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+---
+name: planning-with-files
+description: Transforms workflow to use Manus-style persistent markdown files for planning, progress tracking, and knowledge storage. Use when starting complex tasks, multi-step projects, research tasks, or when the user mentions planning, organizing work, tracking progress, or wants structured output.
+version: 0.1.0
+---
+
+# Planning with Files
+
+Work like Manus: Use persistent markdown files as your "working memory on disk."
+
+## Quick Start
+
+Before ANY complex task:
+
+1. **Create `task_plan.md`** in the working directory
+2. **Define phases** with checkboxes
+3. **Update after each phase** - mark [x] and change status
+4. **Read before deciding** - refresh goals in attention window
+
+## The 3-File Pattern
+
+For every non-trivial task, create THREE files:
+
+| File | Purpose | When to Update |
+|------|---------|----------------|
+| `task_plan.md` | Track phases and progress | After each phase |
+| `notes.md` | Store findings and research | During research |
+| `[deliverable].md` | Final output | At completion |
+
+## Core Workflow
+
+```
+Loop 1: Create task_plan.md with goal and phases
+Loop 2: Research → save to notes.md → update task_plan.md
+Loop 3: Read notes.md → create deliverable → update task_plan.md
+Loop 4: Deliver final output
+```
+
+### The Loop in Detail
+
+**Before each major action:**
+```bash
+Read task_plan.md  # Refresh goals in attention window
+```
+
+**After each phase:**
+```bash
+Edit task_plan.md  # Mark [x], update status
+```
+
+**When storing information:**
+```bash
+Write notes.md     # Don't stuff context, store in file
+```
+
+## task_plan.md Template
+
+Create this file FIRST for any complex task:
+
+```markdown
+# Task Plan: [Brief Description]
+
+## Goal
+[One sentence describing the end state]
+
+## Phases
+- [ ] Phase 1: Plan and setup
+- [ ] Phase 2: Research/gather information
+- [ ] Phase 3: Execute/build
+- [ ] Phase 4: Review and deliver
+
+## Key Questions
+1. [Question to answer]
+2. [Question to answer]
+
+## Decisions Made
+- [Decision]: [Rationale]
+
+## Errors Encountered
+- [Error]: [Resolution]
+
+## Status
+**Currently in Phase X** - [What I'm doing now]
+```
+
+## notes.md Template
+
+For research and findings:
+
+```markdown
+# Notes: [Topic]
+
+## Sources
+
+### Source 1: [Name]
+- URL: [link]
+- Key points:
+  - [Finding]
+  - [Finding]
+
+## Synthesized Findings
+
+### [Category]
+- [Finding]
+- [Finding]
+```
+
+## Critical Rules
+
+### 1. ALWAYS Create Plan First
+Never start a complex task without `task_plan.md`. This is non-negotiable.
+
+### 2. Read Before Decide
+Before any major decision, read the plan file. This keeps goals in your attention window.
+
+### 3. Update After Act
+After completing any phase, immediately update the plan file:
+- Mark completed phases with [x]
+- Update the Status section
+- Log any errors encountered
+
+### 4. Store, Don't Stuff
+Large outputs go to files, not context. Keep only paths in working memory.
+
+### 5. Log All Errors
+Every error goes in the "Errors Encountered" section. This builds knowledge for future tasks.
+
+## When to Use This Pattern
+
+**Use 3-file pattern for:**
+- Multi-step tasks (3+ steps)
+- Research tasks
+- Building/creating something
+- Tasks spanning multiple tool calls
+- Anything requiring organization
+
+**Skip for:**
+- Simple questions
+- Single-file edits
+- Quick lookups
+
+## Anti-Patterns to Avoid
+
+| Don't | Do Instead |
+|-------|------------|
+| Use TodoWrite for persistence | Create `task_plan.md` file |
+| State goals once and forget | Re-read plan before each decision |
+| Hide errors and retry | Log errors to plan file |
+| Stuff everything in context | Store large content in files |
+| Start executing immediately | Create plan file FIRST |
+
+## Advanced Patterns
+
+See [reference.md](reference.md) for:
+- Attention manipulation techniques
+- Error recovery patterns
+- Context optimization from Manus
+
+See [examples.md](examples.md) for:
+- Real task examples
+- Complex workflow patterns
diff --git a/.agents/skills/planning-with-files/examples.md b/.agents/skills/planning-with-files/examples.md
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+# Examples: Planning with Files in Action
+
+## Example 1: Research Task
+
+**User Request:** "Research the benefits of morning exercise and write a summary"
+
+### Loop 1: Create Plan
+```bash
+Write task_plan.md
+```
+
+```markdown
+# Task Plan: Morning Exercise Benefits Research
+
+## Goal
+Create a research summary on the benefits of morning exercise.
