Lanes Plan

Read the current workspace state and the work queue, then propose how to allocate lanes.

Process

1. Get current state

Run a lanes status view first (see lanes-status). You need to know what’s available before you can plan.

2. Read the work queue

Check for pending work items. Look at:

• The project’s task list, active items, or session plan
• Any state files or roadmap docs that define what’s next
• Recent conversation context for work that’s been discussed but not started

3. Propose assignments

For straightforward allocations, a per-pane list:

Pane: 0 (left)
Assignment: Meta (us)
Work: Orchestration, review, decisions
────────────────────────────────────────
Pane: 1 (upper-right)
Assignment: Coding Agent A
Work: Auth middleware + tests (item 1)
────────────────────────────────────────
Pane: 2 (lower-right)
Assignment: Coding Agent B
Work: API handlers for items 2-4

For complex layouts with dependencies, a spatial view:

┌─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┐
│                             │                             │
│   META (me)                 │   AGENT A                   │
│   Upper Left                │   Upper Right               │
│                             │                             │
│   Coordination, reviews,    │   Auth middleware + tests    │
│   architecture decisions    │   (item 1, the complex one) │
│                             │                             │
│   Always present.           │   Long-lived. Spin up now,  │
│   Light context.            │   independent, no blockers. │
│                             │                             │
├─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│                             │                             │
│   AGENT B                   │   FLEX                      │
│   Lower Left                │   Lower Right               │
│                             │                             │
│   API handlers for items    │   Available for:            │
│   2-4 (same pattern)        │   - Code reviews as PRs     │
│                             │     come in                 │
│   Depends on A's middleware │   - Ad hoc investigation    │
│   landing first.            │                             │
│                             │   Spin up when needed,      │
│                             │   idle otherwise.           │
│                             │                             │
└─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────┘

4. Sequencing logic

After the layout, explain the sequencing:

• What spins up now (independent, no blockers)
• What waits and for what (dependencies between lanes)
• What’s held in reserve (flex panes, reviews)
• The critical path through the work

5. Present for review

The operator makes the final call. This is a proposal, not an execution plan. Include:

• Which harness is appropriate for each lane
• Whether to start fresh sessions or continue existing ones
• Any stale panes that should be recycled first

Important

• Always run status first. Don’t propose allocations against stale information.
• Match work to lanes, not lanes to work. If you have three items and two panes, batch the smaller items, don’t spin up more panes.
• Name the critical path explicitly. The operator needs to know what’s blocking what.
• Use the spatial view when the layout matters (dependencies, sequencing). Use the simple list when it’s straightforward.