update-task

name	update-task
description	Update an existing task's fields (status, priority, title, tags, dependencies, etc.). Use when the user wants to modify a task's properties.
allowed-tools	Bash, Read, Edit

Update Task

Update fields of an existing task.

Instructions

The user's query is in $ARGUMENTS (e.g. "set task 042 to high priority and in-progress", "rename task 15 to Fix auth bug", "add tag backend to 042").

1. Parse the user's input from $ARGUMENTS to extract:

   • The task ID (required)
   • The fields to update and their new values

2. Look up the task: Run taskmd get <ID> to confirm the task exists

   • If not found, run taskmd list to show available tasks and ask the user which one they meant

3. Determine how to apply each update:

   Fields supported by taskmd set (use CLI):

   • --status — pending, in-progress, completed, in-review, blocked, cancelled
   • --priority — low, medium, high, critical
   • --effort — small, medium, large
   • --type — feature, bug, improvement, chore, docs
   • --owner — assignee name
   • --parent — parent task ID (empty string to clear)
   • --phase — phase ID (must match a phase id in .taskmd.yaml; empty string to clear). If the phase doesn't exist in .taskmd.yaml, add it there first (see add-task skill for the phases config format).
   • --add-tag / --remove-tag — add or remove tags (repeatable)
   • --add-pr / --remove-pr — add or remove PR URLs (repeatable)

   Build a single taskmd set <ID> command with all applicable flags:

   taskmd set 042 --priority high --status in-progress --add-tag backend
   

   Fields NOT supported by taskmd set (edit file directly):

   • title — edit the title: line in the task file's frontmatter
   • depends-on — edit the depends-on: list in the frontmatter
   • custom frontmatter fields — edit the frontmatter directly
   • description / subtasks / acceptance criteria — edit the markdown body

   For direct file edits:

   1. Read the task file with the Read tool
   2. Use the Edit tool to make the change
   3. Run taskmd validate to ensure the file is still valid

4. Handle errors:

   • If the task ID is invalid or not found, tell the user and suggest running taskmd list
   • If a field value is invalid (e.g. --priority mega), explain the valid options
   • If taskmd validate fails after a direct edit, fix the issue before confirming

5. Confirm the changes to the user, showing what was updated