+
+## Phases
+- [ ] Phase 1: Create this plan ✓
+- [ ] Phase 2: Search and gather sources
+- [ ] Phase 3: Synthesize findings
+- [ ] Phase 4: Deliver summary
+
+## Key Questions
+1. What are the physical health benefits?
+2. What are the mental health benefits?
+3. What scientific studies support this?
+
+## Status
+**Currently in Phase 1** - Creating plan
+```
+
+### Loop 2: Research
+```bash
+Read task_plan.md           # Refresh goals
+WebSearch "morning exercise benefits"
+Write notes.md              # Store findings
+Edit task_plan.md           # Mark Phase 2 complete
+```
+
+### Loop 3: Synthesize
+```bash
+Read task_plan.md           # Refresh goals
+Read notes.md               # Get findings
+Write morning_exercise_summary.md
+Edit task_plan.md           # Mark Phase 3 complete
+```
+
+### Loop 4: Deliver
+```bash
+Read task_plan.md           # Verify complete
+Deliver morning_exercise_summary.md
+```
+
+---
+
+## Example 2: Bug Fix Task
+
+**User Request:** "Fix the login bug in the authentication module"
+
+### task_plan.md
+```markdown
+# Task Plan: Fix Login Bug
+
+## Goal
+Identify and fix the bug preventing successful login.
+
+## Phases
+- [x] Phase 1: Understand the bug report ✓
+- [x] Phase 2: Locate relevant code ✓
+- [ ] Phase 3: Identify root cause (CURRENT)
+- [ ] Phase 4: Implement fix
+- [ ] Phase 5: Test and verify
+
+## Key Questions
+1. What error message appears?
+2. Which file handles authentication?
+3. What changed recently?
+
+## Decisions Made
+- Auth handler is in src/auth/login.ts
+- Error occurs in validateToken() function
+
+## Errors Encountered
+- [Initial] TypeError: Cannot read property 'token' of undefined
+  → Root cause: user object not awaited properly
+
+## Status
+**Currently in Phase 3** - Found root cause, preparing fix
+```
+
+---
+
+## Example 3: Feature Development
+
+**User Request:** "Add a dark mode toggle to the settings page"
+
+### The 3-File Pattern in Action
+
+**task_plan.md:**
+```markdown
+# Task Plan: Dark Mode Toggle
+
+## Goal
+Add functional dark mode toggle to settings.
+
+## Phases
+- [x] Phase 1: Research existing theme system ✓
+- [x] Phase 2: Design implementation approach ✓
+- [ ] Phase 3: Implement toggle component (CURRENT)
+- [ ] Phase 4: Add theme switching logic
+- [ ] Phase 5: Test and polish
+
+## Decisions Made
+- Using CSS custom properties for theme
+- Storing preference in localStorage
+- Toggle component in SettingsPage.tsx
+
+## Status
+**Currently in Phase 3** - Building toggle component
+```
+
+**notes.md:**
+```markdown
+# Notes: Dark Mode Implementation
+
+## Existing Theme System
+- Located in: src/styles/theme.ts
+- Uses: CSS custom properties
+- Current themes: light only
+
+## Files to Modify
+1. src/styles/theme.ts - Add dark theme colors
+2. src/components/SettingsPage.tsx - Add toggle
+3. src/hooks/useTheme.ts - Create new hook
+4. src/App.tsx - Wrap with ThemeProvider
+
+## Color Decisions
+- Dark background: #1a1a2e
+- Dark surface: #16213e
+- Dark text: #eaeaea
+```
+
+**dark_mode_implementation.md:** (deliverable)
+```markdown
+# Dark Mode Implementation
+
+## Changes Made
+
+### 1. Added dark theme colors
+File: src/styles/theme.ts
+...
+
+### 2. Created useTheme hook
+File: src/hooks/useTheme.ts
+...
