boris-plan

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name: boris-plan description: Run Boris Cherny's plan-first workflow — write a complete plan, get explicit approval, then execute. Use at the start of any complex task to avoid wasted work and mid-session corrections. Named after Boris Cherny, creator of Claude Code.

This skill enforces the workflow Boris Cherny (creator of Claude Code) uses for every complex task: plan first, execute second, verify last. Credit: Boris Cherny via howborisusesclaudecode.com.

Ask the user: "Describe the task you want to accomplish."

Then produce a plan — do NOT write any code or make any changes yet:

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Plan: [Task Name]

What I understand you want

One sentence restatement of the goal. Flag any ambiguity here before proceeding.

Assumptions I'm making

List every assumption. If any are wrong, this is the time to correct them.

What I will do (step by step)

Numbered list. Each step is specific enough that you can verify it happened.

1. [Step 1 — what file/thing will change and how]
2. [Step 2]
3. [Step 3] ...

What I will NOT do

Explicitly name things that are out of scope — adjacent improvements, refactors, style changes — that you might expect but aren't in this plan.

How we'll verify it worked

Specific check: a command to run, a behavior to observe, a test that should pass.

Estimated scope

[Small: <30 min | Medium: 30–90 min | Large: >90 min] — and why

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Waiting for your approval before writing a single line.

Reply "approved", suggest changes, or ask questions. Only after approval will execution begin.