| name | Deferring Task Execution |
| description | Delays execution of a task until a specified time or after a duration. Use when the user asks to run something later, in X minutes/hours, at a specific time, schedule a command, or defer work to a future point. |
| allowed-tools | ["Bash","Read","TaskOutput"] |
Deferring Task Execution
Delays agent work until a user-specified time using a background timer script, then proceeds with the deferred task.
Script Location
~/.claude/skills/deferred-task-execution/scripts/wait-until.sh
Supported Input Formats
The script accepts one argument in either format:
Duration - relative delay from now:
30s, 5m, 1h, 90m, 2h30m, 1h15m30s
Clock time - specific time of day:
14:30, 9:00, 3pm, 3:30pm- If the time has already passed today, it waits until that time tomorrow
Workflow
Step 1: Confirm the user's intent
Confirm what task to perform and when. Parse their natural language into a wait-until argument:
| User says | Argument |
|---|
| "in 30 minutes" | 30m |
| "in an hour" | 1h |
| "in 2 and a half hours" | 2h30m |
| "at 3pm" | 3pm |
| "at 14:30" | 14:30 |
| "at half past 9" | 9:30am |
The script self-handles timezone via the USER_TZ variable defined at the top of wait-until.sh (defaults to Australia/Melbourne). Clock-time arguments are interpreted in that zone regardless of host TZ. Don't ask the user about timezones unless they mention travelling.
Tell the user exactly what will happen and when the timer will fire. Ask them to confirm before starting.
Step 2: Launch the timer in background
Run the wait script using Bash with run_in_background: true:
~/.claude/skills/deferred-task-execution/scripts/wait-until.sh <argument>
Note the task ID from the response -- you need it for the next step.
Step 3: Wait for the timer
Use the TaskOutput tool to block until the timer completes:
- Set
block: true
- Set
timeout: 600000 (maximum: 10 minutes / 600000ms)
- Use the task ID from Step 2
If the wait exceeds 10 minutes: TaskOutput will return before the timer completes because the maximum timeout is 600000ms. Check the output -- if it does not contain "Timer complete", call TaskOutput again with the same task ID and block: true. Repeat until the timer finishes.
Step 4: Execute the deferred task
Once TaskOutput returns output containing "Timer complete. Proceed with deferred task.", carry out whatever work the user requested.
Important Notes
- The agent session must remain open for the timer to work. If the user closes the session, the deferred task will not execute. Warn the user about this.
- For very long waits (multiple hours), remind the user that the session needs to stay active.
- If the user asks to cancel, use
TaskStop with the background task ID.
- Always tell the user the calculated wake time so they know when to expect the action.
