start

name	start
description	Start working on a task - creates branch, enters worktree and moves to progress
user-invocable	true
allowed-tools	mcp__cortex__git, mcp__cortex__task, EnterWorktree
argument-hint	CX-N

Your Task

Start working on a Cortex task using MCP tools.

Task ID: $ARGUMENTS

Step 1: Get Task Info

First, get the task details:

mcp__cortex__task(action="get", id="$ARGUMENTS")

If task not found, inform the user.

Step 2: Create Branch from Updated Main

Use the Cortex MCP tool to create a feature branch:

mcp__cortex__git(action="branch", task_id="$ARGUMENTS")

This single command will:

• Checkout main and pull latest
• Create branch: feat/cx-N-task-slug (or fix/ for bugs)
• Checkout the new branch

Step 3: Move Task to Progress

mcp__cortex__task(action="update", id="$ARGUMENTS", status="progress")

Step 4: Enter worktree

Use Claude Code's native EnterWorktree tool to create and enter an isolated worktree:

EnterWorktree(name="cx-N-slug-of-title")

Where name is the task ID + slugified title in lowercase (e.g., cx-266-migrate-worktrees).

This creates .claude/worktrees/<name>/ and switches the current session into the isolated worktree.

Step 5: Report Success

Show:

• Task title and ID
• Branch name created
• Worktree path entered
• Next steps hint: "Ready to code! When done, run /pr"

IMPORTANT:

• The git_branch tool handles updating main automatically
• Task status is updated AFTER branch is created successfully
• If branch creation fails, don't update task status
• EnterWorktree creates .claude/worktrees/<name>/ automatically