<objective> Check project progress, summarize recent work and what's ahead, then intelligently route to the next action - either executing an existing plan or creating the next one.

Provides situational awareness before continuing work. </objective>

<process>

<step name="verify"> Verify planning structure exists:

Use Bash (not Glob) to check—Glob respects .gitignore but .planning/ is often gitignored:

test -d .planning && echo "exists" || echo "missing"

If no .planning/ directory:

No planning structure found.

Run /kata-new-project to start a new project.

Exit.

If missing STATE.md: suggest /kata-new-project.

If ROADMAP.md missing but PROJECT.md exists:

This means a milestone was completed and archived. Go to Route F (between milestones).

If missing both ROADMAP.md and PROJECT.md: suggest /kata-new-project. </step>

<step name="preflightroadmapformat"> Pre-flight: Check roadmap format (auto-migration)

If ROADMAP.md exists, check format and auto-migrate if old:

if [ -f .planning/ROADMAP.md ]; then
  node scripts/kata-lib.cjs check-roadmap 2>/dev/null
  FORMAT_EXIT=$?

  if [ $FORMAT_EXIT -eq 1 ]; then
    echo "Old roadmap format detected. Running auto-migration..."
  fi
fi

If exit code 1 (old format):

Invoke kata-doctor in auto mode:

Skill("kata-doctor", "--auto")

Continue after migration completes.

If exit code 0 or 2: Continue silently. </step>

<step name="load"> Load full project context:

• Read .planning/STATE.md for living memory (position, decisions, issues)
• Read .planning/ROADMAP.md for phase structure and objectives
• Read .planning/PROJECT.md for current state (What This Is, Core Value, Requirements)
• Read .planning/config.json for settings (model_profile, workflow toggles)

Load PR workflow config:

PR_WORKFLOW=$(node scripts/kata-lib.cjs read-config "pr_workflow" "false")

</step>

<step name="recent"> Gather recent work context:

• Find the 2-3 most recent SUMMARY.md files
• Extract from each: what was accomplished, key decisions, any issues logged
• This shows "what we've been working on"

</step>

<step name="position"> Parse current position:

• From STATE.md: current phase, plan number, status
• Calculate: total plans, completed plans, remaining plans
• Note any blockers or concerns
• Check for CONTEXT.md: For phases without PLAN.md files, check if {phase}-CONTEXT.md exists in phase directory
• Count pending issues: find .planning/issues/open -maxdepth 1 -name "*.md" 2>/dev/null | wc -l
• Check for active debug sessions: find .planning/debug -maxdepth 1 -name "*.md" 2>/dev/null | grep -v resolved | wc -l

</step>

<step name="report"> Present rich status report:

````

[Project Name]

Progress: [████████░░] 8/10 plans complete Profile: [quality/balanced/budget]

Recent Work

• [Phase X, Plan Y]: [what was accomplished - 1 line]
• [Phase X, Plan Z]: [what was accomplished - 1 line]

Current Position

Phase [N] of [total]: [phase-name] Plan [M] of [phase-total]: [status] CONTEXT: [✓ if CONTEXT.md exists | - if not]

Key Decisions Made

• [decision 1 from STATE.md]
• [decision 2]

Blockers/Concerns

• [any blockers or concerns from STATE.md]

Pending Issues

• [count] pending — /kata-check-issues to review

Active Debug Sessions

• [count] active — /kata-debug to continue

(Only show this section if count > 0)

PR Status

(Only show this section if PR_WORKFLOW is true)

Check for PR on current branch:

if [ "$PR_WORKFLOW" = "true" ]; then
  CURRENT_BRANCH=$(git branch --show-current)
  PR_INFO=$(gh pr list --head "$CURRENT_BRANCH" --json number,state,title,url --jq '.[0]' 2>/dev/null)

  if [ -n "$PR_INFO" ] && [ "$PR_INFO" != "null" ]; then
    PR_NUMBER=$(echo "$PR_INFO" | jq -r '.number')
    PR_STATE=$(echo "$PR_INFO" | jq -r '.state')
    PR_TITLE=$(echo "$PR_INFO" | jq -r '.title')
    PR_URL=$(echo "$PR_INFO" | jq -r '.url')

    # Check if draft
    if [ "$PR_STATE" = "OPEN" ]; then
      IS_DRAFT=$(gh pr view "$PR_NUMBER" --json isDraft --jq '.isDraft' 2>/dev/null)
      if [ "$IS_DRAFT" = "true" ]; then
        STATE_DISPLAY="Draft"
      else
        STATE_DISPLAY="Ready for review"
      fi
    elif [ "$PR_STATE" = "MERGED" ]; then
      STATE_DISPLAY="Merged"
    elif [ "$PR_STATE" = "CLOSED" ]; then
      STATE_DISPLAY="Closed"
    else
      STATE_DISPLAY="$PR_STATE"
    fi
  fi
fi
````

**If PR exists:**

PR Status

PR #[number]: [title] Status: [Draft | Ready for review | Merged] URL: [url]

**If no PR exists:**

PR Status

No open PR for current branch. Branch: [current_branch]

