checkpoint-plan
npx machina-cli add skill uukuguy/dev-phase-manager/checkpoint-plan --openclawCheckpoint Plan
Save current plan execution state to filesystem, enabling seamless workflow continuation across /clear operations.
Execution Steps
1. Locate Plan File
Check docs/plans/ directory for the latest plan file:
# Find the most recent plan file
latest_plan=$(ls -t docs/plans/*.md 2>/dev/null | grep -v "\.checkpoint" | head -1)
if [ -z "$latest_plan" ]; then
echo "⚠️ No plan file found"
echo ""
echo "Please do one of the following:"
echo "1. /writing-plans - Create new plan"
echo "2. Manually create plan file in docs/plans/"
exit 1
fi
2. Collect State Information
Gather state from current context and filesystem:
- Plan file path: From step 1
- Current phase:
- If not started →
design - If executing →
execution - If completed →
review
- If not started →
- Completed tasks: From git log or user input
- Current task: From user input
- Execution mode:
subagent-drivenorexecuting-plansornull - Phase name: From phase stack or user input
3. Save Checkpoint
Create or update docs/plans/.checkpoint.json:
{
"plan_file": "docs/plans/2026-02-22-mcp-server.md",
"phase": "design",
"created_at": "2026-02-22T17:30:00+08:00",
"updated_at": "2026-02-22T17:30:00+08:00",
"completed_tasks": [],
"current_task": null,
"execution_mode": null,
"phase_name": "Phase 5 - MCP Server",
"notes": "Design phase completed, ready for execution"
}
Field Descriptions:
plan_file: Relative path to plan filephase: Current phase (design|execution|review)created_at: First creation time (ISO 8601 format)updated_at: Last update time (ISO 8601 format)completed_tasks: Array of completed taskscurrent_task: Current task (string or null)execution_mode: Execution mode (subagent-driven|executing-plans| null)phase_name: Phase name for displaynotes: Optional notes
4. Confirmation Output
Display success information:
✅ Checkpoint saved
Plan: Phase 5 - MCP Server
File: docs/plans/2026-02-22-mcp-server.md
Phase: design
Status: Design completed, ready for execution
Next steps:
1. /clear - Clear context
2. /resume-plan - Resume execution
Use Cases
Case 1: After Design Completion
/brainstorming
/writing-plans
/checkpoint-plan # Save design phase state
/clear
/resume-plan # Start execution
Case 2: During Execution
/resume-plan
/subagent-driven-development
# ... executed 3 tasks ...
/checkpoint-plan # Save execution progress
/clear
/resume-plan # Continue execution
Case 3: Switching Work
# Working on Phase 5
/checkpoint-plan # Save current progress
# Switch to other work
# Later return
/resume-plan # Resume Phase 5
Integration with Third-Party Skills
Non-invasive design - integrates through workflow composition:
writing-plans (superpowers)
↓
checkpoint-plan (user-defined)
↓
clear
↓
resume-plan (user-defined)
↓
subagent-driven-development (superpowers)
File Locations
- Checkpoint file:
docs/plans/.checkpoint.json - Plan file:
docs/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-feature.md(created by writing-plans) - Phase stack file:
docs/dev/.phase_stack.json(managed by start-phase)
Notes
- Auto-detection: Automatically detect completed tasks from git log when possible
- User confirmation: Ask user for current progress if auto-detection fails
- Overwrite warning: Warn user if checkpoint already exists
- Backup suggestion: Recommend periodic checkpoint file backups
Source
git clone https://github.com/uukuguy/dev-phase-manager/blob/main/skills/checkpoint-plan/SKILL.mdView on GitHub Overview
Checkpoint Plan saves the current plan execution state to the filesystem, enabling seamless workflow continuation across /clear operations. It records the plan file, phase, timestamps, completed tasks, and the current task so you can resume where you left off.
How This Skill Works
It searches docs/plans for the most recent plan file, determines the current phase (design, execution, or review), gathers completed tasks and the active task, and writes a .checkpoint.json in docs/plans with fields like plan_file, phase, created_at, updated_at, completed_tasks, current_task, execution_mode, and phase_name.
When to Use It
- After finishing the design phase and about to clear context
- During execution when pausing and resuming after /clear
- When switching to unrelated work and returning later
- When auto-detection of progress fails and user needs to confirm
- Before backing up or archiving plan progress
Quick Start
- Step 1: Locate the latest plan file in docs/plans/
- Step 2: Run checkpoint-plan to save current state to docs/plans/.checkpoint.json
- Step 3: Use /clear to reset context and later /resume-plan to continue
Best Practices
- Warn before overwriting an existing checkpoint and consider backups
- Auto-detect completed tasks with git log when possible, else prompt for input
- Store checkpoints in docs/plans/.checkpoint.json with a descriptive notes field
- Use ISO 8601 timestamps for created_at and updated_at
- Update the checkpoint after meaningful progress to keep resume accurate
Example Use Cases
- Saving a checkpoint after design and before /clear
- Saving during execution to pause and resume later
- Switching work and resuming later with /resume-plan
- Auto-detecting completed tasks via git log when possible
- Manual progress input when auto-detection fails