TA

Tracks project tasks and priorities using a persistent TASKS.md file.

Install

mkdir -p .claude/skills/task-management && curl -L -o skill.zip "https://agentskills.codes/api/skills/download/607" && unzip -o skill.zip -d .claude/skills/task-management && rm skill.zip

Installs to .claude/skills/task-management

Activation

This is the description your AI agent reads to decide when to run this skill — the better it matches your request, the more reliably it fires.

Simple task management using a shared TASKS.md file. Reference this when the user asks about their tasks, wants to add/complete tasks, or needs help tracking commitments.
170 chars✓ has a “when” trigger
Beginner

Key capabilities

  • Create and maintain a TASKS.md file
  • Categorize tasks into Active, Waiting On, Someday, and Done
  • Summarize task status and identify overdue items
  • Extract action items from conversations
  • Sync tasks with a visual dashboard

How it works

The skill manages a persistent TASKS.md file in the local directory. It uses specific markdown formatting to track task states and supports a local HTML dashboard for visualization.

Inputs & outputs

You give it
Task description or completion status
You get back
Updated TASKS.md file content

When to use task-management

  • Tracking daily development tasks
  • Organizing project backlog items
  • Monitoring progress on active features
  • Managing dependencies and waiting-on items

About this skill

Task Management

Tasks are tracked in a simple TASKS.md file that both you and the user can edit.

File Location

Always use TASKS.md in the current working directory.

  • If it exists, read/write to it
  • If it doesn't exist, create it with the template below

Dashboard Setup (First Run)

A visual dashboard is available for managing tasks and memory. On first interaction with tasks:

  1. Check if dashboard.html exists in the current working directory
  2. If not, copy it from ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/dashboard.html to the current working directory
  3. Inform the user: "I've added the dashboard. Run /productivity:start to set up the full system."

The task board:

  • Reads and writes to the same TASKS.md file
  • Auto-saves changes
  • Watches for external changes (syncs when you edit via CLI)
  • Supports drag-and-drop reordering of tasks and sections

Format & Template

When creating a new TASKS.md, use this exact template (without example tasks):

# Tasks

## Active

## Waiting On

## Someday

## Done

Task format:

  • - [ ] **Task title** - context, for whom, due date
  • Sub-bullets for additional details
  • Completed: - [x] ~~Task~~ (date)

How to Interact

When user asks "what's on my plate" / "my tasks":

  • Read TASKS.md
  • Summarize Active and Waiting On sections
  • Highlight anything overdue or urgent

When user says "add a task" / "remind me to":

  • Add to Active section with - [ ] **Task** format
  • Include context if provided (who it's for, due date)

When user says "done with X" / "finished X":

  • Find the task
  • Change [ ] to [x]
  • Add strikethrough: ~~task~~
  • Add completion date
  • Move to Done section

When user asks "what am I waiting on":

  • Read the Waiting On section
  • Note how long each item has been waiting

Conventions

  • Bold the task title for scannability
  • Include "for [person]" when it's a commitment to someone
  • Include "due [date]" for deadlines
  • Include "since [date]" for waiting items
  • Sub-bullets for additional context
  • Keep Done section for ~1 week, then clear old items

Extracting Tasks

When summarizing meetings or conversations, offer to add extracted tasks:

  • Commitments the user made ("I'll send that over")
  • Action items assigned to them
  • Follow-ups mentioned

Ask before adding - don't auto-add without confirmation.

When not to use it

  • When managing complex project dependencies requiring external software
  • When the user needs a multi-user collaborative platform

Prerequisites

TASKS.md file in the current working directory

Limitations

  • Limited to a single file per directory
  • Requires manual user confirmation for extracted tasks

How it compares

This method keeps task tracking local and file-based, avoiding external project management tools in favor of a simple, version-controllable markdown file.

Compared to similar skills

task-management side by side with the closest alternatives in the catalog.

SkillInstallsUpdatedSafetyDifficulty
task-management (this skill)165moNo flagsBeginner
markdown-task-manager19moReviewBeginner
github-manage69moReviewBeginner
agent-project-board-sync06moReviewIntermediate

Try saying

Example prompts that trigger this skill in your AI assistant.

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