grill-then-plan

Interviews the user across a decision tree before writing a versioned implementation plan file.

Updated Mar 20, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/McGheeLab/McGheeLabWebsite --skill grill-then-plan-mcgheelab
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: grill-then-plan
Source: https://github.com/McGheeLab/McGheeLabWebsite/tree/main/.claude/skills/grill-then-plan
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/McGheeLab/McGheeLabWebsite --skill grill-then-plan-mcgheelab

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Ambiguity in feature requests often surfaces mid-implementation, causing rework and scope creep. This Skill front-loads the discovery process by interviewing the user one question at a time before any code or plan is written, so decisions about scope, data models, security rules, and release steps are settled up front. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Structured Interview Process: Walks a branching decision tree covering goal, reuse, files affected, Firestore data layer, Cloud Functions, gating, mobile, release ritual, rollback, and open questions — one question per turn. - Standardized Plan Output: Produces a single Markdown plan file at CodeLog/ClaudesPlan/V{next}_{slug}.md with required sections including Goal, Approach, Files modified, Data model changes, Release ritual, Rollback, and Verification checklist. - Context Orientation: Reads recent git history, wishlist items, and prior plans before asking questions to avoid re-asking already-answered decisions. - Use Case: When a user says "let's plan V3.2 — add a missing-PDF queue to the library", the Skill grills them on scope, Firestore paths, security rules, and deploy order, then writes the versioned plan file for implementation in a later session. ## Quick Start Ask the assistant to grill you on your next feature idea and write the versioned plan before any implementation begins.

Frequently Asked Questions about grill-then-plan

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I plan a new feature before writing code?

Invoke the skill with a request like "let's plan X" and it will interview you one question at a time across scope, data model, and release concerns. After you confirm a restated summary, it writes a versioned Markdown plan file for implementation in a later session.

What questions should I answer before starting a Firestore feature?

You should settle the Firestore collection path, user vs lab scope, shadowJson behavior, composite indexes, and security rules before coding. This skill walks through each of these axes plus Cloud Functions, gating, mobile layout, and rollback.

When should I not use an interview-based planning workflow?

Skip it for trivial single-file edits, typo fixes, or already-decided refactors, where the interview overhead outweighs the benefit. Reserve it for new versions or changes touching multiple files, both UI and data layers, or both app code and Firestore rules.

Does the planning skill write or modify any code?

No, it produces exactly one artifact: a Markdown plan file in the plans directory. It does not touch source code, bump versions, or run deployment scripts; implementation happens in a separate session opened against the plan.

What sections does the generated implementation plan contain?

The plan includes Goal, Problem, Approach, Files modified, Data model changes, Out of scope, Release ritual, Rollback, Open questions, and a Verification checklist. Length matches existing plans in the repository, typically 200 to 800 lines depending on scope.