This skill implements a file-based planning system for complex, multi-step tasks by creating persistent markdown files to track goals, findings, and progress. It acts as an external working memory to maintain context and organization throughout long workflows or research projects.
# OpenClaw Setup
How to use planning-with-files with [OpenClaw](https://openclaw.ai).
---
## What This Integration Adds
- Workspace skill: `.openclaw/skills/planning-with-files/`
- Full templates, scripts, and reference documentation
- Cross-platform support (macOS, Linux, Windows)
OpenClaw supports three skill locations (in precedence order):
1. **Workspace skills** (highest priority): `<workspace>/skills/`
2. **Managed/local skills**: `~/.openclaw/skills/`
3. **Bundled skills** (lowest priority): shipped with install
---
## Installation (Workspace, recommended)
Copy the skill to your project:
```bash
# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/OthmanAdi/planning-with-files.git
# Copy the OpenClaw skill to your workspace
cp -r planning-with-files/.openclaw/skills/planning-with-files skills/
# Clean up
rm -rf planning-with-files
```
---
## Installation (Global)
Install to your local OpenClaw skills directory:
```bash
# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/OthmanAdi/planning-with-files.git
# Copy to global OpenClaw skills
mkdir -p ~/.openclaw/skills
cp -r planning-with-files/.openclaw/skills/planning-with-files ~/.openclaw/skills/
# Clean up
rm -rf planning-with-files
```
---
## Verify Installation
```bash
# Check OpenClaw status and loaded skills
openclaw status
```
---
## Usage
1. Start an OpenClaw session in your project directory
2. For complex tasks, the skill will guide you to create:
- `task_plan.md` — Phase tracking and decisions
- `findings.md` — Research and discoveries
- `progress.md` — Session log and test results
3. Follow the workflow: plan first, update after each phase
---
## Helper Scripts
From your project root:
```bash
# Initialize all planning files
bash skills/planning-with-files/scripts/init-session.sh
# Or on Windows PowerShell
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File skills/planning-with-files/scripts/init-session.ps1
# Verify all phases are complete
bash skills/planning-with-files/scripts/check-complete.sh
```
---
## Configuration (Optional)
Configure the skill in `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json`:
```json5
{
skills: {
entries: {
"planning-with-files": {
enabled: true
}
}
}
}
```
---
## Notes
- OpenClaw snapshots eligible skills when a session starts
- Workspace skills take precedence over bundled skills
- The skill works on all platforms: macOS, Linux, and Windows
- Planning files are tool-agnostic and work across Claude Code, Cursor, and other IDEs