A structured development workflow for Claude Code that turns ideas into working software, one phase at a time. Includes a Claude Code plugin (simply/) and Jujutsu workspace tooling for parallel feature development.
The core of this project is a Claude Code plugin that guides you through a repeatable development loop:
idea --> design --> plan --> next --> (work) --> commit
^ |
+------------------------------------+
- Capture ideas as they come (
/simply:idea) - Design solutions collaboratively (
/simply:design) - Plan approved designs into tasks (
/simply:plan) - Work on tasks one at a time (
/simply:next) - Commit changes atomically (
/simply:commit) - Repeat
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
/simply:status |
Show project status and available commands |
/simply:next [phase] |
Start next task or switch phase |
/simply:idea <text> |
Capture idea to inbox |
/simply:design [#] |
Develop or continue a design |
/simply:plan <design#> |
Map design to roadmap and tasks |
/simply:commit |
Create atomic commits (also journals + refreshes architecture) |
Each project managed by Simply maintains a structured documentation tree:
docs/
├── PROJECT.md # Project context + architecture + frontmatter
└── {project}/
└── {version}/
├── IDEAS.md # Idea inbox (lifecycle-tracked)
├── DESIGN.md # Design documents
├── ROADMAP.md # Feature roadmap
├── TASKS.md # Flat task backlog (all phases, Phase column)
└── journals/
├── 01.md # Phase 01 journal
├── 02-auth.md # Phases can have names, not just numbers
└── polish.md
Phase is a label, not a container. Tasks live in one flat TASKS.md (Phase column + global T{N} IDs) so you get a single overview of all open work. Journals stay bounded per phase in journals/{phase}.md. Phase identifiers are freeform strings — number (01), name (polish), or mixed (02-auth).
docs/PROJECT.md is auto-loaded into every session via a SessionStart hook. It carries the current workflow state in frontmatter (project / version / phase) plus the project's problem statement, current focus, and Architecture section — so Claude has intent + codebase bootstrap for free on every session, with no per-command scanning.
- One thing at a time: Focus on the current task
- PROJECT.md is the bootstrap: One file, auto-loaded, covers intent + architecture
- Checkpoint often: Save progress incrementally
- Atomic commits: Each commit is one coherent change; commits also journal and refresh the Architecture section when structural changes happen
- Carry context forward: Phase transitions auto-prepend a recap to the next phase's JOURNAL.md
# Install the plugin
./simply/setup.sh
# Initialize a project
/simply:nextThe repository also includes shell-based workspace management for Jujutsu (jj), providing Git-like branch workflows using jj workspaces with color-coded VSCode windows.
- Isolated Workspaces: Separate working directories per feature
- Color-Coded VSCode Windows: Unique color theme per workspace
- Selective Merging: Merge all commits or cherry-pick specific ones
- Linear History: Rebase-based workflow for clean commit history
Add VSCode terminal integration to your shell RC file (.bashrc or .zshrc):
# VSCode terminal integration - load workflow tools
if [ "$TERM_PROGRAM" = "vscode" ]; then
source /path/to/workflow/etc/shell-init.zsh # or .bash
register_tools "/path/to/workflow"
register_tools "$(pwd)"
fiworkflow init # Initialize jj in a git repo
workflow create my-feature # Create a new feature workspace
jj commit -m "Add feature" # Work and commit
workflow merge my-feature # Merge into main
jj git push # Push to remote
workflow delete my-feature # Clean up| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
workflow init |
Convert git repo to jj colocated repo |
workflow create <name> |
Create workspace and open in VSCode |
workflow open <name> |
Open existing workspace in VSCode |
workflow merge <name> [commits...] |
Merge workspace into main (all or specific commits) |
workflow sync <name> |
Rebase workspace onto latest main |
workflow flatten <name> "msg" |
Squash all workspace commits into one |
workflow delete <name> |
Delete workspace (only if fully merged) |
workflow workspaces |
List all workspaces |
workflow files [rev] |
Show modified files in a revision |
| Git | Jujutsu Workflow |
|---|---|
git checkout -b feature |
workflow create feature |
git checkout feature |
workflow open feature |
git merge feature |
workflow merge feature |
git rebase main |
workflow sync feature |
git rebase -i main |
workflow flatten feature "msg" |
git branch -d feature |
workflow delete feature |
MIT License - feel free to use and modify for your needs.