Skill: Task Management

Purpose

Manage .task files according to AI Framework conventions. This skill helps agents create, update, and maintain task files throughout their lifecycle.

Template

Use Planning/Task.task.template as the base template for all new tasks.

Workflow

Creating a New Task

1. Select appropriate slice (Framework/, Ai/, Git/, etc.)
2. Name the file: {Slice}/{TaskName}.task
3. Add delegation prompt at top with 4-backtick code block:

**Task**: [{Slice}/{TaskName}.task]({Slice}/{TaskName}.task)
**Role**: {Role} (see [Framework/{Prompt}.prompt.md](Framework/{Prompt}.prompt.md))
**Target Audience**: {Agent} ({Model})

{1-2 sentence context}

4. Define deliverables: Use - [ ] **D1**: {Description} format

5. Set metadata:

   • Status: Not Started | In Progress | Complete | Blocked
   • Owner: Strategic Agent | Implementation Agent
   • Priority: Critical | High | Medium | Low
   • Effort: Small | Medium | Large
   • Priority Score: 1-15 (see Planning/TaskPrioritySystem.md)

6. Add success criteria with verification commands:

   • dotnet build succeeds (0 errors, 0 warnings)
   • dotnet test passes
   • Lint clean if applicable

Updating Task Progress

1. Mark deliverables complete: Change - [ ] to - [x]
2. Update Progress Log: Add date and summary
3. Link reports: Reference .report files, don't inline
4. Update status: Change to "In Progress" or "Complete"

Creating Progress Reports

1. Name: {TaskName}.task.{Phase}.report (alongside .task)
2. Use template: Planning/ProgressReport.report.template
3. Link in task: Add filename reference in Progress Log
4. Keep separate: Reports are separate files, not inlined

Creating Blocker Reports

1. Name: {TaskName}.task.{BlockerName}.report (alongside .task)
2. Use template: Planning/BlockerReport.report.template
3. Document in task: Reference in Progress Log
4. Delegate to Orchestrator: Use code block delegation

Archiving Completed Tasks

1. When: All deliverables complete, PR merged
2. Where: {Slice}/archive/{TaskName}.YYYY-MM-DD.task
3. Include reports: Move all .report files with task
4. Update inventories: Remove from active, add to archive inventory

File Naming Conventions

Task Statuses

Delegation Completion Checklist

Before delegating to next role:

• All deliverables marked - [x] complete
• Progress Log updated with completion summary
• Progress report created and linked
• Delegation block added to task file (4 backticks)
• PR created (if Implementation Agent)
• Verification complete (build, tests, lint)

Common Patterns

Plan Review Iteration

1. Planner creates initial plan in task file
2. Delegates to Implementer for review (Plan Review role)
3. Implementer provides feedback via report
4. Planner refines plan based on feedback
5. Repeat until both approve
6. Record sign-off in task Progress Log
7. Delegate to Implementer for execution

Implementation to Review

1. Implementer completes all deliverables
2. Updates task file with completion status
3. Creates progress report with evidence
4. Adds reviewer delegation block to task
5. Posts PR comment with @copilot tag
6. Reviewer verifies and approves/requests changes

Best Practices

• Keep task files concise - Link to reports for details
• Update Progress Log frequently - After each meaningful unit of work
• Use checklists - - [x] for done, - [ ] for pending
• Reference files - Use relative paths from task location
• Archive when done - Keep active task list clean
• Track dependencies - Note blocking/blocked-by relationships

References

• Task template: Planning/Task.task.template
• Progress report template: Planning/ProgressReport.report.template
• Blocker report template: Planning/BlockerReport.report.template
• Priority system: Planning/TaskPrioritySystem.md
• Delegation format: Framework/Delegation.instructions.md