Day 17 of 21
Plan Mode for big builds — map the whole project before touching a file
Goal: You used Plan Mode for small changes in Week 1. Today you use it at full power, to plan an entire week of building before a single file gets touched.
What to do
Think of a full feature — not a single task
Write a brief for a complete feature you want to add. Example: "A full resources section with its own page, six cards with icons, a navigation update, and an email capture form." This should be something that involves at least 3 files.
Turn on Plan Mode
Start Claude Code. Press Shift + Tab once to move from default to accept edits, then press it once more to reach Plan Mode. Confirm it is active by checking the mode indicator.
Write a full project brief — not a task prompt
Type your feature brief as a complete description. Include everything:
I want to add a complete resources section to my site. Do not build anything yet — write me a full plan. This includes: a new page at /resources, six resource cards with icons, a navigation update to add Resources to the menu, and a simple email capture form at the bottom. Plan every file that needs to be created or changed, every step in order, and any risks or conflicts.Review the plan carefully
Read every line of the plan. Look for: files you did not expect, steps in the wrong order, missing pieces, anything you did not ask for. Write down at least one thing you want to change.
Adjust the plan
Tell Claude Code what you want to change in the plan. For example:
Adjust the plan: remove the email capture form for now — I will add that separately. Also, do not change the navigation until the resources page is complete.Save the approved plan
Copy the final plan from Claude Code. Paste it into a notes app, a text file, or anywhere permanent. This is your building roadmap. Do NOT build anything today.
Expected result
You produced a complete building plan for a full feature — every file, every step, every risk. The plan is saved. Nothing was built yet.
Key takeaway
- Big Plan Mode takes a complete project brief and maps every file, every step, and every dependency before touching anything. Read the plan. Adjust it. Only then build. Starting with a map is always faster than stopping to find your way mid-build.