task-next

name	task:next
description	Pull the highest-priority ready task from the tasks store and run it autonomously via tasks:start. The intent contract is already on the task row (set at creation time); no human pause needed before the executor starts.
requires_stores	["tasks","observations","gate"]
default_invoker	ai_autonomous
user_invocable	true

Run the next queued task

The point of capturing the intent contract at creation time is that downstream work needs no further human input to start. This skill drains the queue: pick the highest-priority ready task, then hand it off to tasks:start to run the full phase loop. No /task:open ritual; the contract is already on the row.

Discover

stores tasks list --status ready --limit 5
stores tasks show <id>

Pick

Find the next ready task:

stores tasks list --status ready --limit 1 --sort updated_at

If the output is empty, no tasks are ready:

# Check for blocked tasks that may need human attention:
stores tasks list --status blocked

Surface "no ready tasks" to the user and stop. Do not invent work.

Run

For a task with an existing row in ready status, spawn tasks:start with the task ID:

stores tasks show <id>

Then invoke the orchestrator:

• Task(subagent_type="tasks:start", prompt="<id>: <title> — run to completion")

Or if running interactively, invoke:

/tasks:start <id>

The tasks:start orchestrator owns the full phase loop from that point.

On BLOCKED

If the task transitions to blocked during tasks:start execution, tasks:start will surface the blocker. This skill's job is only to find and hand off — not to own the loop.

To check blocked tasks awaiting human input:

stores tasks list --status blocked

Rules

• This skill is ai_autonomous — runs without human in loop. Never call ask_user-style synchronous prompts.
• Honor the contract verbatim. The executor's writes must trace back to the task's done_when — that is the alignment check.
• One task per invocation. The next call picks up the next.
• If the task's done_when is missing, fail loud — do not invent one.
• If no ready tasks exist, report clearly and stop.