pi-planning-with-files 1.0.0

package/reference.md

@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+# Reference: Manus Context Engineering Principles
+
+This skill is based on context engineering principles from Manus, the AI agent company acquired by Meta for $2 billion in December 2025.
+
+## The 6 Manus Principles
+
+### Principle 1: Design Around KV-Cache
+
+> "KV-cache hit rate is THE single most important metric for production AI agents."
+
+**Statistics:**
+- ~100:1 input-to-output token ratio
+- Cached tokens: $0.30/MTok vs Uncached: $3/MTok
+- 10x cost difference!
+
+**Implementation:**
+- Keep prompt prefixes STABLE (single-token change invalidates cache)
+- NO timestamps in system prompts
+- Make context APPEND-ONLY with deterministic serialization
+
+### Principle 2: Mask, Don't Remove
+
+Don't dynamically remove tools (breaks KV-cache). Use logit masking instead.
+
+**Best Practice:** Use consistent action prefixes (e.g., `browser_`, `shell_`, `file_`) for easier masking.
+
+### Principle 3: Filesystem as External Memory
+
+> "Markdown is my 'working memory' on disk."
+
+**The Formula:**
+```
+Context Window = RAM (volatile, limited)
+Filesystem = Disk (persistent, unlimited)
+```
+
+**Compression Must Be Restorable:**
+- Keep URLs even if web content is dropped
+- Keep file paths when dropping document contents
+- Never lose the pointer to full data
+
+### Principle 4: Manipulate Attention Through Recitation
+
+> "Creates and updates todo.md throughout tasks to push global plan into model's recent attention span."
+
+**Problem:** After ~50 tool calls, models forget original goals ("lost in the middle" effect).
+
+**Solution:** Re-read `task_plan.md` before each decision. Goals appear in the attention window.
+
+```
+Start of context: [Original goal - far away, forgotten]
+...many tool calls...
+End of context: [Recently read task_plan.md - gets ATTENTION!]
+```
+
+### Principle 5: Keep the Wrong Stuff In
+
+> "Leave the wrong turns in the context."
+
+**Why:**
+- Failed actions with stack traces let model implicitly update beliefs
+- Reduces mistake repetition
+- Error recovery is "one of the clearest signals of TRUE agentic behavior"
+
+### Principle 6: Don't Get Few-Shotted
+
+> "Uniformity breeds fragility."
+
+**Problem:** Repetitive action-observation pairs cause drift and hallucination.
+
+**Solution:** Introduce controlled variation:
+- Vary phrasings slightly
+- Don't copy-paste patterns blindly
+- Recalibrate on repetitive tasks
+
+---
+
+## The 3 Context Engineering Strategies
+
+Based on Lance Martin's analysis of Manus architecture.
+
+### Strategy 1: Context Reduction
+
+**Compaction:**
+```
+Tool calls have TWO representations:
+├── FULL: Raw tool content (stored in filesystem)
+└── COMPACT: Reference/file path only
+
+RULES:
+- Apply compaction to STALE (older) tool results
+- Keep RECENT results FULL (to guide next decision)
+```
+
+**Summarization:**
+- Applied when compaction reaches diminishing returns
+- Generated using full tool results
+- Creates standardized summary objects
+
+### Strategy 2: Context Isolation (Multi-Agent)
+
+**Architecture:**
+```
+┌─────────────────────────────────┐
+│         PLANNER AGENT           │
+│  └─ Assigns tasks to sub-agents │
+├─────────────────────────────────┤
+│       KNOWLEDGE MANAGER         │
+│  └─ Reviews conversations       │
+│  └─ Determines filesystem store │
+├─────────────────────────────────┤
+│      EXECUTOR SUB-AGENTS        │
+│  └─ Perform assigned tasks      │
+│  └─ Have own context windows    │
+└─────────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+**Key Insight:** Manus originally used `todo.md` for task planning but found ~33% of actions were spent updating it. Shifted to dedicated planner agent calling executor sub-agents.
+
+### Strategy 3: Context Offloading
+
+**Tool Design:**
+- Use <20 atomic functions total
+- Store full results in filesystem, not context
+- Use `glob` and `grep` for searching
+- Progressive disclosure: load information only as needed
+
+---
+
+## The Agent Loop
+
+Manus operates in a continuous 7-step loop:
+
+```
+┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│  1. ANALYZE CONTEXT                      │
+│     - Understand user intent             │
+│     - Assess current state               │
+│     - Review recent observations         │
+├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│  2. THINK                                │
+│     - Should I update the plan?          │
+│     - What's the next logical action?    │
+│     - Are there blockers?                │
+├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│  3. SELECT TOOL                          │
+│     - Choose ONE tool                    │
+│     - Ensure parameters available        │
+├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│  4. EXECUTE ACTION                       │
+│     - Tool runs in sandbox               │
+├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│  5. RECEIVE OBSERVATION                  │
+│     - Result appended to context         │
+├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│  6. ITERATE                              │
+│     - Return to step 1                   │
+│     - Continue until complete            │
+├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│  7. DELIVER OUTCOME                      │
+│     - Send results to user               │
+│     - Attach all relevant files          │
+└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+---
+
+## File Types Manus Creates
+
+| File | Purpose | When Created | When Updated |
+|------|---------|--------------|--------------|
+| `task_plan.md` | Phase tracking, progress | Task start | After completing phases |
+| `findings.md` | Discoveries, decisions | After ANY discovery | After viewing images/PDFs |
+| `progress.md` | Session log, what's done | At breakpoints | Throughout session |
+| Code files | Implementation | Before execution | After errors |
+
+---
+
+## Critical Constraints
+
+- **Single-Action Execution:** ONE tool call per turn. No parallel execution.
+- **Plan is Required:** Agent must ALWAYS know: goal, current phase, remaining phases
+- **Files are Memory:** Context = volatile. Filesystem = persistent.
+- **Never Repeat Failures:** If action failed, next action MUST be different
+- **Communication is a Tool:** Message types: `info` (progress), `ask` (blocking), `result` (terminal)
+
+---
+
+## Manus Statistics
+
+| Metric | Value |
+|--------|-------|
+| Average tool calls per task | ~50 |
+| Input-to-output token ratio | 100:1 |
+| Acquisition price | $2 billion |
+| Time to $100M revenue | 8 months |
+| Framework refactors since launch | 5 times |
+
+---
+
+## Key Quotes
+
+> "Context window = RAM (volatile, limited). Filesystem = Disk (persistent, unlimited). Anything important gets written to disk."
+
+> "if action_failed: next_action != same_action. Track what you tried. Mutate the approach."
+
+> "Error recovery is one of the clearest signals of TRUE agentic behavior."
+
+> "KV-cache hit rate is the single most important metric for a production-stage AI agent."
+
+> "Leave the wrong turns in the context."
+
+---
+
+## Source
+
+Based on Manus's official context engineering documentation:
+https://manus.im/blog/Context-Engineering-for-AI-Agents-Lessons-from-Building-Manus

