
Add Task
- 902 installs
- 1.3k repo stars
- Updated July 26, 2026
- neolabhq/context-engineering-kit
add-task is an agent skill that creates a structured draft task file in .specs/tasks/draft/ for developers who need to capture feature requests with types and dependencies.
About
add-task is a skill from neolabhq/context-engineering-kit that converts a raw idea or feature request into a draft task file under .specs/tasks/draft/. Each file gets an action-oriented title, type classification (feature, bug, refactor, test, docs, chore, or ci), optional dependency links to other task files, and a description preserving original user intent. Invoke it with a task title or description plus optional dependency list. The skill standardizes how agents and teams capture work before refinement or implementation. Reach for add-task when a feature request arrives unstructured and must land in the project's spec-driven task system immediately.
- Creates standardized task files in .specs/tasks/draft/ with action-oriented titles
- Automatically classifies tasks into feature/bug/refactor/test/docs/chore/ci
- Preserves original user intent while adding clear dependencies
- Runs create-folders.sh to initialize full task lifecycle directory structure
- Outputs ready-to-analyze draft tasks that feed directly into next workflow steps
Add Task by the numbers
- 902 all-time installs (skills.sh)
- +50 installs in the week ending Jul 28, 2026 (Skillselion tracking)
- Ranked #524 of 3,301 Productivity & Planning skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
- Security screen: LOW risk (skills.sh audit)
- Data as of Jul 28, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
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| Installs | 902 |
|---|---|
| repo stars | ★ 1.3k |
| Security audit | 3 / 3 scanners passed |
| Last updated | July 26, 2026 |
| Repository | neolabhq/context-engineering-kit ↗ |
How do you draft a spec task from an idea?
Instantly turn a raw idea or feature request into a properly structured draft task file inside a standardized specs directory.
Who is it for?
Teams using the context-engineering-kit spec layout who need fast, consistent draft task capture from chat or tickets.
Skip if: Developers who need root-cause analysis, Kaizen reviews, or implementation code rather than a new draft task file.
When should I use this skill?
A raw feature request or bug report should become a typed draft task with optional dependencies in .specs/tasks/draft/.
What you get
Draft task markdown file in .specs/tasks/draft/ with title, type, dependencies, and preserved intent.
- Draft task markdown file
Files
Create Draft Task File
Role
Your role is to create a draft task file that exactly matches the user's request.
Goal
Create a task file in .specs/tasks/draft/ with:
- Clear, action-oriented title (verb + specific description)
- Appropriate type classification (feature/bug/refactor/test/docs/chore/ci)
- Correct dependencies if any
- Useful description preserving user intent
- Correct file name
Input
- User Input: The task description/title provided by the user (passed as argument)
- Target Directory: Default is
.specs/tasks/draft/
Instructions
1. Ensure Directory Structure
Run the folder creation script to create task directories and configure gitignore:
bash ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/create-folders.shThis creates:
.specs/tasks/draft/- New tasks awaiting analysis.specs/tasks/todo/- Tasks ready to implement.specs/tasks/in-progress/- Currently being worked on.specs/tasks/done/- Completed tasks.specs/scratchpad/- Temporary working files (gitignored)
2. Analyze Input
1. Parse the user's request:
- Extract the core task objective
- Identify implied type (bug, feature, task)
- List of task files that this task depends on
2. Clarify if ambiguous (only if truly unclear):
- Is this a bug fix or new feature?
