Overview

Phase 1: Brainstorming

Goal: Understand what the user wants to accomplish and identify which references belong in the plan.

Read references/input-output-contracts.md, references/model-customization-plan.md, references/evaluate-first-plan.md, and references/deploy-base-model-plan.md to:

• Determine whether the user’s request aligns with an existing plan template. If exactly one matches, offer it. If multiple could apply, present the relevant options with brief pros/cons and ask the user to choose. If no template matches but the request involves multiple steps, propose a custom plan adapted to the user’s needs. If the user declines a plan, proceed directly with their request using available references and general knowledge.
• Identify which references could be relevant to the user’s stated goal.
• Check whether the user has the necessary input artifacts for each reference. If not, find the references that generate those inputs and add them first.
• Order references to allow a smooth transition from one to the next and avoid dead ends.
• Check if a recommended workflow matches the user’s needs. If not, assess what modifications are needed and verify they are possible against the contracts table.
• Decide which references in a matching workflow can be skipped.
• Surface limitations early — if a user decision (model choice, region, evaluation method) would constrain downstream options, mention it proactively, get user feedback, and adapt the plan accordingly.

During brainstorming:

• Workflow choice gate: Before generating any plan, determine which workflow the user needs. There are three paths:

  1. Deploy a base model — the user wants to select and deploy a model from the catalog without fine-tuning.
  2. Evaluate-first — the user wants to evaluate a base model before deciding whether to fine-tune. Always present this option alongside direct fine-tuning, even if the user says “I want to fine-tune” — the user may not know evaluate-first exists.
  3. Direct fine-tuning — the user is committed to fine-tuning a model.

  Disambiguation for “deploy”: If the user says “I want to deploy a model” (or similar), first determine whether they want to deploy a fine-tuned model they already have, or deploy a base model as-is:

  • If they already have a training job or fine-tuned model → this is NOT the deploy-base-model path. Proceed with the existing workflow and the model-deployment reference will handle it as a later step.
  • If they want to select and deploy a base model without fine-tuning → this IS the deploy-base-model path. Read references/deploy-base-model-plan.md.
  • If unclear and no prior context exists, ask: “Do you have a model you’ve already fine-tuned, or would you like to select and deploy a base model from the catalog?”

  If the user has explicitly chosen a path (e.g., “evaluate first”, “skip evaluation”, “deploy a base model”, “I already fine-tuned”), proceed with their choice. Otherwise, present the relevant options with brief pros/cons and ask the user to choose. Saying “fine-tune” or naming a technique alone is NOT an explicit choice to skip evaluation — the user may not know evaluate-first is an option. Do NOT present a plan until the user has chosen a path. After they choose, read ONLY the corresponding reference plan.

• Use the Restrictions column of the contracts table to flag constraints as soon as the relevant decision is made. Examples (non-comprehensive list, check contracts table for the full picture):

  • User picks a Nova model → alert that deployment regions are limited.
  • User picks a region → alert if it conflicts with model availability.

• If a restriction applies, check whether it requires changes to other steps in the plan.

• Do NOT ask the user about base model selection or preferences. Model selection is handled exclusively by the model-selection reference.

• Move to Phase 2 as soon as you can determine which references and tools the plan needs.

Phase 2: Plan Generation

Goal: Propose a structured plan for the user to review.

Generate a plan as a numbered list of tasks. Each task has:

• A short name
• A one-sentence description of what happens
• Which reference handles it (if applicable)

Format:

Rules for plan generation:

• Infer ordering from the Prerequisites column in the contracts table — a skill cannot appear before its prerequisites. If unsure, consult references/skill-routing-constraints.md.
• Prefer existing references when they cover the user’s need. When no reference matches part of the request, proceed with general knowledge while respecting skill boundaries.
• Tailor the plan to the user’s actual intent. Not every plan needs every reference.
• If the user already has input artifacts (e.g., a trained model), skip the steps that produce them.

When the user approves the plan, write it to PLAN.md and save it under the project directory structure defined by the directory-management reference.

Status indicators:

• ⬜ Not Started
• 🔄 In Progress
• ✅ Completed

Update PLAN.md whenever a task’s status changes.

Phase 3: Plan Iteration

Goal: Refine the plan until the user approves it.

• If the user suggests changes, regenerate the plan incorporating their feedback.
• If the user approves, begin execution by handing off to the first task’s reference.

Execution

Once the plan is approved:

1. Before starting a task, update its status in PLAN.md to 🔄 (In Progress).
2. If the task maps to a reference, load that reference’s overview.md before doing any work. Do not attempt the task from general knowledge — always defer to the reference’s instructions.
3. Execute the task by following the loaded reference’s workflow.
4. When the task completes:

   • Update its status in PLAN.md to ✅ (Completed). If the task generated output files (scripts, notebooks, manifests), record the file paths under the completed task:

     Copy

     - [x] Fine-tune model
       - Output: `scripts/01_sft_finetuning.py`
       - Output: `manifests/sft-llama-20260515.json`
     

   • Briefly confirm completion and move to the next task.

5. If the user interrupts with a new request mid-execution:
   • Completed tasks are immutable — do NOT modify them.
   • Regenerate the remaining tasks to incorporate the user’s new input.
   • Present the updated remainder for approval before continuing.

Plan Completion

When all tasks in the plan are done: Present to the user:

“We’ve completed everything in the plan. What would you like to do next?”

This re-enters Phase 1 (Brainstorming) for a new goal. There is no terminal state — the conversation continues as long as the user wants.

References

Load the reference plan that matches the customer’s intent, then adjust based on their needs.

• references/evaluate-first-plan.md — The evaluate-first workflow: evaluate a base model before deciding whether to fine-tune.
• references/model-customization-plan.md — The direct fine-tuning plan. Use when the user has explicitly committed to fine-tuning.
• references/deploy-base-model-plan.md — The deploy-base-model workflow: select and deploy a base model without fine-tuning.
• references/input-output-contracts.md - A table showing all references, required inputs, produced outputs, prerequisites, and constraints.
• references/skill-routing-constraints.md — Optional supplemental resource about Mandatory inclusion rules, ordering constraints, and skill boundary rules.