+```
+
+---
+
+## Example 4: Error Recovery Pattern
+
+When something fails, DON'T hide it:
+
+### Before (Wrong)
+```
+Action: Read config.json
+Error: File not found
+Action: Read config.json  # Silent retry
+Action: Read config.json  # Another retry
+```
+
+### After (Correct)
+```
+Action: Read config.json
+Error: File not found
+
+# Update task_plan.md:
+## Errors Encountered
+- config.json not found → Will create default config
+
+Action: Write config.json (default config)
+Action: Read config.json
+Success!
+```
+
+---
+
+## The Read-Before-Decide Pattern
+
+**Always read your plan before major decisions:**
+
+```
+[Many tool calls have happened...]
+[Context is getting long...]
+[Original goal might be forgotten...]
+
+→ Read task_plan.md          # This brings goals back into attention!
+→ Now make the decision       # Goals are fresh in context
+```
+
+This is why Manus can handle ~50 tool calls without losing track. The plan file acts as a "goal refresh" mechanism.
diff --git a/.agents/skills/planning-with-files/reference.md b/.agents/skills/planning-with-files/reference.md
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+# Reference: Manus Context Engineering Principles
+
+This skill is based on the context engineering principles from Manus, the AI agent company acquired by Meta for $2 billion in December 2025.
+
+## The 6 Manus Principles
+
+### 1. Filesystem as External Memory
+
+> "Markdown is my 'working memory' on disk."
+
+**Problem:** Context windows have limits. Stuffing everything in context degrades performance and increases costs.
+
+**Solution:** Treat the filesystem as unlimited memory:
+- Store large content in files
+- Keep only paths in context
+- Agent can "look up" information when needed
+- Compression must be REVERSIBLE
+
+### 2. Attention Manipulation Through Repetition
+
+**Problem:** After ~50 tool calls, models forget original goals ("lost in the middle" effect).
+
+**Solution:** Keep a `task_plan.md` file that gets RE-READ throughout execution:
+```
+Start of context: [Original goal - far away, forgotten]
+...many tool calls...
+End of context: [Recently read task_plan.md - gets ATTENTION!]
+```
+
+By reading the plan file before each decision, goals appear in the attention window.
+
+### 3. Keep Failure Traces
+
+> "Error recovery is one of the clearest signals of TRUE agentic behavior."
+
+**Problem:** Instinct says hide errors, retry silently. This wastes tokens and loses learning.
+
+**Solution:** KEEP failed actions in the plan file:
+```markdown
+## Errors Encountered
+- [2025-01-03] FileNotFoundError: config.json not found → Created default config
+- [2025-01-03] API timeout → Retried with exponential backoff, succeeded
+```
+
+The model updates its internal understanding when seeing failures.
+
+### 4. Avoid Few-Shot Overfitting
+
+> "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
+
+### 5. Stable Prefixes for Cache Optimization
+
+**Problem:** Agents are input-heavy (100:1 ratio). Every token costs money.
+
+**Solution:** Structure for cache hits:
+- Put static content FIRST
+- Append-only context (never modify history)
+- Consistent serialization
+
+### 6. Append-Only Context
+
+**Problem:** Modifying previous messages invalidates KV-cache.
+
+**Solution:** NEVER modify previous messages. Always append new information.
+
+## The Agent Loop
+
+Manus operates in a continuous loop:
+
+```
+1. Analyze → 2. Think → 3. Select Tool → 4. Execute → 5. Observe → 6. Iterate → 7. Deliver
+```
+
+### File Operations in the Loop:
+
+| Operation | When to Use |
+|-----------|-------------|
+| `write` | New files or complete rewrites |
+| `append` | Adding sections incrementally |
+| `edit` | Updating specific parts (checkboxes, status) |
+| `read` | Reviewing before decisions |
+
+## Manus Statistics
+
+| Metric | Value |
+|--------|-------|
+| Average tool calls per task | ~50 |
+| Input-to-output ratio | 100:1 |
+| Acquisition price | $2 billion |
+| Time to $100M revenue | 8 months |
+
+## Key Quotes
+
+> "If the model improvement is the rising tide, we want Manus to be the boat, not the piling stuck on the seafloor."
+
+> "For complex tasks, I save notes, code, and findings to files so I can reference them as I work."
+
+> "I used file.edit to update checkboxes in my plan as I progressed, rather than rewriting the whole file."
+
+## Source
+
+Based on Manus's official context engineering documentation:
+https://manus.im/de/blog/Context-Engineering-for-AI-Agents-Lessons-from-Building-Manus