sdd-tasks
Break down a change into an implementation task checklist. Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to create or update the task breakdown for a change.
Best use case
sdd-tasks is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Break down a change into an implementation task checklist. Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to create or update the task breakdown for a change.
Teams using sdd-tasks should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/sdd-tasks/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How sdd-tasks Compares
| Feature / Agent | sdd-tasks | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Break down a change into an implementation task checklist. Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to create or update the task breakdown for a change.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
Related Guides
SKILL.md Source
## Purpose
You are a sub-agent responsible for creating the TASK BREAKDOWN. You take the proposal, specs, and design, then produce a `tasks.md` with concrete, actionable implementation steps organized by phase.
## What You Receive
From the orchestrator:
- Change name
- Artifact store mode (`engram | openspec | hybrid | none`)
## Execution and Persistence Contract
> Follow **Section B** (retrieval) and **Section C** (persistence) from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.
- **engram**: Read `sdd/{change-name}/proposal` (required), `sdd/{change-name}/spec` (required), `sdd/{change-name}/design` (required). Save as `sdd/{change-name}/tasks`.
- **openspec**: Read and follow `skills/_shared/openspec-convention.md`.
- **hybrid**: Follow BOTH conventions — persist to Engram AND write `tasks.md` to filesystem. Retrieve dependencies from Engram (primary) with filesystem fallback.
- **none**: Return result only. Never create or modify project files.
## What to Do
### Step 1: Load Skills
Follow **Section A** from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.
### Step 2: Analyze the Design
From the design document, identify:
- All files that need to be created/modified/deleted
- The dependency order (what must come first)
- Testing requirements per component
### Step 3: Write tasks.md
**IF mode is `openspec` or `hybrid`:** Create the task file:
```
openspec/changes/{change-name}/
├── proposal.md
├── specs/
├── design.md
└── tasks.md ← You create this
```
**IF mode is `engram` or `none`:** Do NOT create any `openspec/` directories or files. Compose the tasks content in memory — you will persist it in Step 4.
#### Task File Format
```markdown
# Tasks: {Change Title}
## Phase 1: {Phase Name} (e.g., Infrastructure / Foundation)
- [ ] 1.1 {Concrete action — what file, what change}
- [ ] 1.2 {Concrete action}
- [ ] 1.3 {Concrete action}
## Phase 2: {Phase Name} (e.g., Core Implementation)
- [ ] 2.1 {Concrete action}
- [ ] 2.2 {Concrete action}
- [ ] 2.3 {Concrete action}
- [ ] 2.4 {Concrete action}
## Phase 3: {Phase Name} (e.g., Testing / Verification)
- [ ] 3.1 {Write tests for ...}
- [ ] 3.2 {Write tests for ...}
- [ ] 3.3 {Verify integration between ...}
## Phase 4: {Phase Name} (e.g., Cleanup / Documentation)
- [ ] 4.1 {Update docs/comments}
- [ ] 4.2 {Remove temporary code}
```
### Task Writing Rules
Each task MUST be:
| Criteria | Example ✅ | Anti-example ❌ |
|----------|-----------|----------------|
| **Specific** | "Create `internal/auth/middleware.go` with JWT validation" | "Add auth" |
| **Actionable** | "Add `ValidateToken()` method to `AuthService`" | "Handle tokens" |
| **Verifiable** | "Test: `POST /login` returns 401 without token" | "Make sure it works" |
| **Small** | One file or one logical unit of work | "Implement the feature" |
### Phase Organization Guidelines
```
Phase 1: Foundation / Infrastructure
└─ New types, interfaces, database changes, config
└─ Things other tasks depend on
Phase 2: Core Implementation
└─ Main logic, business rules, core behavior
└─ The meat of the change
Phase 3: Integration / Wiring
└─ Connect components, routes, UI wiring
└─ Make everything work together
Phase 4: Testing
└─ Unit tests, integration tests, e2e tests
└─ Verify against spec scenarios
Phase 5: Cleanup (if needed)
└─ Documentation, remove dead code, polish
```
### Step 4: Persist Artifact
**This step is MANDATORY — do NOT skip it.**
Follow **Section C** from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.
- artifact: `tasks`
- topic_key: `sdd/{change-name}/tasks`
- type: `architecture`
### Step 5: Return Summary
Return to the orchestrator:
```markdown
## Tasks Created
**Change**: {change-name}
**Location**: `openspec/changes/{change-name}/tasks.md` (openspec/hybrid) | Engram `sdd/{change-name}/tasks` (engram) | inline (none)
### Breakdown
| Phase | Tasks | Focus |
|-------|-------|-------|
| Phase 1 | {N} | {Phase name} |
| Phase 2 | {N} | {Phase name} |
| Phase 3 | {N} | {Phase name} |
| Total | {N} | |
### Implementation Order
{Brief description of the recommended order and why}
### Next Step
Ready for implementation (sdd-apply).
```
## Rules
- ALWAYS reference concrete file paths in tasks
- Tasks MUST be ordered by dependency — Phase 1 tasks shouldn't depend on Phase 2
- Testing tasks should reference specific scenarios from the specs
- Each task should be completable in ONE session (if a task feels too big, split it)
- Use hierarchical numbering: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, etc.
- NEVER include vague tasks like "implement feature" or "add tests"
- Apply any `rules.tasks` from `openspec/config.yaml`
- If the project uses TDD, integrate test-first tasks: RED task (write failing test) → GREEN task (make it pass) → REFACTOR task (clean up)
- **Size budget**: Tasks artifact MUST be under 530 words. Each task: 1-2 lines max. Use checklist format, not paragraphs.
- Return envelope per **Section D** from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.Related Skills
skill-registry
Create or update the skill registry for the current project. Scans user skills and project conventions, writes .atl/skill-registry.md, and saves to engram if available. Trigger: When user says "update skills", "skill registry", "actualizar skills", "update registry", or after installing/removing skills.
skill-creator
Creates new AI agent skills following the Agent Skills spec. Trigger: When user asks to create a new skill, add agent instructions, or document patterns for AI.
sdd-verify
Validate that implementation matches specs, design, and tasks. Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to verify a completed (or partially completed) change.
sdd-spec
Write specifications with requirements and scenarios (delta specs for changes). Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to write or update specs for a change.
sdd-propose
Create a change proposal with intent, scope, and approach. Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to create or update a proposal for a change.
sdd-init
Initialize Spec-Driven Development context in any project. Detects stack, conventions, testing capabilities, and bootstraps the active persistence backend. Trigger: When user wants to initialize SDD in a project, or says "sdd init", "iniciar sdd", "openspec init".
sdd-explore
Explore and investigate ideas before committing to a change. Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to think through a feature, investigate the codebase, or clarify requirements.
sdd-design
Create technical design document with architecture decisions and approach. Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to write or update the technical design for a change.
sdd-archive
Sync delta specs to main specs and archive a completed change. Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to archive a change after implementation and verification.
sdd-apply
Implement tasks from the change, writing actual code following the specs and design. Trigger: When the orchestrator launches you to implement one or more tasks from a change.
judgment-day
Parallel adversarial review protocol that launches two independent blind judge sub-agents simultaneously to review the same target, synthesizes their findings, applies fixes, and re-judges until both pass or escalates after 2 iterations. Trigger: When user says "judgment day", "judgment-day", "review adversarial", "dual review", "doble review", "juzgar", "que lo juzguen".
issue-creation
Issue creation workflow for Agent Teams Lite following the issue-first enforcement system. Trigger: When creating a GitHub issue, reporting a bug, or requesting a feature.