package/scripts/check-complete.ps1

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# Check if all phases in task_plan.md are complete
+# Exit 0 if complete, exit 1 if incomplete
+# Used by Stop hook to verify task completion
+
+param(
+    [string]$PlanFile = "task_plan.md"
+)
+
+if (-not (Test-Path $PlanFile)) {
+    Write-Host "ERROR: $PlanFile not found"
+    Write-Host "Cannot verify completion without a task plan."
+    exit 1
+}
+
+Write-Host "=== Task Completion Check ==="
+Write-Host ""
+
+# Read file content
+$content = Get-Content $PlanFile -Raw
+
+# Count phases by status
+$TOTAL = ([regex]::Matches($content, "### Phase")).Count
+$COMPLETE = ([regex]::Matches($content, "\*\*Status:\*\* complete")).Count
+$IN_PROGRESS = ([regex]::Matches($content, "\*\*Status:\*\* in_progress")).Count
+$PENDING = ([regex]::Matches($content, "\*\*Status:\*\* pending")).Count
+
+Write-Host "Total phases:   $TOTAL"
+Write-Host "Complete:       $COMPLETE"
+Write-Host "In progress:    $IN_PROGRESS"
+Write-Host "Pending:        $PENDING"
+Write-Host ""
+
+# Check completion
+if ($COMPLETE -eq $TOTAL -and $TOTAL -gt 0) {
+    Write-Host "ALL PHASES COMPLETE"
+    exit 0
+} else {
+    Write-Host "TASK NOT COMPLETE"
+    Write-Host ""
+    Write-Host "Do not stop until all phases are complete."
+    exit 1
+}

