home / skills / levnikolaevich / claude-code-skills / ln-222-story-replanner

ln-222-story-replanner skill

/ln-222-story-replanner

This skill replans Stories when Epic requirements change by comparing IDEAL vs existing and executing updates in Linear.

npx playbooks add skill levnikolaevich/claude-code-skills --skill ln-222-story-replanner

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SKILL.md
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---
name: ln-222-story-replanner
description: Replans Stories when Epic requirements change. Compares IDEAL vs existing, categorizes operations (KEEP/UPDATE/OBSOLETE/CREATE), executes in Linear.
---

> **Paths:** File paths (`shared/`, `references/`, `../ln-*`) are relative to skills repo root. If not found at CWD, locate this SKILL.md directory and go up one level for repo root.

# Story Replanner

## Purpose
Replans existing Stories when Epic requirements change. Compares IDEAL plan vs existing Stories, categorizes operations (KEEP/UPDATE/OBSOLETE/CREATE), and executes changes in Linear. Invoked by ln-220-story-coordinator.

Universal replanner worker for updating Stories in Epic when requirements change. Invoked by ln-220-story-coordinator (count ≥ 1).

## When Invoked

**ln-220-story-coordinator REPLAN MODE (Phase 5b):**
- Epic has existing Stories (Linear query count ≥ 1)
- IDEAL plan generated (Phase 3)
- Standards Research completed by ln-001 (Phase 2, may be updated)
- Epic requirements changed (AC modified, features added/removed, standards updated)
- Parameters: `epicData`, `idealPlan`, `standardsResearch`, `existingStoryIds`, `teamId`, `autoApprove`

## Input Parameters

**From ln-220-story-coordinator:**

```javascript
{
  epicData: {id, title, description},
  idealPlan: [{number, title, statement, ac, technicalNotes, estimatedHours, testCounts}],
  standardsResearch: "OAuth 2.0 (RFC 6749)...",  // May differ from existing
  existingStoryIds: ["STORY-123", "STORY-124"],  // Metadata only
  teamId: "team-id",
  autoApprove: true
}
```

## Workflow

### Phase 1: Load Existing Stories

**Progressive Loading for token efficiency:**

**Step 1:** Orchestrator provides Story metadata (ID, title, status)

**Step 2:** Load FULL descriptions ONE BY ONE
```javascript
for each story_id:
  get_issue(id=story_id)  // ~5,000 tokens per Story
```

**Token Rationale:** 10 Stories × 5,000 = 50,000 tokens. Load sequentially to manage context.

**Step 3:** Parse 8 sections for each Story
- Story Statement (persona, capability, value)
- Context
- Acceptance Criteria (3-5 GWT)
- Test Strategy
- Technical Notes (**Standards Research** in Library Research subsection)
- Definition of Done
- Dependencies

**Step 4:** Extract metadata
- ID, number, title, status
- Persona, capability, value
- AC scenarios
- Standards Research (from Technical Notes)

**Output:** Array of N existing Story structures ready for comparison.

### Phase 2: Compare IDEAL vs Existing

**MANDATORY READ:** Load [replan_algorithm_stories.md](references/replan_algorithm_stories.md) for replan algorithm.

**Match by goal, persona, capability:**

For EACH Story in IDEAL:
- Extract: Title, Persona, Capability
- Search existing: Fuzzy match title, check persona/capability overlap
- Result: Match → KEEP/UPDATE | No match → CREATE

For EACH existing Story:
- Extract: Title, Persona, Capability (from Story Statement)
- Search IDEAL: Fuzzy match
- Result: Match → KEEP/UPDATE | No match → OBSOLETE

**Categorize operations:**

| Operation | Criteria | Status Constraint | Action |
|-----------|----------|-------------------|--------|
| **KEEP** | Goal + Persona + Capability + AC + Standards Research same | Any | None |
| **UPDATE** | Match + (AC OR Standards Research OR Technical Notes changed) | Backlog/Todo ✅<br>In Progress/Review ⚠️<br>Done ❌ | `update_issue` |
| **OBSOLETE** | No match + Feature removed | Backlog/Todo ✅<br>In Progress/Review ⚠️<br>Done ❌ | `update_issue(state="Canceled")` |
| **CREATE** | In IDEAL + No match + New requirement | N/A | Generate doc + `create_issue` |

**Edge Cases:**

| Case | Action |
|------|--------|
| **In Progress OBSOLETE** | ⚠️ NO auto-cancel, show warning |
| **Done conflicts** | Preserve Done, CREATE follow-up |
| **Story Split** (1 → 2+) | ⚠️ UPDATE first + CREATE new |
| **Story Merge** (2+ → 1) | ⚠️ UPDATE first + OBSOLETE rest |
| **Ambiguous match** (>70% similarity) | Show all, select highest |

