In short:
ak-planreads your real code and splits work you already understand into a plan folder:plan.mdplus one file per phase, each listing the files it touches, the steps and how to check them. When done, it reports the plan path and suggests runningak-cook. It does not write code.
Disclosure: I maintain AgentKit and have an affiliate relationship with it: the AgentKit link in this post is an affiliate link; buying through it gets you 30% off.
Summary
Use it when you already know what you want to build and need to split it into steps you can do and check. You can hand it a clear request directly, or the result of ak-brainstorm.
flowchart LR
A["Clear request or ak-brainstorm result"] --> B["ak-plan"]
B --> C["plan.md and phase files"]
C --> D["ak-plan validate or red-team"]
C --> E["ak-cook"]
D --> EFour core ideas:
| Idea | Question | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A plan is files | Where does the plan live, and which copy is the source of truth? | plan.md is the table of contents, with the phase files next to it. The ak plan index is only a rebuildable copy |
| Mode | How deep should the plan go? | No flag means it picks for you. --fast skips research, --hard adds research, red-team, validate |
| Scope | Can the plan quietly cut work you asked for? | No. To cut, add --yagni or say which item to drop |
| Gate | Is the plan trustworthy enough to start coding? | validate checks the plan against real code. Failed: 0 means it is ready to cook |
Only one mode flag per run: pass two and the skill stops and names both. Besides writing new plans, it has three subcommands for existing ones: validate, red-team and archive (closes the plan in the index without deleting files).
Sample prompt for a new feature:
/ak-plan Add PDF invoice export to the order page of <app name>.
Outcome: the user clicks "Download invoice" and gets a PDF that matches the order.
Constraints: do not change the orders table schema, use the existing PDF library if there is one.
Not doing: emailing invoices.
Done when: there is a test for the PDF content and the download button works on the order detail page.| Flag | What it is for | Since ak |
|---|---|---|
--fast | Quick plan, no research | 1.0.0 |
--hard | Research, scout, red-team, validate | 1.0.0 |
--deep | Per-phase scouting for large changes | 1.0.0 |
--parallel | Phases run in parallel, no shared files | 1.0.0 |
--two | Compares two architectures, you pick one | 1.0.0 |
--debate | 3 independent plans, merged into one | 2.13.0 |
--ultra | 5 independent plans, the best one wins | 2.13.0 |
--auto | Picks the mode for you | 1.0.0 |
--tdd | Tests written first in every phase | 1.0.0 |
--no-tasks | Does not sync phases to the task list | 1.0.0 |
--html | Plan as a readable HTML page | 1.0.0 |
--ak-render | Builds plan.html with AK Render | 3.0.0-beta.5 |
--github | Creates or updates a GitHub issue for the plan | 1.0.0 |
--wiki | Publishes the plan to AgentWiki | 1.0.0 |
--advice | Supervised by kongming, plan written for a weaker model to run | 2.5.0 |
--yagni | Cuts what the outcome does not need | 2.8.0 |
--skip-journal | Skips the automatic journal entry | 2.9.0 |
--no-antv, --no-diagram-design, --no-editorial-visuals | Turns off illustration layers in plan.html | 2.13.0 |
Below is the detailed version: the run flow, 6 situations with prompts, each flag explained (when to use it, when you do not need it, what you get, which flags it combines with), the change history by ak release, and common pitfalls. The detailed version and the interactive page are for subscribers. Your agent can also search them through the portal's MCP.
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Use this piece in your agent
Get an API keyCopy the text below and paste it into Claude Code, Codex or whichever agent you use. The agent reads the piece and checks it against the repo you have open.
Read "ak-plan: split clear work into a multi-phase plan" on modernEngineer and apply it to this repo.
1. Call the content_get tool of the modernengineer MCP server with locale "en", slug "ak-plan". If the modernengineer MCP server is not connected, stop and walk me through connecting it from https://modernengineer.dev/en/mcp.
2. Summarize the main steps of the piece and point out which apply to this repo.
3. Propose concrete changes and ask me before editing any file.Connect MCP in Claude Code (once)
claude mcp add --transport http modernengineer \
https://api.modernengineer.dev/mcp \
--header "Authorization: Bearer <API key>"Reading the full piece over MCP needs an API key from a subscriber account or one that bought this guide. Without access, the agent only gets the opening.
- Version
- v1.0.0
- Updated
- 22/10/2026
- Licence
- All rights reserved
- Slug
- ak-plan
