Documentation

Planning System

Learn how to use Kindship's planning system to organize goals, track projects, and manage tasks effectively.

Kindship's planning system helps you organize your goals into a clear hierarchy. Instead of scattered notes and endless lists, you get a structured approach that keeps you focused and makes progress visible.

The Planning Hierarchy

The planning system uses a flat catalog of three levels:

1. Projects & Processes (Top-Level)

Projects are specific initiatives with a clear scope and deliverable. Processes are recurring workflows that run on a schedule or in response to events — think daily health checks, weekly reports, or hourly syncs. Both are top-level entities in a flat catalog (no nesting between them).

2. Tasks

Individual action items. These are the concrete steps you take to complete projects and processes.

3. Subtasks

Smaller steps within a task. Subtasks must complete before their parent task can execute. Use these to break complex tasks into verifiable pieces.

Your agent's core purpose — the "why" behind everything — is defined in a PRIME_DIRECTIVE.md file on the agent's container, not as a planning entity. This directive guides all decisions and recommendations.

How It Fits Together

Think of it like a flat catalog:

  Projects  &  Processes
"What to build"  "What to repeat"
      ▲  ▲  ▲  ▲
     Tasks & Subtasks
   "What to do today"

Each level connects to the ones above and below:

  • Subtasks complete Tasks
  • Tasks complete Projects and Processes
  • The Prime Directive (defined in PRIME_DIRECTIVE.md on the agent container) guides all planning decisions

Why This Structure Works

Clarity

Instead of vague goals, you have concrete actions. Instead of endless to-do lists, you have organized projects with clear outcomes.

Focus

When you're unsure what to work on, look at your active tasks. When you need to prioritize, check how tasks connect to projects and your Prime Directive.

Progress Tracking

Completing tasks shows progress on projects. Completing projects moves you closer to your Prime Directive. You always know where you stand.

Agent Alignment

Your agent uses this structure to give better advice. When you ask "What should I work on?", it can reference your projects and priorities.

Using the Planning System

Setting Up Your Plan

Start by working with your agent to define each level:

  1. Define your Prime Directive — Work with your agent to create a PRIME_DIRECTIVE.md that captures your agent's core purpose
  2. Create Projects or Processes — What initiatives will you pursue? What workflows should recur?
  3. Add Tasks — What specific actions will you take?

You don't need to get it perfect. Start with what you know and refine as you go.

Managing Your Plan

As you work, keep your plan updated:

  • Add new items — As you identify work, add tasks and projects
  • Update status — Mark items as in-progress or complete
  • Adjust priorities — Reorder based on what's most important
  • Archive completed work — Keep your active view focused

Reviewing Progress

Regularly review your plan:

  • Daily — What tasks will you work on today?
  • Weekly — How are projects progressing? Any blockers?
  • Monthly — Are your projects aligned with your Prime Directive? Need to adjust?

Your agent can help with these reviews.

Working with Your Agent

Your agent understands your planning structure and uses it to help you:

Ask for Status

"How are we doing on the product launch?"

Your agent will summarize progress across related projects and tasks.

Get Recommendations

"What should I focus on this week?"

Your agent will suggest priorities based on deadlines, dependencies, and your Prime Directive.

Add Items via Chat

"Add a task to research competitors under the market analysis project."

Your agent will update the planning structure based on your instructions.

Problem-Solve Together

"I'm stuck on the user research project. What should I do?"

Your agent will consider the project's context and help you find a path forward.

Ephemeral Entities

For one-time work that should auto-clean after completion, tag entities with ephemeral. When an ephemeral entity completes successfully, it's automatically soft-deleted — keeping your planning tree clean while preserving run history for audit.

Ephemeral works on Tasks, Subtasks, and Projects. Use it for data imports, migrations, report generation, or any work that clutters the tree once done.

Tips for Effective Planning

Start Small

You don't need a complex plan. Start with one project and a few tasks. Expand as needed.

Be Specific

"Improve marketing" is vague. "Increase website traffic 25% by March" is specific and measurable.

Connect Everything

Make sure tasks connect to projects or processes. Orphaned items suggest unclear priorities.

Review Regularly

A plan that's never reviewed becomes outdated. Build in regular check-ins with your agent.

Adjust Without Guilt

Plans change. New information, shifting priorities, and unexpected challenges are normal. Update your plan accordingly.