update-implementation-plan Skill (awesome-copilot) for Claude: What It Does and How to Install It

Makes Claude update an existing implementation plan file in a strict template with phases, task tables and requirement IDs.

Installs: 11.1K; on skills.sh
Stars: 40.7K; on GitHub
Updated: Oct 2026; last repo commit

This skill tells Claude to update an existing implementation plan file when requirements change. The plan must follow one fixed template: front matter, eight numbered sections and phase tables with task IDs. SKILL.md asks for plans written to be machine-readable and executable by AI agents or people, with no placeholder text left.

It loads when you add features, refactor code or upgrade packages and a plan file needs to change. SKILL.md refers to the plan file as ${file} and never fills that in, so name the file in your prompt. Plans are saved in a /plan/ folder as [purpose]-[component]-[version].md. It bundles no scripts.

Good for

Developers keeping a written plan for a feature, refactor or upgrade
Teams that hand plans to AI agents to execute
Tech leads who want plans in one consistent format

Install update-implementation-plan

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the update-implementation-plan skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill update-implementation-plan

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Node.js.

From its listing on skills.sh. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

Update an existing implementation plan file with new or update requirements to provide new features, refactoring existing code or upgrading packages, design, architecture or infrastructure.

Sections in SKILL.md

Primary Directive
Execution Context
Core Requirements
Plan Structure Requirements
Phase Architecture
AI-Optimized Implementation Standards
Output File Specifications
Mandatory Template Structure
Template Validation Rules
Status
1. Requirements & Constraints
2. Implementation Steps
Implementation Phase 1
Implementation Phase 2
3. Alternatives
4. Dependencies

Key facts

Author: github (awesome-copilot repo owner)
License: MIT
Installs on skills.sh: 11,115 (Nov 2, 2026)
GitHub stars: 40,666 for the whole github/awesome-copilot repo (Nov 2, 2026)
Last repo commit: Oct 30, 2026
What it includes: 1 file: SKILL.md. The folder has no other files
Needs: The path of an existing plan file. SKILL.md calls it `${file}` and does not set it, so name it in your prompt

What it includes

Update the plan file for new or changed requirements
Claude edits the named plan file so its output is deterministic and structured for automated parsing.
Try: “Update plan/feature-auth-module-1.md to add SSO login and a new migration phase.”
Write · Primary directive
Atomic phases with measurable completion criteria
Each phase can be processed on its own. Tasks name exact file paths and function names and can run in parallel unless a dependency is declared.
Read · Plan structure rules
Saved in /plan/ as [purpose]-[component]-[version].md
Purpose prefixes are upgrade, refactor, feature, data, infrastructure, process, architecture or design. Examples are upgrade-system-command-4.md and feature-auth-module-1.md.
Write · Output file naming
goal, version, date_created, last_updated, owner, status, tags
All fields must be present and well formed. Status is Completed, In progress, Planned, Deprecated or On Hold, and appears as a badge in the introduction.
Write · Front matter
Requirements, steps, alternatives, dependencies, files, testing, risks, related specs
Items use prefixes such as REQ-001, SEC-001, CON-001, TASK-001, ALT-001, DEP-001, FILE-001, TEST-001 and RISK-001.
Write · Eight template sections
Exact headers, required prefixes, complete tables, no placeholders
SKILL.md tells Claude to check template compliance before the plan is executed.
Read · Template validation

From the official docs

Permissions

Low risk

The main risk is that Claude overwrites parts of a plan you wanted to keep. Keep the plan in version control and read the diff.

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

It writes plan files into your project
SKILL.md says to save plan files in the /plan/ directory. Review the diff before you commit, and keep the plan under version control. github.com

Security advisories

No published security advisories as of Nov 2, 2026.

Technical details

Turning on read-only	No read-only mode is documented. Use version control.
Scopes	Claude edits the plan file you name and saves plans in a /plan/ folder in your project

Questions

What does the update-implementation-plan skill do?

It makes Claude revise an existing implementation plan file in one strict format. Claude adds or changes requirements, phases and tasks so the plan stays complete and machine-readable.

How do I tell it which plan file to update?

Name the file in your prompt. SKILL.md refers to it as ${file} and never defines it, so installed as it is, that placeholder stays unfilled and Claude has no plan to open until you name one.

Where does it save plans?

In a /plan/ directory, named [purpose]-[component]-[version].md, for example feature-auth-module-1.md.

Does it create a plan from nothing?

Its description and directive are about updating an existing plan file. It does contain the full template, which Claude follows when it edits.

Does it need an API key or scripts?

SKILL.md names none and the folder bundles only SKILL.md.

Is there a plugin that includes it?

Yes, for GitHub Copilot CLI. The awesome-copilot marketplace lists a plugin named project-planning, and its plugin.json lists update-implementation-plan with 7 other skills (8 in total) and 7 agents. Its README gives copilot plugin install project-planning@awesome-copilot. That is a Copilot CLI command, not a Claude Code one.

Is it safe?

It only instructs Claude to edit a plan file and bundles no scripts. Claude saves files in your project, so use version control and read the diff. The awesome-copilot README says its customizations come from third-party developers and asks you to inspect them before installing.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: github/awesome-copilot
Folder: skills/update-implementation-plan

github/awesome-copilot skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 4

update-implementation-plan SKILL.md · github.com
awesome-copilot README · github.com
project-planning plugin.json · github.com
project-planning plugin README · github.com