Learn-skills.dev spec-kit-tasks

Use when an approved Spec Kit `plan.md` + `spec.md` must be decomposed into dependency-ordered `tasks.md`, or when `tasks.md` is missing/stale after planning or reconciliation changes.

install
source · Clone the upstream repo
git clone https://github.com/NeverSight/learn-skills.dev
Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/
T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/NeverSight/learn-skills.dev "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/data/skills-md/ahgraber/skills/spec-kit-tasks" ~/.claude/skills/neversight-learn-skills-dev-spec-kit-tasks && rm -rf "$T"
manifest: data/skills-md/ahgraber/skills/spec-kit-tasks/SKILL.md
source content

Spec Kit Tasks

Generate an implementation-ready

tasks.md
from Spec Kit design artifacts.

When to Use

  • plan.md
    and
    spec.md
    exist and you need executable tasks for implementation.
  • tasks.md
    is missing, stale, or not aligned with current plan/spec artifacts (including post-
    spec-kit-reconcile
    updates).
  • You need user-story-scoped task phases with clear dependency and parallelization signals.

When Not to Use

  • The feature spec is missing (
    spec-kit-specify
    first).
  • High-impact ambiguity still blocks design decisions (
    spec-kit-clarify
    first).
  • Technical design artifacts are not finalized (
    spec-kit-plan
    first).
  • You are executing tasks rather than generating them (
    spec-kit-implement
    ).

Router Fit

  • Primary route from
    spec-kit
    after
    spec-kit-plan
    .
  • Must complete before
    spec-kit-implement
    .
  • Supports
    spec-kit-analyze
    and
    spec-kit-reconcile
    by producing structured implementation intent.

Preconditions

  • Run from repository root (or a subdirectory inside it).
  • Active feature context resolves to one
    specs/<feature>/
    directory.
  • plan.md
    exists and reflects the latest approved design.

Workflow

  1. Resolve feature paths and prerequisite gate:

    • Run
      scripts/check-prerequisites.sh --json
      exactly once.
    • Parse
      FEATURE_DIR
      and
      AVAILABLE_DOCS
      .
    • Derive:
      • FEATURE_SPEC = FEATURE_DIR/spec.md
      • IMPL_PLAN = FEATURE_DIR/plan.md
      • TASKS = FEATURE_DIR/tasks.md
    • If
      spec.md
      is missing, stop and route to
      spec-kit-specify
      then
      spec-kit-plan
      .
  2. Load generation inputs:

    • Required:
      plan.md
      ,
      spec.md
      .
    • Optional (when present):
      research.md
      ,
      data-model.md
      ,
      contracts/
      ,
      quickstart.md
      .
    • Template preference:
      • {REPO_ROOT}/templates/tasks-template.md
      • {REPO_ROOT}/.specify/templates/tasks-template.md
      • fallback:
        assets/tasks-template.md
  3. Extract planning context:

    • From
      plan.md
      : stack, architecture, constraints, project structure.
    • From
      spec.md
      : prioritized user stories, acceptance criteria, independent test intent.
    • From optional docs: shared entities, external interfaces, and setup decisions.
  4. Build task phases:

    • Phase 1: Setup.
    • Phase 2: Foundational prerequisites blocking all stories.
    • Phase 3+: one phase per user story in priority order.
    • Final phase: Polish/cross-cutting concerns.
  5. Generate tasks in strict checklist format:

    • Required pattern:
      - [ ] T### [P?] [US#?] Action with file path
      .
    • Include
      [US#]
      only for user-story phases.
    • Include
      [P]
      only when tasks can run safely in parallel.
    • Include exact file paths in every implementation/test task description.
    • Add test tasks only when explicitly requested by spec/user.
  6. Validate coverage and ordering before writing:

    • Every user story has independently testable tasks.
    • Dependencies are explicit and respect phase order.
    • Every task matches format requirements (checkbox, ID, labels, file path).
    • No orphaned entities/contracts without mapped tasks.
  7. Write

    tasks.md
    :

    • Preserve heading order from the selected template.
    • Replace template placeholders and sample content with concrete feature tasks.
  8. Report completion:

    • Absolute
      tasks.md
      path.
    • Total task count and per-story counts.
    • Parallel opportunities.
    • Suggested MVP slice (typically first priority story).
    • Readiness handoff for
      spec-kit-implement
      .

Task Format Guidance

Format Components

  1. Checkbox: ALWAYS start with
    - [ ]
    (markdown checkbox).
  2. Task ID: Sequential number (
    T001
    ,
    T002
    ,
    T003
    , ...) in execution order.
  3. [P]
    marker
    : Include ONLY if the task is parallelizable (different files, no dependencies on incomplete tasks).
  4. [Story]
    label
    : REQUIRED for user story phase tasks only.
    • Format:
      [US1]
      ,
      [US2]
      ,
      [US3]
      , etc. (maps to user stories from
      spec.md
      )
    • Setup phase: no story label
    • Foundational phase: no story label
    • User story phases: MUST have story label
    • Polish phase: no story label
  5. Description: Clear action with exact file path.

Examples

  • CORRECT:
    - [ ] T001 Create project structure per implementation plan
  • CORRECT:
    - [ ] T005 [P] Implement authentication middleware in src/middleware/auth.py
  • CORRECT:
    - [ ] T012 [P] [US1] Create User model in src/models/user.py
  • CORRECT:
    - [ ] T014 [US1] Implement UserService in src/services/user_service.py
  • WRONG:
    - [ ] Create User model
    (missing Task ID and Story label)
  • WRONG:
    T001 [US1] Create model
    (missing checkbox)
  • WRONG:
    - [ ] [US1] Create User model
    (missing Task ID)
  • WRONG:
    - [ ] T001 [US1] Create model
    (missing file path)

Output

  • tasks.md
    under the active feature directory with dependency-ordered, story-scoped tasks.
  • Completion summary with task counts, dependency highlights, and MVP recommendation.

Key Rules

  • Organize tasks by user story so each story can be implemented and validated independently.
  • Keep task granularity implementation-ready: no vague one-liners and no giant umbrella tasks.
  • Preserve execution truth in IDs and dependency order (
    T001
    ,
    T002
    , ...).
  • Treat foundational work as blocking unless it is explicitly independent and parallel-safe.
  • Never invent tests by default; include test work only when requested.

Common Mistakes

  • Generating tasks from
    spec.md
    alone without using
    plan.md
    constraints.
  • Copying sample tasks from the template instead of replacing them.
  • Missing file paths or story labels in user-story phases.
  • Marking conflicting tasks as
    [P]
    even though they touch the same files/dependencies.
  • Producing tasks that cannot satisfy each story's independent test criteria.

References

  • references/spec-kit-workflow.dot
    for where task generation fits in the full Spec Kit sequence.
  • scripts/check-prerequisites.sh
  • assets/tasks-template.md
  • https://github.com/github/spec-kit/blob/9111699cd27879e3e6301651a03e502ecb6dd65d/templates/commands/tasks.md