---
name: Tasks
slug: tasks
category: Automation
description: Tasks views and manages the task stack and pipeline queue, showing pending work, active tasks, completed items, and queue state. Use it to add, complete, drop, reorder tasks, and check discoveries or archivable batches.
github: "https://github.com/agenticnotetaking/arscontexta/tree/main/skill-sources/tasks"
language: Shell
stars: 3473
forks: 219
install: "npx degit https://github.com/agenticnotetaking/arscontexta/tree/main/skill-sources/tasks ~/.claude/skills/tasks"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/tasks
source_path: skill-sources/tasks/SKILL.md
collection_size: 25
category_size: 1523
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/agenticnotetaking/arscontexta"
added: 2026-08-16T07:02:36.082Z
last_synced: 2026-08-16T07:02:36.082Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/tasks"
---

# Tasks

Tasks views and manages the task stack and pipeline queue, showing pending work, active tasks, completed items, and queue state. Use it to add, complete, drop, reorder tasks, and check discoveries or archivable batches.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/agenticnotetaking/arscontexta/tree/main/skill-sources/tasks ~/.claude/skills/tasks
```

## README

## Runtime Configuration (Step 0 — before any processing)

Read these files to configure domain-specific behavior:

1. **`ops/derivation-manifest.md`** — vocabulary mapping
   - Use `vocabulary.notes` for the notes folder name
   - Use `vocabulary.note` / `vocabulary.note_plural` for note type references
   - Use `vocabulary.topic_map` for MOC references
   - Use `vocabulary.cmd_reflect` / `vocabulary.cmd_reweave` / `vocabulary.cmd_verify` for phase command names

2. **`ops/config.yaml`** — pipeline chaining mode, automation settings

If no derivation file exists, use universal terms.

---

## EXECUTE NOW

**Target: $ARGUMENTS**

Parse the operation:
- No arguments or `status`: show task stack + queue state (combined view)
- `add [description]`: add a task to the stack
- `done [task-number]`: mark a task as completed
- `drop [task-number]`: remove a task without completing
- `reorder [number] [position]`: move a task to a different position in the stack
- `discoveries`: show only the Discoveries section

**START NOW.** Execute the requested operation.

---

## Philosophy

**Two systems, one view.**

The task stack (`ops/tasks.md`) and the pipeline queue (`ops/queue/queue.yaml` or `ops/queue/queue.json`) serve different purposes:

| System | Purpose | Managed By | Updated By |
|--------|---------|-----------|------------|
| Task stack | Human priorities — what YOU want to work on | You (via /tasks) | Manual: /tasks add, /tasks done |
| Pipeline queue | Automated processing state — what the SYSTEM needs to process | Pipeline skills | Automatic: /reduce, /ralph, /reflect |

/tasks shows BOTH so you always have a unified view of all pending work. The task stack is your working memory. The pipeline queue is the system's working memory. Together they answer: "What should I do next?"

---

## Operations

### /tasks (or /tasks status)

Show both the human task stack and the automated queue.

**Step 1: Read task stack**

```bash
# Read ops/tasks.md
cat ops/tasks.md 2>/dev/null
```

Parse the task stack into sections:
- **Current** (or Active): items marked `- [ ]`
- **Completed**: items marked `- [x]`
- **Discoveries**: items noted during work (plain text, no checkbox)

If `ops/tasks.md` does not exist, note: "No task stack found. Run `/tasks add [description]` to create one."

**Step 2: Read queue state**

```bash
# Check for queue file (YAML or JSON)
if [[ -f "ops/queue/queue.yaml" ]]; then
  QUEUE_FILE="ops/queue/queue.yaml"
  PENDING_TASKS=$(grep -c 'status: pending' "$QUEUE_FILE" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
  DONE_TASKS=$(grep -c 'status: done' "$QUEUE_FILE" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
elif [[ -f "ops/queue/queue.json" ]]; then
  QUEUE_FILE="ops/queue/queue.json"
  PENDING_TASKS=$(grep -c '"status": "pending"' "$QUEUE_FILE" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
  DONE_TASKS=$(grep -c '"status": "done"' "$QUEUE_FILE" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
else
  QUEUE_FILE=""
  PENDING_TASKS=0
  DONE_TASKS=0
fi
```

If a queue file exists, extract pending task details:
- Task ID
- Current phase
- Target (note title)
- Batch name

**Step 3: Check for archivable batches**

A batch is archivable when ALL its tasks have `status: done`:

```bash
# For each unique batch in the queue, check if all tasks are done
if [[ -n "$QUEUE_FILE" ]]; then
  # Extract unique batch names
  # Check each batch: are all tasks done?
  # Report archivable batches
fi
```

**Step 4: Present combined view**

```
--=={ tasks }==--

  Task Stack (ops/tasks.md)
  =========================
  Current:
    1. [ ] {task description}
    2. [ ] {task description}
    3. [ ] {task description}

  Completed:
    - [x] {task description} (2026-02-10)
    - [x] {task description} (2026-02-08)

  Discoveries:
    - {discovery noted during work}

  Pipeline Queue
  ==============
  Pending: {count} tasks
    - {task-id}: {current_phase} — {target title} (batch: {batch})
    - {task-id}: {current_phase} — {target title} (batch: {batch})
    ...