package/scripts/check-complete.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Check if all phases in task_plan.md are complete
+# Exit 0 if complete, exit 1 if incomplete
+# Used by Stop hook to verify task completion
+
+PLAN_FILE="${1:-task_plan.md}"
+
+if [ ! -f "$PLAN_FILE" ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: $PLAN_FILE not found"
+    echo "Cannot verify completion without a task plan."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "=== Task Completion Check ==="
+echo ""
+
+# Count phases by status (using -F for fixed string matching)
+TOTAL=$(grep -c "### Phase" "$PLAN_FILE" || true)
+COMPLETE=$(grep -cF "**Status:** complete" "$PLAN_FILE" || true)
+IN_PROGRESS=$(grep -cF "**Status:** in_progress" "$PLAN_FILE" || true)
+PENDING=$(grep -cF "**Status:** pending" "$PLAN_FILE" || true)
+
+# Default to 0 if empty
+: "${TOTAL:=0}"
+: "${COMPLETE:=0}"
+: "${IN_PROGRESS:=0}"
+: "${PENDING:=0}"
+
+echo "Total phases:   $TOTAL"
+echo "Complete:       $COMPLETE"
+echo "In progress:    $IN_PROGRESS"
+echo "Pending:        $PENDING"
+echo ""
+
+# Check completion
+if [ "$COMPLETE" -eq "$TOTAL" ] && [ "$TOTAL" -gt 0 ]; then
+    echo "ALL PHASES COMPLETE"
+    exit 0
+else
+    echo "TASK NOT COMPLETE"
+    echo ""
+    echo "Do not stop until all phases are complete."
+    exit 1
+fi

package/scripts/init-session.ps1

@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+# Initialize planning files for a new session
+# Usage: .\init-session.ps1 [project-name]
+
+param(
+    [string]$ProjectName = "project"
+)
+
+$DATE = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd"
+
+Write-Host "Initializing planning files for: $ProjectName"
+
+# Create task_plan.md if it doesn't exist
+if (-not (Test-Path "task_plan.md")) {
+    @"
+# Task Plan: [Brief Description]
+
+## Goal
+[One sentence describing the end state]
+
+## Current Phase
+Phase 1
+
+## Phases
+
+### Phase 1: Requirements & Discovery
+- [ ] Understand user intent
+- [ ] Identify constraints
+- [ ] Document in findings.md
+- **Status:** in_progress
+
+### Phase 2: Planning & Structure
+- [ ] Define approach
+- [ ] Create project structure
+- **Status:** pending
+
+### Phase 3: Implementation
+- [ ] Execute the plan
+- [ ] Write to files before executing
+- **Status:** pending
+
+### Phase 4: Testing & Verification
+- [ ] Verify requirements met
+- [ ] Document test results
+- **Status:** pending
+
+### Phase 5: Delivery
+- [ ] Review outputs
+- [ ] Deliver to user
+- **Status:** pending
+
+## Decisions Made
+| Decision | Rationale |
+|----------|-----------|
+
+## Errors Encountered
+| Error | Resolution |
+|-------|------------|
+"@ | Out-File -FilePath "task_plan.md" -Encoding UTF8
+    Write-Host "Created task_plan.md"
+} else {
+    Write-Host "task_plan.md already exists, skipping"
+}
+
+# Create findings.md if it doesn't exist
+if (-not (Test-Path "findings.md")) {
+    @"
+# Findings & Decisions
+
+## Requirements
+-
+
+## Research Findings
+-
+
+## Technical Decisions
+| Decision | Rationale |
+|----------|-----------|
+
+## Issues Encountered
+| Issue | Resolution |
+|-------|------------|
+
+## Resources
+-
+"@ | Out-File -FilePath "findings.md" -Encoding UTF8
+    Write-Host "Created findings.md"
+} else {
+    Write-Host "findings.md already exists, skipping"
+}
+
+# Create progress.md if it doesn't exist
+if (-not (Test-Path "progress.md")) {
+    @"
+# Progress Log
+
+## Session: $DATE
+
+### Current Status
+- **Phase:** 1 - Requirements & Discovery
+- **Started:** $DATE
+
+### Actions Taken
+-
+
+### Test Results
+| Test | Expected | Actual | Status |
+|------|----------|--------|--------|
+
+### Errors
+| Error | Resolution |
+|-------|------------|
+"@ | Out-File -FilePath "progress.md" -Encoding UTF8
+    Write-Host "Created progress.md"
+} else {
+    Write-Host "progress.md already exists, skipping"
+}
+
+Write-Host ""
+Write-Host "Planning files initialized!"
+Write-Host "Files: task_plan.md, findings.md, progress.md"