**Details:** [replan_algorithm_stories.md](references/replan_algorithm_stories.md)

### Phase 3: Show Operations Summary

```
REPLAN SUMMARY for Epic 7: OAuth Authentication

IDEAL PLAN:
1. US004: Register OAuth client (Persona: Third-party developer)
2. US005: Request access token ← AC5 ADDED! ← RFC 7636 PKCE ADDED!
3. US006: Validate access token
4. US009: Token scope management (NEW!)

EXISTING STORIES:

✓ US004 - Status: Done - KEEP
⚠ US005 - Status: Todo - UPDATE
   Changes: Add AC5, Add RFC 7636 to Technical Notes, Add 2 Integration tests
   Diff (AC): + AC5 "Given public client, When request with PKCE..."
   Diff (Technical Notes): + RFC 7636 (PKCE)
✗ US008 - Status: Todo - OBSOLETE (feature removed)
+ US009 - NEW (14h, 20 tests, OAuth 2.0 Scope standard)

OPERATIONS: 2 keep, 1 update, 1 cancel, 1 create

WARNINGS:
- ⚠️ US005 (Todo): AC changed, Standards Research updated
- ⚠️ US008 (Todo): Feature removed - check dependencies

Type "confirm" to execute.
```

**Diffs show:**
- AC changes (line-by-line)
- Standards Research changes (added/removed RFCs)
- Test Strategy changes (test counts)

**Warnings for:**
- Status conflicts (In Progress/Review affected)
- Story Split/Merge detected
- Ambiguous matches

### Phase 4: User Confirmation

**If autoApprove=true:** Skip → Phase 5
**Otherwise:** Wait for "confirm"

**Adjustment:** User can request changes → Recategorize → Show updated summary → Loop until "confirm"

### Phase 5: Execute Operations

**Sequence:** UPDATE → OBSOLETE → CREATE → Update kanban

**UPDATE operations:**
1. Generate new Story document (load via Template Loading logic)
2. Validate INVEST (same as ln-221-story-creator Phase 2)
3. `update_issue(id, description=new_description)`
4. Add comment: "Story updated: AC changed (AC5 added), Standards Research updated (RFC 7636)"

**OBSOLETE operations:**
1. `update_issue(id, state="Canceled")`
2. Add comment: "Story canceled: Feature removed from Epic Scope In. Reason: [details]"

**CREATE operations:**
1. Generate Story document (same as ln-221-story-creator Phase 1)
2. Validate INVEST
3. `create_issue({title, description, project=Epic, team, labels=["user-story"], state="Backlog"})`

**Update kanban_board.md:**

**DELETE (OBSOLETE):** Remove canceled Story lines, remove task lines if any, remove Epic header if empty

**CREATE (NEW):** Find `### Backlog` → Search Epic group → Add Stories (2-space indent)

**UPDATE Epic Story Counters:** Last Story, Next Story

**Return:**
```
REPLAN EXECUTED for Epic 7

OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
✓ Kept: 2 Stories
✓ Updated: 1 Story (AC/Standards Research changed)
✓ Canceled: 1 Story (feature removed)
✓ Created: 1 Story (new requirement)

UPDATED: [ID: US005](url) - AC5 added, RFC 7636 PKCE added
CANCELED: US008 Custom token formats
NEW: [ID: US009](url) - Token scope management

WARNINGS: US005 (Todo) AC changed

✓ kanban_board.md updated
✓ Standards Research updates: RFC 7636 PKCE added to US005

NEXT STEPS:
1. Review warnings
2. Run ln-310-story-validator on updated/created Stories
3. Use ln-300-task-coordinator to create/replan tasks
```

## Critical Rules

| Rule | Description |
|------|-------------|
| **Status Constraints** | UPDATE/OBSOLETE: Backlog/Todo ✅, In Progress/Review ⚠️, Done ❌ |
| **Preserve Done** | Never update/cancel Done Stories (CREATE follow-up if conflicts) |
| **Story Split/Merge** | Detect 1→2+ OR 2+→1, show warnings (complex, impacts Tasks) |
| **Clear Diffs** | Show before/after for UPDATE (AC, Standards Research, Technical Notes) |
| **Meaningful Comments** | Explain why updated/canceled (reference removed capabilities) |
| **Conservative Updates** | Prefer CREATE over UPDATE when in doubt |
| **Progressive Loading** | Load Stories ONE BY ONE (not all at once, token efficiency) |

## Definition of Done

**✅ Phase 1:**
- [ ] Existing Story IDs queried
- [ ] FULL descriptions fetched ONE BY ONE
- [ ] 8 sections parsed
- [ ] Metadata extracted (persona, capability, AC, Standards Research)

