Executing Plans

obra/superpowers

Summary

Use when you have a written implementation plan to execute in a separate session with review checkpoints

SKILL.md

Executing Plans

Overview

Load plan, review critically, execute all tasks, report when complete.

**Announce at start:** "I'm using the executing-plans skill to implement this plan."

**Note:** Tell your human partner that Superpowers works much better with access to subagents. The quality of its work will be significantly higher if run on a platform with subagent support (such as Claude Code or Codex). If subagents are available, use superpowers:subagent-driven-development instead of this skill.

The Process

Step 1: Load and Review Plan

  • Read plan file
  • Review critically - identify any questions or concerns about the plan
  • If concerns: Raise them with your human partner before starting
  • If no concerns: Create TodoWrite and proceed

Step 2: Execute Tasks

For each task:

  • Mark as in_progress
  • Follow each step exactly (plan has bite-sized steps)
  • Run verifications as specified
  • Mark as completed

Step 3: Complete Development

After all tasks complete and verified:

  • Announce: "I'm using the finishing-a-development-branch skill to complete this work."
  • **REQUIRED SUB-SKILL:** Use superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch
  • Follow that skill to verify tests, present options, execute choice

When to Stop and Ask for Help

**STOP executing immediately when:**

  • Hit a blocker (missing dependency, test fails, instruction unclear)
  • Plan has critical gaps preventing starting
  • You don't understand an instruction
  • Verification fails repeatedly

**Ask for clarification rather than guessing.**

When to Revisit Earlier Steps

**Return to Review (Step 1) when:**

  • Partner updates the plan based on your feedback
  • Fundamental approach needs rethinking

**Don't force through blockers** - stop and ask.

Remember

  • Review plan critically first
  • Follow plan steps exactly
  • Don't skip verifications
  • Reference skills when plan says to
  • Stop when blocked, don't guess
  • Never start implementation on main/master branch without explicit user consent

Integration

**Required workflow skills:**

  • **superpowers:using-git-worktrees** - REQUIRED: Set up isolated workspace before starting
  • **superpowers:writing-plans** - Creates the plan this skill executes
  • **superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch** - Complete development after all tasks

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