## What's Next

[Next phase/plan objective from ROADMAP]

````

</step>

<step name="route">
**Determine next action based on verified counts.**

**Step 1: Find current phase directory and count plans, summaries, and issues**

Find the current phase directory using universal discovery:

PADDED=$(printf "%02d" "$CURRENTPHASE" 2>/dev/null || echo "$CURRENTPHASE") PHASEDIR="" for state in active pending completed; do PHASEDIR=$(find .planning/phases/${state} -maxdepth 1 -type d -name "${PADDED}-" 2>/dev/null | head -1) [ -z "$PHASEDIR" ] && PHASEDIR=$(find .planning/phases/${state} -maxdepth 1 -type d -name "${CURRENTPHASE}-" 2>/dev/null | head -1) [ -n "$PHASEDIR" ] && break done

Fallback: flat directory (backward compatibility)

if [ -z "$PHASEDIR" ]; then PHASEDIR=$(find .planning/phases -maxdepth 1 -type d -name "${PADDED}-" 2>/dev/null | head -1) [ -z "$PHASEDIR" ] && PHASEDIR=$(find .planning/phases -maxdepth 1 -type d -name "${CURRENT_PHASE}-" 2>/dev/null | head -1) fi ````

List files in the current phase directory:

find "${PHASE_DIR}" -maxdepth 1 -name "*-PLAN.md" 2>/dev/null | wc -l
find "${PHASE_DIR}" -maxdepth 1 -name "*-SUMMARY.md" 2>/dev/null | wc -l
find "${PHASE_DIR}" -maxdepth 1 -name "*-UAT.md" 2>/dev/null | wc -l

State: "This phase has {X} plans, {Y} summaries."

Step 1.5: Check for unaddressed UAT gaps

Check for UAT.md files with status "diagnosed" (has gaps needing fixes).

# Check for diagnosed UAT with gaps
find "${PHASE_DIR}" -maxdepth 1 -name "*-UAT.md" -exec grep -l "status: diagnosed" {} + 2>/dev/null

Track:

• uatwithgaps: UAT.md files with status "diagnosed" (gaps need fixing)

Step 2: Route based on counts

Route A: Unexecuted plan exists

Find the first PLAN.md without matching SUMMARY.md. Read its <objective> section.

---

## ▶ Next Up

**{phase}-{plan}: [Plan Name]** — [objective summary from PLAN.md]
{If PR_WORKFLOW is true AND PR exists: PR #[number] ([state]) — [url]}

`/kata-execute-phase {phase}`

<sub>`/clear` first → fresh context window</sub>

---

Route B: Phase needs planning

Check if {phase}-CONTEXT.md exists in phase directory.

If CONTEXT.md exists:

---

## ▶ Next Up

**Phase {N}: {Name}** — {Goal from ROADMAP.md}
<sub>✓ Context gathered, ready to plan</sub>

`/kata-plan-phase {phase-number}`

<sub>`/clear` first → fresh context window</sub>

---

If CONTEXT.md does NOT exist:

---

## ▶ Next Up

**Phase {N}: {Name}** — {Goal from ROADMAP.md}

`/kata-plan-phase {phase}` — plan next phase

<sub>`/clear` first → fresh context window</sub>

---

**Also available:**
- `/kata-discuss-phase {phase}` — gather context and clarify approach
- `/kata-listing-phase-assumptions {phase}` — see Claude's assumptions

---

Route E: UAT gaps need fix plans

UAT.md exists with gaps (diagnosed issues). User needs to plan fixes.

---

## ⚠ UAT Gaps Found

**{phase}-UAT.md** has {N} gaps requiring fixes.

`/kata-plan-phase {phase} --gaps`

<sub>`/clear` first → fresh context window</sub>

---

**Also available:**
- `/kata-execute-phase {phase}` — execute phase plans
- `/kata-verify-work {phase}` — run more UAT testing

---

Step 3: Check milestone status (only when phase complete)

Read ROADMAP.md and identify:

1. Current phase number
2. All phase numbers in the current milestone section

Count total phases and identify the highest phase number.

State: "Current phase is {X}. Milestone has {N} phases (highest: {Y})."

Route based on milestone status:

Route C: Phase complete, more phases remain

Read ROADMAP.md to get the next phase's name and goal.

---

## ✓ Phase {Z} Complete

## ▶ Next Up

{If PR_WORKFLOW is true AND PR exists:
**⚠️ Merge PR #[number] first** — [url]
Then continue with:
}
**Phase {Z+1}: {Name}** — {Goal from ROADMAP.md}

`/kata-plan-phase {Z+1}` —  plan next phase

<sub>`/clear` first → fresh context window</sub>

---

**Also available:**
- `/kata-discuss-phase {Z+1}` — gather context and clarify approach
- `/kata-verify-work {Z}` — user acceptance test before continuing

---

Route D: Milestone complete

---

## 🎉 Milestone Complete

All {N} phases finished!

## ▶ Next Up

{If PR_WORKFLOW is true: **⚠️ Merge all phase PRs first** before completing milestone
Then continue with:
}
**Complete Milestone** — archive and prepare for next

`/kata-complete-milestone`

<sub>`/clear` first → fresh context window</sub>

---

**Also available:**
- `/kata-verify-work` — user acceptance test before completing milestone

---

Route F: Between milestones (ROADMAP.md missing, PROJECT.md exists)

A milestone was completed and archived. Ready to start the next milestone cycle.

Read MILESTONES.md to find the last completed milestone version.

✓ Milestone v{X.Y} Complete

Ready to plan the next milestone.

▶ Next Up

Start Next Milestone — questioning → research → requirements → roadmap

/kata-add-milestone

<sub>/clear first → fresh context window</sub>

</step>

<step name="edge_cases"> Handle edge cases:

• Phase complete but next phase not planned → offer /kata-plan-phase [next]
• All work complete → offer milestone completion
• Blockers present → highlight before offering to continue
• Handoff file exists → mention it, offer /kata-resume-work

</step>

</process>

<success_criteria>

• Rich context provided (recent work, decisions, issues)
• Current position clear with visual progress
• What's next clearly explained
• Smart routing: /kata-execute-phase if plans exist, /kata-plan-phase if not
• User confirms before any action
• Seamless handoff to appropriate kata command

</success_criteria>