**✅ Phase 2:**
- [ ] Stories matched by goal/persona/capability
- [ ] Operations categorized (KEEP/UPDATE/OBSOLETE/CREATE)
- [ ] Edge cases detected (Split/Merge, Ambiguous)

**✅ Phase 3:**
- [ ] Operations summary shown
- [ ] Diffs shown for UPDATE (AC, Standards Research, Technical Notes)
- [ ] Warnings shown

**✅ Phase 4:**
- [ ] autoApprove=true OR user confirmed

**✅ Phase 5:**
- [ ] All operations executed (UPDATE/OBSOLETE/CREATE)
- [ ] kanban_board.md updated
- [ ] Summary returned (URLs + warnings)

## Template Loading

**MANDATORY READ:** Load `shared/references/template_loading_pattern.md` for template copy workflow.

**Template:** `story_template.md`
**Local copy:** `docs/templates/story_template.md` (in target project)

## Reference Files

- **Template loading:** `shared/references/template_loading_pattern.md`
- **Linear creation workflow:** `shared/references/linear_creation_workflow.md`
- **Replan algorithm:** `shared/references/replan_algorithm.md`

### replan_algorithm_stories.md

**Location:** `references/` (owned by this skill)
**Purpose:** Detailed comparison logic for REPLAN mode (Story level)
**Contents:** KEEP/UPDATE/OBSOLETE/CREATE rules, Match criteria, Status constraints, Edge cases, Examples
**Usage:** Applied in Phase 2

### story_template.md

**Location:** `shared/templates/story_template.md` (centralized)
**Local Copy:** `docs/templates/story_template.md` (in target project)
**Purpose:** Universal Story template (8 sections)
**Usage:** Load via Template Loading logic when generating updated Story documents for UPDATE/CREATE operations

## Integration

**Called by:** ln-220-story-coordinator (Phase 5b, count ≥ 1)

**Returns:**
- Success: Operations summary + URLs + warnings
- Error: "Story USXXX violates INVEST: [details]"

**Worker does NOT:**
- Query Linear for Epic (already in context)
- Analyze Epic complexity (orchestrator Phase 3)
- Research standards (orchestrator Phase 2)
- Build IDEAL plan (receives from orchestrator)

---

**Version:** 3.0.0
**Last Updated:** 2025-12-23

Overview

This skill replans user Stories when Epic requirements change by comparing an IDEAL plan against existing Stories and applying KEEP / UPDATE / OBSOLETE / CREATE operations. It generates clear diffs, warnings, and an executable operations summary and can apply changes directly in Linear. The worker is intended to be invoked by an orchestrator that supplies Epic context, the IDEAL plan, and existing Story IDs.

How this skill works

The skill loads existing Stories progressively (one-by-one) and parses eight canonical sections (statement, context, acceptance criteria, test strategy, technical notes, definition of done, dependencies, metadata). It matches IDEAL Stories to existing ones by goal/persona/capability and fuzzy title similarity, categorizes each as KEEP, UPDATE, OBSOLETE, or CREATE, then summarizes diffs and warnings. With confirmation (or autoApprove), it executes updates/cancels/creates in Linear and updates the kanban board and standards references.

When to use it

  • Epic acceptance criteria, features, or standards research have changed and Stories exist
  • You need a conservative, auditable way to reconcile an IDEAL plan with current backlog
  • Preparing to apply bulk changes to Stories in Linear while preserving Done items
  • Automating story lifecycle operations as part of a larger planning pipeline

Best practices

  • Provide full IDEAL plan and up-to-date standardsResearch to maximize accurate matching
  • Use autoApprove only for low-risk changes; otherwise review the operations summary and diffs
  • Respect status constraints: never auto-cancel or modify Done Stories—create follow-ups instead
  • Load existing Stories one-at-a-time to avoid token/context overflow and parse all eight sections
  • Prefer CREATE over UPDATE when a match is ambiguous or when story scope grew

Example use cases

  • Add a new OAuth scope requirement to an Epic: detect affected Stories, update AC/technical notes, and create any new Story
  • Remove a deprecated feature: mark matching backlog Stories as obsolete and add cancellation comments
  • Standards update (RFC added): update technical notes and tests on matching Stories and surface warnings for In Progress work
  • Story split or merge detected during replan: flag warnings, update the primary Story, and create or cancel related Stories accordingly

FAQ

Will it modify Stories that are Done?

No. Done Stories are preserved. If a Done Story conflicts with the IDEAL plan, the skill creates follow-up Stories rather than updating or canceling the Done item.

How are ambiguous matches handled?

Ambiguous matches (>70% similarity) surface all candidates in the summary and the highest-scoring candidate is suggested; user confirmation is required to resolve.

Can I skip manual confirmation?

Yes. Set autoApprove=true to execute UPDATE/OBSOLETE/CREATE operations immediately, but follow best practices and limit this to low-risk changes.