Execute Task Skill

Purpose

Execute approved task specifications sequentially using Test-Driven Development (TDD), with comprehensive validation at each step and full implementation audit trail.

Core Capabilities:

• Sequential task/subtask execution with validation gates
• Permission-controlled file modifications
• Comprehensive testing and documentation
• Implementation Record maintenance
• Halt-on-error safeguards

BMAD Pattern (Key Innovation):

• ALL context embedded in task spec by planning skill
• Dev reads ONLY task spec + always-load files (coding standards)
• No architecture lookup during implementation
• Result: Focused execution, no context searching, no drift

Prerequisites

• Task specification file with status "Approved"
• Configuration file (.claude/config.yaml) with development settings
• Always-load files (coding standards) available
• Test framework configured (Jest, Pytest, etc.)

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Workflow

Step 0: Load Configuration and Task Specification

Action: Load all required context and verify task readiness.

Execute:

python .claude/skills/bmad-commands/scripts/read_file.py \
  --path .claude/config.yaml \
  --output json

python .claude/skills/bmad-commands/scripts/read_file.py \
  --path {task_file} \
  --output json

Parse Response:

• Extract development.alwaysLoadFiles from config
• Extract task status, objective, acceptance criteria, tasks
• Verify status is "Approved"

Validation:

• Configuration file exists and loadable
• Task file exists and loadable
• Task status is "Approved" (halt if Draft/Review/Done)
• Always-load files exist

Update Status:

• Change task status from "Approved" to "InProgress"
• Record start time in Implementation Record

See: references/configuration-guide.md for detailed configuration loading

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Step 1: Review Task Context and Plan Execution

Action: Review embedded context and present execution plan to user.

Context Review:

• Previous task insights
• Data models and schemas
• API specifications
• Component specifications
• File locations
• Testing requirements
• Technical constraints

Task Breakdown:

• Count total tasks and subtasks
• Identify current task (first unchecked)
• Understand task dependencies

Present Plan: Display execution plan with task name, file, context loaded (task spec + coding standards), execution sequence (numbered tasks with subtask counts), total counts, confirmation prompt

See: references/templates.md#execution-plan-template for complete format

Wait for confirmation unless auto_confirm=true

Halt Conditions:

• Context appears insufficient
• Task breakdown unclear
• User does not confirm

See: references/task-execution-guide.md for execution details

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Step 2: Execute Current Task

Action: Execute each task and subtask sequentially with validation.

For each task in sequence:

1. Announce task: Display task name with acceptance criteria and subtask list
2. For each subtask: Implement (read context, create/modify files per coding standards) | If "Write tests": create and run tests (must pass) | If "Validate": run tests, linter, verify AC | Update checkbox to [x] only when complete | Record notes in Implementation Record (deviations, decisions, learnings)
3. After all subtasks: Run task validation (all tests, lint, AC coverage) | Update task checkbox [x] only when validated | Update Implementation Record (files, notes)
4. Move to next task

Halt Conditions:

• 3 consecutive implementation failures on same subtask
• Ambiguous requirements discovered
• Missing dependencies not documented
• Regression test failures
• User requests halt

See: references/task-execution-guide.md for detailed execution examples

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Step 3: Final Validation and Documentation

Action: Run complete validation and finalize documentation.

Validation:

1. Run complete test suite:

   python .claude/skills/bmad-commands/scripts/run_tests.py \
     --path . \
     --framework auto \
     --output json
   

2. Verify acceptance criteria:

   • Review each AC from task spec
   • Map AC to implementation and tests
   • Confirm all ACs covered

3. Verify all checkboxes marked:

   • Scan task spec for unchecked [ ] boxes
   • Ensure all tasks and subtasks complete

Documentation: Update Implementation Record with agent model, completion notes (details, decisions, learnings), files modified (created/modified lists), testing results (unit/integration/regression test counts, coverage %, execution time)

See: references/templates.md#implementation-record-complete-template for complete format

Status Update:

• Change status from "InProgress" to "Review"
• DO NOT mark as "Done" (quality skill does that)

Present Summary: Display completion summary with task name, status (Review), what was implemented, all ACs met (with checkmarks), test results (counts, coverage, regression), files created/modified counts, quality review prompt

See: references/templates.md#completion-summary-template for complete format

See: references/validation-guide.md for validation details

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Step 4: Handle Quality Review (Optional)

Action: Provide next steps based on user decision.

