> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ref.tools/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Overview

> Ref Plans in one page.

Ref Plans is a tool for writing, iterating, and collaborating on plans for coding agents. It's a persistent, document-first approach to agent orchestration.

Instead of ephemeral chat sessions that disappear when you close a tab, Plans give you a durable workspace where context survives across sessions, teammates can collaborate, and multiple agents can work in parallel.

## How it works

<Steps>
  <Step title="Write an outline">
    Start with your notes, a Linear ticket, a GitHub issue, or just a rough idea. Drop it into a new plan at [plan.ref.tools](https://plan.ref.tools).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Research and refine with AI">
    Ref's agent researches your codebase, reads relevant files, and breaks your outline into structured tasks with implementation steps and verification criteria.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send tasks to coding agents">
    When you're happy with the plan, send individual tasks to Claude Code, Cursor Background Agents, Codex, Devin, or any other agent. They report progress back to Ref as they work.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Why use Ref Plans?

* **Persistent docs, not ephemeral chat** — Plans live as documents you can revisit, share, and iterate on over days or weeks. Context doesn't vanish when you close a tab.
* **Human review before code** — Catch architecture issues and align on approach before agents write a single line. Review plans like you'd review a design doc.
* **Parallel agent orchestration** — Send different tasks to different agents at the same time. Track their progress from one place.
* **Context that survives sessions** — Plans maintain the full history of research, decisions, and progress. New agents pick up where the last one left off.
* **Web-based and mobile-friendly** — Start a plan on your laptop, review it on your phone, launch agents from anywhere.

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card icon="rocket" title="Get Started" href="/plans/getting-started/your-first-plan">
    Create your first plan and send it to an agent.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="trophy" title="Best Practices" href="/plans/getting-started/best-practices">
    How to write plans that get great results.
  </Card>
</Columns>