plan? (If yes → skip to Step 3)

Step 2: Create Plan

REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use writing-plans

• Creates detailed plan in project/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-feature.md
• Includes exact files, code, commands, verification steps
• Follows TDD, DRY, YAGNI principles
• Gets user approval before execution

Step 3: Execute Plan

REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use executing-plans

• Executes tasks in batches (default: 3 tasks)
• Reports after each batch for review
• Validates with core-project-rules
• Stops if errors occur

Step 4: Update State

REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use project-orientation --update

• Updates project/STATE.md with:
  • What was completed
  • Decisions made
  • Next steps
  • Blockers (if any)

Quick Reference

File Structure

All project management files live in /project:

project/
├── README.md                    # Overview of project management
├── ROADMAP.md                   # Strategic roadmap
├── STATE.md                     # Current state (updated by project-orientation)
└── plans/                       # Tactical execution plans
    ├── 2026-02-06-frontend-implementation.md
    └── 2026-02-07-backend-foundation-ddd.md

Integration with Other Skills

This skill coordinates with:

• brainstorming - Clarify requirements before planning
• writing-plans - Create detailed implementation plans
• executing-plans - Execute plans with checkpoints
• project-orientation - Track state and enable agent handoffs
• core-project-rules - Enforce quality standards
• using-git-worktrees - Isolate work in separate worktrees
• finishing-a-development-branch - Complete and merge work

Example Usage

Scenario 1: New Feature Request

User: "I need to add user authentication"

Agent: I'm using the project-management skill to guide this workflow.

Step 1: Assess Scope
- Requirements clear? Let me ask some questions...
- Multi-step task? Yes (auth is complex)
- Existing plan? No

Step 2: Create Plan
[Invokes writing-plans skill]
→ Creates: project/plans/2026-02-08-user-authentication.md

Step 3: Execute Plan
[Invokes executing-plans skill]
→ Executes tasks in batches
→ Reports progress after each batch

Step 4: Update State
[Invokes project-orientation --update]
→ Updates: project/STATE.md

Scenario 2: Continue Existing Work

User: "Continue where we left off"

Agent: I'm using the project-management skill to guide this workflow.

Step 1: Check State
[Invokes project-orientation]
→ Reads: project/STATE.md
→ Shows: Current focus, next steps

Step 2: Resume Execution
[Invokes executing-plans with existing plan]
→ Continues from last checkpoint

Decision Tree

User Request
    │
    ├─ "Help me implement X"
    │   └─> Use project-management (this skill)
    │
    ├─ "Create a plan for X"
    │   └─> Use writing-plans directly
    │
    ├─ "Execute this plan"
    │   └─> Use executing-plans directly
    │
    ├─ "Where are we?"
    │   └─> Use project-orientation directly
    │
    └─ "I have a bug"
        └─> Use systematic-debugging or test-driven-development

Quality Gates (from core-project-rules)

Every execution must follow:

1. ✅ Planning and Approval - Get approval before coding
2. ✅ Task Granularity - Break down if >3 files affected
3. ✅ Post-Implementation Analysis - List what could break
4. ✅ Bug Fixing (TDD-Lite) - Write test first, then fix
5. ✅ Iterative Rule Improvement - Update rules when corrected

Remember

• Each sub-skill has a specific purpose - don't skip steps
• Always validate with core-project-rules
• Update state after completion
• Keep plans in project/plans/, not scattered
• Get user approval at key checkpoints
• Stop and ask if uncertain about direction