---
title: New Plan Spec
description: Create a new feature planning specification document
---
Shortcut: New Plan Spec

We track issues with tbd.
Run `tbd` for more on using tbd and current status.

Instructions:

Create a to-do list with the following items then perform all of them:

1. Review docs/project/specs/active/ to see the list of recent feature specs, feature
   plans, and implementation spec docs.

2. Create the spec file using the template:
   ```
   tbd template plan-spec > docs/project/specs/active/plan-YYYY-MM-DD-feature-name.md
   ```
   (Fill in the date and an appropriate feature name.)

3. Begin to fill in the new feature plan doc based on the user’s instructions, stopping
   and asking for clarifications as soon as you need them.

   Rules:

   - You may break work into a few phases (phases) if it helps with incremental testing.
     But **use as few phases as possible.** If it is straightforward, use one phase.

   - NEVER GIVE TIME FRAMES IN PLANS, like “4-6 hours” or “1 week”.
     Work will be done in one day.

4. After completing the spec, link issues to it using the `--spec` flag:
   ```
   tbd create "Implement feature X" --spec docs/project/specs/active/plan-YYYY-MM-DD-feature-name.md
   ```
   Or use just the filename for brevity:
   ```
   tbd create "Implement feature X" --spec plan-YYYY-MM-DD-feature-name.md
   ```
   You can also update an existing issue to link it to a spec:
   ```
   tbd update <id> --spec plan-YYYY-MM-DD-feature-name.md
   ```
   To clear a spec link: `tbd update <id> --spec ""`

5. To list issues linked to a spec, use `tbd list --spec` (see `tbd list --help` for
   details on filtering and path matching).