  Done: {count} tasks
  Archivable batches: {list of batch names where all tasks are done}

  Summary: {total current} tasks on stack, {queue pending} in pipeline
```

**Interpretation notes:**

| Condition | Note |
|-----------|------|
| Task stack empty | "No tasks on stack. Use `/tasks add [description]` to add one, or `/next` for suggestions." |
| Pipeline has pending tasks | "Pipeline has {N} pending tasks. Run /ralph to process them." |
| Archivable batches exist | "Batch '{name}' is ready to archive. Run /archive-batch {name}." |
| Both empty | "All clear. Use `/next` to find what to work on." |

### /tasks add [description]

Add a new task to the task stack.

**Step 1: Read current ops/tasks.md**

If the file does not exist, create it with the standard structure:

```markdown
# Task Stack

## Current

## Completed

## Discoveries
```

**Step 2: Add to Current section**

Append the new task as a checkbox item at the END of the Current section:

```markdown
- [ ] {description}
```

**Step 3: Write updated file**

Use Edit tool to insert the new item at the end of the Current section, preserving existing content.

**Step 4: Report**

```
Added to task stack: {description}
Position: #{N} of {total}

Stack now has {total} current tasks.
```

### /tasks done [number]

Mark a task as completed.

**Step 1: Read current ops/tasks.md**

Parse the Current section to find the Nth task.

**Step 2: Validate**

If the number is out of range (< 1 or > number of current tasks):
```
Error: Task #{number} does not exist. Current tasks: 1-{max}.
```

**Step 3: Move to Completed**

1. Remove the item from Current section
2. Add to Completed section with today's date:
   ```markdown
   - [x] {description} ({YYYY-MM-DD})
   ```
3. Renumber remaining Current items (if display uses numbers)

**Step 4: Write updated file**

**Step 5: Report**

```
Completed: {description}

Remaining: {N} current tasks.
```

**Integration with /next:** If the completed task was the top-priority item, suggest: "Top task completed. Run `/next` for the next recommendation."

### /tasks drop [number]

Remove a task without completing it.

**Step 1: Read current ops/tasks.md**

Parse the Current section to find the Nth task.

**Step 2: Validate**

Same range check as /tasks done.

**Step 3: Remove from Current**

Remove the item entirely. Do NOT move to Completed.

**Step 4: Write updated file**

**Step 5: Report**

```
Dropped: {description}

Remaining: {N} current tasks.
```

### /tasks reorder [number] [position]

Move a task to a different position in the stack.

**Step 1: Read current ops/tasks.md**

Parse all Current items.

**Step 2: Validate**

Both [number] (source) and [position] (destination) must be within range.

**Step 3: Reorder**

1. Remove the task from position [number]
2. Insert at position [position]
3. Renumber remaining items

**Step 4: Write updated file**

**Step 5: Report**

```
Moved: {description}
  From position #{number} to #{position}

Current stack:
  1. [ ] {task 1}
  2. [ ] {task 2}
  ...
```

### /tasks discoveries

Show only the Discoveries section from ops/tasks.md.

```
  Discoveries (process later):
    - {discovery 1}
    - {discovery 2}
    ...

  [If empty: "No discoveries captured. Discoveries are noted during work
   for processing in a future session."]
```

Discoveries are captured during pipeline work (e.g., /reduce notes a connection opportunity, /reflect notices a split candidate). They accumulate here until the user decides to convert them to tasks or discard them.

---

## Queue Integration

The task stack (ops/tasks.md) and pipeline queue coexist but serve different audiences:

| Aspect | Task Stack | Pipeline Queue |
|--------|-----------|---------------|
| File | ops/tasks.md | ops/queue/queue.yaml (or .json) |
| Format | Markdown checklist | YAML/JSON with phase tracking |
| Managed by | User via /tasks | Pipeline skills automatically |
| Read by | /next (priority #1) | /ralph (phase routing) |
| Purpose | Human priorities | Automated processing state |

**/next reads the task stack first.** If the stack has items, /next recommends from the stack (user-set priorities override automated recommendations). If the stack is empty, /next evaluates queue state and vault health to suggest actions.

**Skills that generate pipeline work update BOTH:**
- `/reduce` adds tasks to the queue AND notes discoveries in tasks.md
- `/seed` adds extract tasks to the queue
- `/architect` may add implementation tasks to the task stack

---

## Task Stack Format Specification

The task stack is a simple markdown checklist, always present from day one. Format:

```markdown
# Task Stack

## Current
- [ ] First priority task
- [ ] Second priority task
- [ ] Third priority task

## Completed
- [x] Something finished (2026-02-10)
- [x] Earlier task (2026-02-08)

## Discoveries
- Interesting connection between [[note A]] and [[note B]] found during /reduce
- MOC [[topic]] might need splitting (40+ notes observed during /reflect)
```

**Current** is ordered by priority. Position 1 is highest priority. /tasks reorder adjusts position.

**Completed** is ordered by completion date (most recent first). Provides history of what was accomplished.

**Discoveries** is unordered. Items accumulate during pipeline work. The user converts them to Current tasks or discards them.

---

## Edge Cases

### No ops/tasks.md

Create it with empty sections on first `/tasks add`. For `/tasks status`, report: "No task stack found. Use `/tasks add [description]` to create one."

### No Queue File

Skip the Pipeline Queue section entirely in the status display. Do not show an error.

### Task Number Out of Range

Report the error with the valid range: "Task #{N} does not exist. Current tasks: 1-{max}."

### Empty Task Stack (Current section empty)

```
  Task Stack (ops/tasks.md)
  =========================
  Current:
    (empty)

  Use `/tasks add [description]` to add a task,
  or `/next` for automated suggestions.
```

### No ops/derivation-manifest.md

Use universal vocabulary. All operations work identically.

### Concurrent Modification

If multiple agents modify ops/tasks.md simultaneously, last write wins. The file is small enough that conflicts are unlikely, but if detected, report: "Task stack may have been modified by another session. Please review."

### Discovery Promotion

When a user wants to convert a discovery to a task:
1. Show the discovery
2. Ask for confirmation and priority position
3. Add to Current section
4. Remove from Discoveries section

This is a manual workflow — discoveries do not auto-promote.