SKILL.md
Purpose
Start work on an existing backlog task by:
- updating the standardized header table (
status,started_on), and - creating a
todowritechecklist for execution based on the task’s subtasks.
Prerequisites
- The task file exists in
.backlog/and matchesTXXX-*.md.
Procedure
Use todowrite with the below checklist.
- Identify the task
- Ask the human for the task ID (TXXX) or the exact filename. - Locate the file in .backlog/ (NOT in .backlog/.archive/).
- Update task header table
- Update the standardized header table (immediately below the title): - set status to IN PROGRESS - set startedon to YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm - If the header table is missing, add it. - If startedon is already set, ask the human whether to keep it or overwrite it.
- Create the working checklist (todowrite)
- Parse the task file for an optional ## Subtasks section. - If subtasks exist: - create one todo per subtask (use the subtask ID like TXXX-01 in the todo content). - If no subtasks exist: - create a single todo for the main task (TXXX). - Set exactly one item to in_progress (typically the first actionable item). - All other items should be pending.
- Verify
- The task file’s header table has: - status = IN PROGRESS - started_on = YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm - The todowrite list mirrors the subtasks (or the main task if none).
Notes
- This skill does not move files; archiving is handled by
backlog-archive-task.