package/scripts/init-session.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Initialize planning files for a new session
+# Usage: ./init-session.sh [project-name]
+
+set -e
+
+PROJECT_NAME="${1:-project}"
+DATE=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
+
+echo "Initializing planning files for: $PROJECT_NAME"
+
+# Create task_plan.md if it doesn't exist
+if [ ! -f "task_plan.md" ]; then
+    cat > task_plan.md << 'EOF'
+# Task Plan: [Brief Description]
+
+## Goal
+[One sentence describing the end state]
+
+## Current Phase
+Phase 1
+
+## Phases
+
+### Phase 1: Requirements & Discovery
+- [ ] Understand user intent
+- [ ] Identify constraints
+- [ ] Document in findings.md
+- **Status:** in_progress
+
+### Phase 2: Planning & Structure
+- [ ] Define approach
+- [ ] Create project structure
+- **Status:** pending
+
+### Phase 3: Implementation
+- [ ] Execute the plan
+- [ ] Write to files before executing
+- **Status:** pending
+
+### Phase 4: Testing & Verification
+- [ ] Verify requirements met
+- [ ] Document test results
+- **Status:** pending
+
+### Phase 5: Delivery
+- [ ] Review outputs
+- [ ] Deliver to user
+- **Status:** pending
+
+## Decisions Made
+| Decision | Rationale |
+|----------|-----------|
+
+## Errors Encountered
+| Error | Resolution |
+|-------|------------|
+EOF
+    echo "Created task_plan.md"
+else
+    echo "task_plan.md already exists, skipping"
+fi
+
+# Create findings.md if it doesn't exist
+if [ ! -f "findings.md" ]; then
+    cat > findings.md << 'EOF'
+# Findings & Decisions
+
+## Requirements
+-
+
+## Research Findings
+-
+
+## Technical Decisions
+| Decision | Rationale |
+|----------|-----------|
+
+## Issues Encountered
+| Issue | Resolution |
+|-------|------------|
+
+## Resources
+-
+EOF
+    echo "Created findings.md"
+else
+    echo "findings.md already exists, skipping"
+fi
+
+# Create progress.md if it doesn't exist
+if [ ! -f "progress.md" ]; then
+    cat > progress.md << EOF
+# Progress Log
+
+## Session: $DATE
+
+### Current Status
+- **Phase:** 1 - Requirements & Discovery
+- **Started:** $DATE
+
+### Actions Taken
+-
+
+### Test Results
+| Test | Expected | Actual | Status |
+|------|----------|--------|--------|
+
+### Errors
+| Error | Resolution |
+|-------|------------|
+EOF
+    echo "Created progress.md"
+else
+    echo "progress.md already exists, skipping"
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "Planning files initialized!"
+echo "Files: task_plan.md, findings.md, progress.md"