task-discipline

name	task-discipline
description	TODO list discipline for task tracking. Activates for multi-step tasks (3+), complex work, or when systematic organization is needed. Use for tracking progress and ensuring completeness.
allowed-tools	["update_plan"]
metadata	{"short-description":"Rigorous task tracking discipline"}

Task Discipline

Read these references:

• references/task-management.md - Complete TODO discipline (detailed)
• ~/.config/agent/core/methodology.md - Problem-solving framework integration

Instructions

Apply rigorous task tracking discipline per AGENT.md and references:

When Required

Create TODO lists for:

• Tasks with 3+ steps
• Complex multi-file work
• Non-trivial implementation
• Any work benefiting from systematic tracking

The Golden Rule

Exactly ONE task in_progress at any given moment

• ✗ Never ZERO in_progress (if work is happening)
• ✗ Never TWO OR MORE in_progress
• ✓ Always exactly ONE in_progress

This forces focus and prevents context-switching.

Status Flow

pending → in_progress → completed

• pending: Not yet started
• in_progress: Currently working on (exactly ONE)
• completed: Finished successfully

No Batching

Mark tasks as completed immediately after finishing.

• ✗ Bad: Complete multiple tasks, then update all at once
• ✓ Good: Finish task → mark completed → start next task

When Blocked

If a task can't proceed:

1. Move it back to pending
2. Create new task describing the blocker
3. Mark blocker task as in_progress
4. Resolve blocker first

Task Forms

Each task needs two forms:

• content: Imperative (e.g., "Run tests", "Fix bug in parser")
• activeForm: Present continuous (e.g., "Running tests", "Fixing bug in parser")

The activeForm shows what you're currently doing.

Integration with Problem-Solving

Use TODO lists during Phase 2 (Plan) to break down work, then track progress during Phase 3 (Execute).