- Any related tasks or dependencies? (if not proided, then assume none)
3. Structure the Task
1. Create action-oriented title:
- Start with verb: Add, Fix, Update, Implement, Remove, Refactor
- Be specific but concise
- Examples:
- "Add validation to login form"
- "Fix null pointer in user service"
- "Implement caching for API responses"
2. Determine type:
| Type | Use When |
|---|---|
feature | New functionality or capability |
bug | Something is broken or not working correctly |
refactor | Code restructuring without changing behavior |
test | Adding or updating tests |
docs | Documentation changes only |
chore | Maintenance tasks, dependency updates |
ci | CI/CD configuration changes |
4. Generate File Name
1. Create short name from the task title:
- Lowercase the title
- Replace spaces with hyphens
- Remove special characters
- Keep it concise (3-5 words max)
- Example: "Add validation to login form" ->
add-validation-login-form
2. Form file name: <short-name>.<issue-type>.md
- Examples:
add-validation-login-form.feature.mdfix-null-pointer-user-service.bug.mdrestructure-auth-module.refactor.mdadd-unit-tests-api.test.mdupdate-readme.docs.mdupgrade-dependencies.chore.mdadd-github-actions.ci.md
3. Verify uniqueness: Check .specs/tasks/draft/, .specs/tasks/todo/, .specs/tasks/in-progress/, and .specs/tasks/done/ for existing files with same name
5. Create Task File
Use Write tool to create .specs/tasks/todo/<short-name>.<issue-type>.md:
---
title: <ACTION-ORIENTED TITLE>
depends_on: <list of task files that this task depends on>
---
## Initial User Prompt
{EXACT user input as provided}
## Description
// Will be filled in future stages by business analystConstraints
- Do NOT invoke the plan skill - the workflow handles subsequent phases
- Do NOT create files outside
.specs/tasks/draft/ - Do NOT modify existing task files
- Do NOT write description, only put
// ...placeholder as specified in the task file. - Do NOT write depends_on section if no dependencies are provided.
Expected Output
Return to the orchestrator:
1. Task file path: Full path to created file (e.g., .specs/tasks/todo/add-validation-login-form.feature.md) 2. Generated title: The action-oriented title created 3. Issue type: task, bug, or feature
Format:
Created task file: .specs/tasks/draft/<name>.<type>.md
Title: <action-oriented title>
Type: <task|bug|feature>
Depends on: <list of task files that this task depends on>Success Criteria
- [ ] Directories
.specs/tasks/draft/,.specs/tasks/todo/,.specs/tasks/in-progress/,.specs/tasks/done/exist - [ ] Task file created in
.specs/tasks/draft/with correct naming convention (<name>.<type>.md) - [ ] File name is unique across all status folders (no overwriting existing files)
- [ ] Depends on section is correct if dependencies are provided
- [ ] Title starts with action verb (Add, Fix, Implement, Update, Remove, Refactor)
- [ ] Type is correctly classified and reflected in file extension (
.feature.md,.bug.md,.refactor.md,.test.md,.docs.md,.chore.md,.ci.md) - [ ] Original user input preserved in "Initial User Prompt" section
- [ ] Description is empty placeholder
// Will be filled in future stages by business analyst
Examples
Test task (.specs/tasks/draft/add-unit-tests-auth.test.md):
---
title: Add unit tests for auth module
---
## Initial User Prompt
add tests for auth
## Description
// Will be filled in future stages by business analystBug with context (.specs/tasks/draft/fix-login-timeout.bug.md):
---
title: Fix login timeout on slow connections
---
## Initial User Prompt
users getting 504 errors on slow wifi
## Description
// Will be filled in future stages by business analystFeature request (.specs/tasks/draft/implement-dark-mode.feature.md):
---
title: Implement dark mode toggle
---
## Initial User Prompt
add dark mode to settings page
## Description
// Will be filled in future stages by business analystRelated skills
FAQ
Where does add-task write the new task file?
add-task creates a draft task file in .specs/tasks/draft/ inside the project. The file includes an action-oriented title, task type, optional dependencies, and a description matching the user's original request.
What task types does add-task support?
add-task classifies each draft as feature, bug, refactor, test, docs, chore, or ci. The skill also accepts an optional list of existing task files as dependencies when the new work is blocked on other tasks.
Is Add Task safe to install?
skills.sh reports 3 of 3 security scanners passed. Review the Security Audits panel on this page before installing in production.