Use Backtracking

Planning is rarely a straight line.

Sometimes a later stage reveals that an earlier assumption was wrong. For example, the system design may show that a product requirement needs to change, or implementation planning may reveal that the architecture needs to be adjusted.

Backtracking lets you return to an earlier layer, revise it, and then move forward again.

How to backtrack

To backtrack, tell the agent you want to backtrack and name the earlier layer or decision point you want to revisit.

The agent will use that instruction to move the planning run back to the right point so you can revise the plan before continuing.

When to backtrack

Use backtracking when:

• A later stage exposes a problem in an earlier requirement.
• A design decision no longer fits the product scope.
• The implementation plan shows that the architecture needs to change.
• Continuing forward would mean building on a plan you no longer trust.

How to think about it

Backtracking is not failure. It is a normal part of planning complex work.

The goal is to return to the right decision point, fix the plan there, and then move forward with better context.