If user requests quality review: Confirm task marked "Review", provide next step (use quality review skill with task file)

If user approves without review: Confirm approval, provide next steps (commit changes, mark "Done", move to next task)

See: references/templates.md#step-4-handle-quality-review for complete messages

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File Modification Permissions

CRITICAL PERMISSION BOUNDARIES:

YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO:

• ✅ Update "Implementation Record" section of task file
• ✅ Update task/subtask checkboxes ([ ] to [x])
• ✅ Update task status line (Approved → InProgress → Review)
• ✅ Create, modify, delete implementation files (src/, tests/, etc.)
• ✅ Run commands (tests, linters, builds)

YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO:

• ❌ Modify "Objective" section of task file
• ❌ Modify "Acceptance Criteria" section of task file
• ❌ Modify "Context" section of task file
• ❌ Modify task/subtask descriptions (only checkboxes)
• ❌ Modify "Quality Review" section of task file
• ❌ Change task status to "Done" (only to "Review")

Enforcement: Only edit Implementation Record section and checkboxes/status

See: references/permissions-halts.md for detailed permission boundaries

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Halt Conditions

Must halt execution and ask user when:

1. Consecutive Failures (default: 3)

   • Same subtask fails 3 times in a row
   • Present error and ask for guidance

2. Ambiguous Requirements

   • Context insufficient to implement subtask
   • Multiple valid interpretations
   • Critical technical decision needed

3. Missing Dependencies

   • Required library/service not documented
   • External API credentials needed
   • Database not accessible

4. Regression Failures

   • Existing tests start failing
   • Breaking change introduced

5. User Interruption

   • User requests halt
   • User asks question mid-execution

Halt Message Format: Display halt warning with reason (category), context (what was attempted), issue (specific problem), need from user (required info/decision), current progress (tasks/subtasks complete vs remaining), ready to resume condition

See: references/templates.md#halt-message-templates for all halt types

See: references/permissions-halts.md for halt handling details

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Output

Return structured JSON output with implementation_complete (boolean), tasks_completed, subtasks_completed, tests_passed, total_tests, files_modified (array), status, telemetry (skill, task_file, metrics, duration_ms, halt_count)

See: references/templates.md#complete-json-output-format for full structure and examples (success, with halts, failed)

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Error Handling

If any step fails:

1. Task File Not Found:

• Error: "Task file not found"
• Action: Verify file path

2. Task Status Not Approved:

• Error: "Task must be Approved before execution"
• Action: Check task status, update if needed

3. Test Failures:

• Error: "X tests failing"
• Action: Review failures, fix issues, re-run

4. Missing Dependencies:

• Error: "Dependency X not found"
• Action: Verify task spec includes dependency info

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Best Practices

Trust the task spec (context embedded, don't search) | Sequential execution (complete current before next) | Test before checking (run tests before marking [x]) | Document as you go (update notes after each task) | Respect permissions (only Implementation Record + checkboxes) | Halt when appropriate (don't guess unclear requirements)

See: references/best-practices.md and references/templates.md#best-practices-with-examples for detailed guidance and examples

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Routing Guidance

Use this skill when:

• Executing an approved task specification
• Need sequential, validated task execution
• Want comprehensive testing and documentation
• Need implementation audit trail

Always use after:

• Task spec created and approved
• Planning complete

Before:

• Quality review
• Pull request creation

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Reference Files

Detailed documentation in references/:

• templates.md: All output formats, examples, file templates, integration workflows, JSON structures, error templates, command-line usage, best practices with examples
• configuration-guide.md: Loading config, always-load files, status management
• task-execution-guide.md: Executing tasks/subtasks, validation gates, examples
• validation-guide.md: Final validation, documentation, completion summary
• implementation-record.md: Templates for Implementation Record section
• permissions-halts.md: Permission boundaries, halt conditions, error handling
• best-practices.md: Best practices, pitfalls to avoid, integration patterns

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Part of BMAD Enhanced Implementation Suite