task-tracking

name: task-tracking description: Manage the tasks.md ledger with strict locking and collision avoidance protocols to allow multiple agents to work in parallel safely.

Task Tracking

Goal

Maintain a conflict-free, "Single Source of Truth" ledger (tasks.md). Prevent multiple agents from working on the same task or stomping on each other's updates.

When to Use

• STARTING: Before writing a single line of code.
• UPDATING: When you hit a blocker or finish a sub-step.
• COMPLETING: When acceptance criteria are met.

Instructions

1. Collision Avoidance (The "Check-Lock-Act" Loop)

1. Check: Read tasks.md. Look for Assigned Agent.
   • If Assigned Agent is Unassigned or null: You may take it.
   • If Assigned Agent is SOMEONE ELSE: STOP. Do not touch it.
   • If Assigned Agent is YOU: Proceed.
2. Lock: Immediately update the task to Status: In Progress and Assigned Agent: <your-agent-name>.
   • Critical: Write this change to disk BEFORE doing the actual work. This signals to other agents "I am here."
3. Act: Perform the work.

2. Task Structure (Aerospace Standard)

Every task must strictly follow the format.

### TASK-042: Implement password reset endpoint
- **Status**: In Progress  <-- The "Lock"
- **Difficulty**: Medium
- **Assigned Agent**: Backend Engineer <-- The "Owner"
- **Dependencies**: TASK-038
- **Created**: 2026-02-05
- **Updated**: 2026-02-06 <-- MUST be today

#### Description
Build the POST /api/auth/reset-password endpoint.

#### Acceptance Criteria
- [x] Endpoint accepts token + new password
- [ ] Invalid/expired tokens return 400

3. Creating Tasks (Decomposition)

• Granularity: A task should take 10-60 minutes. If it takes longer, break it down.
• Linking: If Task B needs Task A, list TASK-XXX in "Dependencies".
• No Duplicates: Grep for keywords before creating.

4. Status Transitions

• Todo -> In Progress: The Lock.
• In Progress -> Blocked: If waiting on another agent/task. Explain WHY in Notes.
• In Progress -> In Review: Code is written, tests pass.
• In Review -> Done: Code is merged.

Constraints

✅ Do

• ATOMIC UPDATES: Update tasks.md in a separate tool call from your code changes if possible, or at least be very careful not to hallucinate the file content.
• TIMESTAMP: You MUST update the Updated: YYYY-MM-DD field every time you touch a task.
• RESPECT LOCKS: Never edit a task assigned to another agent unless you are the Agent Manager.
• SELF-ASSIGN: Never work on a task labeled Status: Todo without first changing it to In Progress and assigning yourself.

❌ Don't

• DO NOT "infer" you have the task. Claim it explicitly.
• DO NOT delete tasks. Mark them as Status: Cancelled instead.
• DO NOT leave Assigned Agent empty for In Progress tasks.

Output Format

• Updates to tasks.md.

Dependencies

• templates/task-template.md