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Task Management

AnthropicOfficialPublished by Anthropic

  • Skill
  • Workflow
  • Business and productivity
  • Apache-2.0
  • No issues found

From the author

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.
— the description by Anthropic

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This skill provides a structured approach to tracking tasks, commitments, and follow-ups using a shared TASKS.md file. It supports manual task entry, status updates, and progress tracking, while offering an optional visual dashboard for drag-and-drop management. The system emphasizes clear formatting, status categorization, and proactive task extraction from conversations.

What it does

  • Maintains a centralized TASKS.md file for tracking active, pending, and completed items.
  • Supports a visual dashboard for drag-and-drop task reordering and management.
  • Provides standardized formatting for task titles, deadlines, and context.
  • Facilitates the extraction of action items and commitments from ongoing conversations.
  • Automates the transition of tasks between status sections like Active, Waiting On, and Done.

When to use it

  • When you need a lightweight, file-based system to track daily to-dos.
  • When you want to capture commitments or follow-ups during a meeting or chat.
  • When you prefer a visual interface for managing task priorities.
  • When you need to keep track of items you are waiting on from others.

Advantages

  • Simple, human-readable format that is easy to edit manually or via AI.
  • Persistent storage within the local working directory.
  • Supports both text-based CLI interaction and a visual dashboard.
  • Encourages consistent documentation of deadlines and context.

Usage examples

“What is on my plate today?”
The agent reads the TASKS.md file and provides a summary of all items in the Active and Waiting On sections, highlighting any urgent or overdue tasks.
“Remind me to email the project proposal to Sarah by Friday.”
The agent adds a new task to the Active section of TASKS.md formatted as - [ ] **Email project proposal** - for Sarah, due Friday.
“I finished the design review.”
The agent locates the design review task in TASKS.md, marks it as complete with a strikethrough, adds the current date, and moves it to the Done section.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://autogineer.com/agent-skills/anthropics/task-management/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip task-management.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Anthropic

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.

Files

Requirements and compatibility

Written for: Claude Code, Claude apps

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Needs: Claude Code frontmatter

Security

No issues found by our static scan· No issues found

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

Attribution and licence

Published by
Anthropic
Publisher
Anthropic (Official)
Source
anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins · productivity/skills/task-management · commit e050c2e
Licence
Apache License 2.0 (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from productivity/LICENSE)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
Synced

AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic or Anthropic.

Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download task-management.zip