Agent Systems: Plan-and-Execute Pattern

Intent

Turn a long-horizon goal into steps with explicit checkpoints.

Outline

1. Recurring problem: a long task is too large to execute as one undifferentiated action.
2. Structure: goal → plan → execute steps → verify → revise plan.
3. Stable interface: goal, step status, and verification result.
4. Variable implementation: the planner and the executor for each step.
5. Strength: makes dependencies and progress visible.
6. Risks: stale plans, premature commitment, and false progress.
7. Example: daily research scheduling from recent work to a human-adjusted daily assignment.

Suggested figure

08-plan.svg in the Agent design pattern illustration folder.