Task Master Commands - Claude Task Master

<AccordionGroup> <Accordion title="Parse PRD"> ```bash # 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
```

</Accordion> <Accordion title="List Tasks"> ```bash # 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
```

</Accordion> <Accordion title="Show Next Task"> ```bash # Show the next task to work on based on dependencies and status task-master next ``` </Accordion> <Accordion title="Show Specific Task"> ```bash # 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
```

</Accordion> <Accordion title="Update Tasks"> ```bash # Update tasks from a specific ID and provide context task-master update --from=<id> --prompt="<prompt>" ``` </Accordion> <Accordion title="Update a Specific Task"> ```bash # 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
```

</Accordion> <Accordion title="Update a Subtask"> ```bash # 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.

</Accordion> <Accordion title="Generate Task Files"> ```bash # Generate individual task files from tasks.json task-master generate ``` </Accordion> <Accordion title="Set Task Status"> ```bash # 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.

</Accordion> <Accordion title="Expand Tasks"> ```bash # 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
```

</Accordion> <Accordion title="Clear Subtasks"> ```bash # 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
```

</Accordion> <Accordion title="Analyze Task Complexity"> ```bash # 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
```

</Accordion> <Accordion title="View Complexity Report"> ```bash # 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
```

</Accordion> <Accordion title="Managing Task Dependencies"> ```bash # 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
```

</Accordion> <Accordion title="Add a New Task"> ```bash # 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
```

</Accordion> <Accordion title="Initialize a Project"> ```bash # Initialize a new project with Task Master structure task-master init ``` </Accordion> <Accordion title="TDD Workflow (Autopilot)"> ```bash # 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](/tdd-workflow/ai-agent-integration) for details.

</Accordion> <Accordion title="Loop (Autonomous Batch Execution)"> ```bash # Run 10 iterations with the default preset task-master loop -n 10

# Use a specific preset
task-master loop -n 10 --prompt test-coverage
task-master loop -n 10 --prompt linting
task-master loop -n 10 --prompt duplication
task-master loop -n 10 --prompt entropy

# Use a custom prompt file
task-master loop -n 10 --prompt ./my-workflow.md

# Filter to tasks with a specific tag
task-master loop -n 10 --tag backend

# Custom progress file location
task-master loop -n 10 --progress-file ./my-progress.txt

# Output as JSON
task-master loop -n 10 --json
```

**Built-in presets:**
- `default` - Complete tasks from Task Master backlog one at a time
- `test-coverage` - Write meaningful tests for untested user-facing behavior
- `linting` - Fix lint and type errors incrementally
- `duplication` - Refactor duplicated code into shared utilities
- `entropy` - Clean up code smells (long functions, deep nesting, etc.)

Each iteration spawns a fresh Claude Code session, avoiding context fatigue. See [Loop Command](/capabilities/loop) for full documentation.

</Accordion> </AccordionGroup>