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Introducing the Plan Command: Get AI-Powered Implementation Plans Before Coding

📅 Published on: 2025-06-12👤 By: RepoBirdBot
RepoBird
AI Development
Plan
Command
Introducing

Planning Before Implementation: The Key to Better AI Results

We're excited to introduce RepoBird's most requested feature: the plan command. This powerful new capability addresses one of the biggest challenges in AI-assisted development – ensuring the AI truly understands your requirements before writing any code.

What is the Plan Command?

The plan command runs an intelligent agent that:

  1. Analyzes your GitHub issue in detail
  2. Researches your codebase to understand the existing architecture
  3. Generates a comprehensive implementation plan as a comment
  4. Provides context and reasoning for the proposed approach

Unlike our basic and pro commands that immediately start coding, the plan command focuses purely on understanding and planning, giving you full visibility into RepoBird's approach before any implementation begins.

Why Planning Matters

When you jump straight into implementation without proper planning, you often encounter:

  • Misaligned solutions that don't match your actual needs
  • Architectural inconsistencies with your existing codebase
  • Missed edge cases and requirements
  • Lower success rates in automated code generation

The plan command solves these issues by creating a detailed blueprint that you can review, modify, and approve before moving to implementation.

How to Use the Plan Command

Step 1: Trigger the Plan

Comment on any GitHub issue with:

@repobirdbot plan

Note: Unlike basic/pro commands, the plan command works directly on GitHub issues, not pull requests.

Step 2: Review the Generated Plan

RepoBird will analyze your issue and codebase, then post a detailed plan comment that includes:

  • Problem analysis and understanding
  • Proposed solution approach
  • Implementation steps and file changes
  • Relevant code patterns found in your codebase
  • Potential challenges and considerations

Step 3: Execute the Plan

Once you're satisfied with the plan, quote reply to the plan comment with either:

@repobirdbot basic

or

@repobirdbot pro

RepoBird will then implement the plan exactly as outlined, ensuring consistency between planning and execution.

Real-World Example

Let's say you have an issue requesting a new user authentication feature. Here's how the workflow would look:

Your Issue:

Add JWT-based authentication to the API endpoints
- Users should be able to login with email/password
- Protected routes should require valid JWT tokens
- Include refresh token functionality

Step 1 - You comment:

@repobirdbot plan

Step 2 - RepoBird's plan response:

## Implementation Plan: JWT Authentication

### Analysis
Based on the issue requirements and codebase analysis, I need to implement a complete JWT authentication system.

### Discovered Patterns
- Express.js backend with TypeScript
- Existing user model in `models/User.ts`
- Route structure in `routes/` directory
- Environment configuration in `.env`

### Implementation Steps
1. Install JWT dependencies (`jsonwebtoken`, `@types/jsonwebtoken`)
2. Create authentication middleware in `middleware/auth.ts`
3. Add JWT secret to environment configuration
4. Implement login endpoint in `routes/auth.ts`
5. Add token refresh endpoint
6. Protect existing routes with auth middleware
7. Update user model to include refresh token storage

### Files to be Modified/Created
- `package.json` - Add JWT dependencies
- `middleware/auth.ts` - New authentication middleware
- `routes/auth.ts` - New authentication routes
- `models/User.ts` - Add refresh token field
- `.env.example` - Document JWT_SECRET requirement

### Security Considerations
- Use strong JWT secrets from environment variables
- Implement proper token expiration
- Secure refresh token storage
- Rate limiting on auth endpoints

Step 3 - You approve and execute:

> ## Implementation Plan: JWT Authentication
> [quoted plan content]

@repobirdbot pro

Key Benefits

🎯 Higher Success Rate

Plans ensure RepoBird understands your exact requirements, leading to implementations that match your expectations.

🔍 Full Transparency

See exactly what RepoBird plans to do before any code is written, eliminating surprises.

🏗️ Better Architecture

Plans consider your existing codebase patterns and maintain architectural consistency.

✅ Review and Approval

You can review, request modifications, or approve the approach before implementation.

🚀 Works on Issues

Unlike basic/pro commands, plan can be triggered directly on GitHub issues, making it perfect for new feature requests.

Best Practices

When to Use the Plan Command

Perfect for:

  • Complex new features
  • Cross-cutting changes affecting multiple files
  • When you're unsure about the best implementation approach
  • Issues with unclear or broad requirements
  • Critical or high-impact changes

Basic/Pro commands are still great for:

  • Simple bug fixes
  • Straightforward feature additions
  • When you have a clear implementation in mind

Making the Most of Plans

  1. Be Specific in Issues: The more detail you provide in your GitHub issue, the better the plan will be.

  2. Review Thoroughly: Take time to read through the entire plan and consider edge cases.

  3. Ask for Modifications: If something doesn't look right, comment with feedback and ask for a revised plan.

  4. Use Quote Replies: Always quote reply to the plan when executing to ensure RepoBird implements the exact approach discussed.

Integration with Existing Workflow

The plan command integrates seamlessly with your existing RepoBird workflow:

  • No setup required - Works immediately with your existing GitHub App installation
  • Same permissions - Uses your existing repository access
  • Familiar syntax - Follows the same @repobirdbot command pattern
  • Full compatibility - Plans can be executed with either basic or pro commands

Getting Started

Ready to try the plan command? Here's how to get started:

  1. Open any GitHub issue in a repository where RepoBird is installed
  2. Comment @repobirdbot plan
  3. Wait for the plan (usually takes 1-2 minutes)
  4. Review and execute with your preferred command level

What's Next?

The plan command represents a major step forward in AI-assisted development, but we're just getting started. Coming soon:

  • Interactive plan refinement - Ability to request specific modifications to plans
  • Plan templates - Pre-built planning approaches for common scenarios
  • Multi-step planning - Breaking large features into sequential, dependent plans
  • Team collaboration - Multiple team members can review and approve plans

Try It Today

The plan command is available immediately for all RepoBird users. No additional setup or configuration required – just start using @repobirdbot plan on your GitHub issues.

We're excited to see how this feature improves your development workflow. As always, we'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions for future improvements.

Happy planning! 🎯

Have questions about the plan command? Check out our Help Center or contact our support team.

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