Planning Fundamentals
Master how AI agents break down complex goals into executable steps
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0 / 5 completedBreaking Down Complex Tasks
Task decomposition is the process of breaking a complex goal into smaller, manageable subtasks. It's like building a house: you don't just "build it" – you pour foundation → frame walls → install plumbing → finish interior.
Interactive: Goal Tree Builder
Click parent tasks to expand/collapse their subtasks. See how complex goals decompose hierarchically.
▼Book Vacation
▶Arrange Transportation
▶Find Accommodation
▶Plan Activities
💡 Tip: Each parent task contains 2-3 subtasks. This prevents cognitive overload.
Decomposition Principles
🎯
Top-Down Approach
Start with the main goal, then break it into 2-5 major steps. Repeat for each step.
Book Vacation → [Transportation, Accommodation, Activities]
🔗
Identify Dependencies
Some tasks must complete before others. Always do dependent tasks first.
Must book flights BEFORE booking airport transfer
⚡
Atomic Actions
Keep decomposing until each task is a single, executable action.
"Find hotel" → search_hotels() → compare_options() → book_hotel()
Real-World Example: Code Review Agent
Goal: Review Pull Request
Top-level goal is too vague to execute directly
Subtask 1: Analyze Changes
• Fetch PR diff
• Identify modified files
• Detect patterns (bug fixes, features, refactors)
• Identify modified files
• Detect patterns (bug fixes, features, refactors)
Subtask 2: Check Quality
• Run linter
• Check test coverage
• Look for security issues
• Check test coverage
• Look for security issues
Subtask 3: Generate Feedback
• Summarize changes
• List issues found
• Post review comment
• List issues found
• Post review comment