# Planning – Go Projects

> Goals, requirements, specs: what must be settled before kick-off.

- [How to Plan a Software Project: 7 Steps Before Kick-off](https://go-projects.de/en/planning/plan-a-software-project/): To plan a software project, define one measurable goal, collect users and requirements, cut scope to the must-haves, estimate effort as a range, pick a delivery approach with named decision-makers, list the top risks, and set milestones that each end in a go or stop decision. Revisit the plan at every milestone instead of defending it.
- [Software Requirements Document Template (with Examples)](https://go-projects.de/en/planning/software-requirements-document-template/): A software requirements document describes what the system must do and under which constraints, without prescribing how to build it. A usable template covers background, goals, users, functional and non-functional requirements, data and integrations, security, constraints, acceptance criteria, out-of-scope items and open questions. Each requirement should be testable with a clear yes or no.
- [How to Write User Stories: Template, Examples, Criteria](https://go-projects.de/en/planning/how-to-write-user-stories/): Write a user story as "As a [role], I want [goal], so that [benefit]", then add three to seven acceptance criteria a tester can check with yes or no. Good stories pass the INVEST test: independent, negotiable, valuable, estimable, small and testable. Split stories that are too big along workflow steps, business rules, data variations or quality levels.
- [MoSCoW Prioritization: Rules, Example and the 60% Limit](https://go-projects.de/en/planning/moscow-prioritization/): MoSCoW prioritization sorts requirements into must have (the release fails without it), should have (important but can wait), could have (nice to have) and won't have this time (deliberately deferred). The rule that makes it work: must-haves should take no more than 60 percent of the estimated effort, leaving contingency for surprises.

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