View and manage the task stack and processing queue. An agent skill from agenticnotetaking/arscontexta.

MITAuto-check: notesAgent Workflows

Install Tasks

skills CLI
$ npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill tasks -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install agenticnotetaking/arscontexta tasks --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/agenticnotetaking/arscontexta.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skill-sources/tasks .claude/skills/tasks && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
tasks
GitHub stars
3.5k
Token cost
~2.8k tokens
SKILL.md length
1,064 words
Files
2
Skills in repo
25
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

View and manage the task stack and processing queue. An agent skill from agenticnotetaking/arscontexta.

  • Works in 2 steps: ops/derivation-manifest.md — vocabulary… → ops/config.yaml — pipeline chaining…
  • Tasks that involve Task breakdown
  • SKILL.md covers Runtime Configuration (Step 0…, EXECUTE NOW, Philosophy and Operations, plus 3 more sections
  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md

What it does

Tasks is an agent skill from agenticnotetaking/arscontexta. View and manage the task stack and processing queue. Shows pending work, active tasks, completed items, and queue state. Triggers on "/tasks", "show tasks", "what's pending", "task list", "queue status".

Its SKILL.md is about 2.8k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 1 other file (for example `skill.json`).

It sits in Agent Workflows, covering Task breakdown. The repository describes itself as: Claude Code plugin that generates individualized knowledge systems from conversation. You describe how you think and work, have a conversation and get a complete second brain as… The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Tasks that involve Task breakdown

Example prompts

  • “/tasks”
  • “show tasks”
  • “s pending”
  • “/tasks”

Requirements

  • Pre-approved tools (allowed-tools): Read, Write, Edit, Grep, Glob, Bash

Workflow steps

2 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.

  1. ops/derivation-manifest.md — vocabulary mapping
  2. ops/config.yaml — pipeline chaining mode, automation settings

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 2acfd5c. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves these tools, so the agent can use them without asking each time:

    • Read
    • Write
    • Edit
    • Grep
    • Glob
    • Bash

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md (its code samples are markdown and bash).

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Tasks loads about 2.8k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 52 tokens; SKILL.md has 1,064 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~52
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~2.8k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check: notes

The automated check noted patterns worth knowing about, such as sudo or a known installer.

  • NotePre-approves every shell command (allowed-tools: Bash)SKILL.md
    allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Grep, Glob, Bash

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from agenticnotetaking/arscontexta at commit 2acfd5c, republished under its MIT licence (© agenticnotetaking). 1,064 words, ~2,758 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/tasks/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 1 other file; get the full folder from GitHub.
name
tasks
description
View and manage the task stack and processing queue. Shows pending work, active tasks, completed items, and queue state. Triggers on "/tasks", "show tasks", "what's pending", "task list", "queue status".
allowed-tools
Read, Write, Edit, Grep, Glob, Bash
version
1.0
generated_from
arscontexta-v1.6
user-invocable
true
context
fork
model
sonnet
argument-hint
[add|done|drop|reorder|status] [description|number] — manage task stack and view queue

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:

SystemPurposeManaged ByUpdated By
Task stackHuman priorities — what YOU want to work onYou (via /tasks)Manual: /tasks add, /tasks done
Pipeline queueAutomated processing state — what the SYSTEM needs to processPipeline skillsAutomatic: /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:

ConditionNote
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.
Show full SKILL.md (451 more words)Show less
/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:

AspectTask StackPipeline Queue
Fileops/tasks.mdops/queue/queue.yaml (or .json)
FormatMarkdown checklistYAML/JSON with phase tracking
Managed byUser via /tasksPipeline skills automatically
Read by/next (priority #1)/ralph (phase routing)
PurposeHuman prioritiesAutomated 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.

© agenticnotetaking, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

SKILL.md and 1 other file in skill-sources/tasks of agenticnotetaking/arscontexta.

  • SKILL.md
  • skill.json

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 2acfd5c

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ULW Plan Workflowcode-yeongyu/oh-my-openagent70k—~3.9kAutomated safety check: PassCustom licence
Implementation Plan Creatortailcallhq/forgecode7.6k1 repos~1.1kAutomated safety check: PassApache-2.0

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Categories

Questions about Tasks

What does Tasks do?

View and manage the task stack and processing queue. An agent skill from agenticnotetaking/arscontexta. Tasks is an agent skill from agenticnotetaking/arscontexta. View and manage the task stack and processing queue.

When should I use Tasks?

Tasks fits situations like: tasks that involve Task breakdown.

How do I install Tasks in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill tasks -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skill-sources/tasks in agenticnotetaking/arscontexta) into .claude/skills/tasks in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Tasks in Codex?

Run `npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill tasks -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skill-sources/tasks in agenticnotetaking/arscontexta) into .agents/skills/tasks in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Tasks in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill tasks -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/tasks, .gemini/skills/tasks, .github/skills/tasks and .opencode/skills/tasks in your project.

What does Tasks need to run?

SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Tasks is instructions for the agent only. Its frontmatter pre-approves these tools: Read, Write, Edit, Grep, Glob, Bash.

Does Tasks access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Tasks safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found notes only (pre-approves every shell command (allowed-tools: bash)), nothing it rates as a warning. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Tasks use?

Tasks is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Tasks use?

About 2.8k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 11k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Tasks?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Tasks: MemPalace Task Handoff (MemPalace/mempalace, 59k stars), Planning And Task Breakdown (abashev/vfs-s3, 106 stars), Incremental Implementation (addyosmani/agent-skills, 102k stars) and ULW Plan Workflow (code-yeongyu/oh-my-openagent, 70k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Tasks?

agenticnotetaking (a GitHub organization) maintains it in agenticnotetaking/arscontexta, which has 3,492 GitHub stars. The repository holds 25 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on February 24, 2026.

Source: agenticnotetaking/arscontexta on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.