Task Master Commands

A comprehensive reference of all available Task Master commands

Parse PRD

# Parse a PRD file and generate tasks
task-master parse-prd <prd-file.txt>

# Limit the number of tasks generated
task-master parse-prd <prd-file.txt> --num-tasks=10

List Tasks

# List all tasks
task-master list

# List tasks with a specific status
task-master list --status=<status>

# List tasks with subtasks
task-master list --with-subtasks

# List tasks with a specific status and include subtasks
task-master list --status=<status> --with-subtasks

# Watch for changes and auto-refresh
task-master list --watch
task-master list -w

# Compact output format
task-master list --compact
task-master list -c

# Watch mode with compact output
task-master list -w -c

# Hide the header
task-master list --no-header

Show Next Task

# Show the next task to work on based on dependencies and status
task-master next

Show Specific Task

# Show details of a specific task
task-master show <id>
# or
task-master show --id=<id>

# View a specific subtask (e.g., subtask 2 of task 1)
task-master show 1.2

Update Tasks

# Update tasks from a specific ID and provide context
task-master update --from=<id> --prompt="<prompt>"

Update a Specific Task

# Update a single task by ID with new information
task-master update-task --id=<id> --prompt="<prompt>"

# Use research-backed updates with Perplexity AI
task-master update-task --id=<id> --prompt="<prompt>" --research

Update a Subtask

# Append additional information to a specific subtask
task-master update-subtask --id=<parentId.subtaskId> --prompt="<prompt>"

# Example: Add details about API rate limiting to subtask 2 of task 5
task-master update-subtask --id=5.2 --prompt="Add rate limiting of 100 requests per minute"

# Use research-backed updates with Perplexity AI
task-master update-subtask --id=<parentId.subtaskId> --prompt="<prompt>" --research

Unlike the update-task command which replaces task information, the update-subtask command appends new information to the existing subtask details, marking it with a timestamp. This is useful for iteratively enhancing subtasks while preserving the original content.

Generate Task Files

# Generate individual task files from tasks.json
task-master generate

Set Task Status

# Set status of a single task
task-master set-status --id=<id> --status=<status>

# Set status for multiple tasks
task-master set-status --id=1,2,3 --status=<status>

# Set status for subtasks
task-master set-status --id=1.1,1.2 --status=<status>

When marking a task as “done”, all of its subtasks will automatically be marked as “done” as well.

Expand Tasks

# Expand a specific task with subtasks
task-master expand --id=<id> --num=<number>

# Expand with additional context
task-master expand --id=<id> --prompt="<context>"

# Expand all pending tasks
task-master expand --all

# Force regeneration of subtasks for tasks that already have them
task-master expand --all --force

# Research-backed subtask generation for a specific task
task-master expand --id=<id> --research

# Research-backed generation for all tasks
task-master expand --all --research

Clear Subtasks

# Clear subtasks from a specific task
task-master clear-subtasks --id=<id>

# Clear subtasks from multiple tasks
task-master clear-subtasks --id=1,2,3

# Clear subtasks from all tasks
task-master clear-subtasks --all

Analyze Task Complexity

# Analyze complexity of all tasks
task-master analyze-complexity

# Save report to a custom location
task-master analyze-complexity --output=my-report.json

# Use a specific LLM model
task-master analyze-complexity --model=claude-3-opus-20240229

# Set a custom complexity threshold (1-10)
task-master analyze-complexity --threshold=6

# Use an alternative tasks file
task-master analyze-complexity --file=custom-tasks.json

# Use Perplexity AI for research-backed complexity analysis
task-master analyze-complexity --research

View Complexity Report

# Display the task complexity analysis report
task-master complexity-report

# View a report at a custom location
task-master complexity-report --file=my-report.json

Managing Task Dependencies

# Add a dependency to a task
task-master add-dependency --id=<id> --depends-on=<id>

# Remove a dependency from a task
task-master remove-dependency --id=<id> --depends-on=<id>

# Validate dependencies without fixing them
task-master validate-dependencies

# Find and fix invalid dependencies automatically
task-master fix-dependencies

Add a New Task

# Add a new task using AI
task-master add-task --prompt="Description of the new task"

# Add a task with dependencies
task-master add-task --prompt="Description" --dependencies=1,2,3

# Add a task with priority
task-master add-task --prompt="Description" --priority=high

Initialize a Project

# Initialize a new project with Task Master structure
task-master init

TDD Workflow (Autopilot)

# Start autonomous TDD workflow for a task
task-master autopilot start <taskId>

# Get next action with context
task-master autopilot next

# Complete phase with test results
task-master autopilot complete --results '{"total":N,"passed":N,"failed":N}'

# Commit changes
task-master autopilot commit

# Check workflow status
task-master autopilot status

# Resume interrupted workflow
task-master autopilot resume

# Abort workflow
task-master autopilot abort

The TDD workflow enforces RED → GREEN → COMMIT cycles for each subtask. See AI Agent Integration for details.