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Rule: Generating a Task List from User Requirements

.ai/commands/generate-tasks.md

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Rule: Generating a Task List from User Requirements

Goal

To guide an AI assistant in creating a detailed, step-by-step task list in Markdown format based on user requirements, feature requests, or existing documentation. The task list should guide a developer through implementation.

Output

  • Format: Markdown (.md)
  • Location: ./tasks/
  • Filename: tasks-[feature-name].md (e.g., tasks-user-profile-editing.md)

Process

  1. Receive Requirements: The user provides a feature request, task description, or points to existing documentation
  2. Analyze Requirements: The AI analyzes the functional requirements, user needs, and implementation scope from the provided information
  3. Phase 1: Generate Parent Tasks: Based on the requirements analysis, create the file and generate the main, high-level tasks required to implement the feature. IMPORTANT: Always include task 0.0 "Create feature branch" as the first task, unless the user specifically requests not to create a branch. Use your judgement on how many additional high-level tasks to use. It's likely to be about 5. Present these tasks to the user in the specified format (without sub-tasks yet). Inform the user: "I have generated the high-level tasks based on your requirements. Ready to generate the sub-tasks? Respond with 'Go' to proceed."
  4. Wait for Confirmation: Pause and wait for the user to respond with "Go".
  5. Phase 2: Generate Sub-Tasks: Once the user confirms, break down each parent task into smaller, actionable sub-tasks necessary to complete the parent task. Ensure sub-tasks logically follow from the parent task and cover the implementation details implied by the requirements.
  6. Identify Relevant Files: Based on the tasks and requirements, identify potential files that will need to be created or modified. List these under the Relevant Files section, including corresponding test files if applicable.
  7. Generate Final Output: Combine the parent tasks, sub-tasks, relevant files, and notes into the final Markdown structure.
  8. Save Task List: Save the generated document in the ./tasks/ directory with the filename tasks-[feature-name].md, where [feature-name] describes the main feature or task being implemented (e.g., if the request was about user profile editing, the output is tasks-user-profile-editing.md).

Output Format

The generated task list must follow this structure:

markdown
## Relevant Files

- `path/to/potential/file1.ts` - Brief description of why this file is relevant (e.g., Contains the main component for this feature).
- `path/to/file1.test.ts` - Unit tests for `file1.ts`.
- `path/to/another/file.tsx` - Brief description (e.g., API route handler for data submission).
- `path/to/another/file.test.tsx` - Unit tests for `another/file.tsx`.
- `lib/utils/helpers.ts` - Brief description (e.g., Utility functions needed for calculations).
- `lib/utils/helpers.test.ts` - Unit tests for `helpers.ts`.

### Notes

- Unit tests should typically be placed alongside the code files they are testing (e.g., `MyComponent.tsx` and `MyComponent.test.tsx` in the same directory).
- Use `npx jest [optional/path/to/test/file]` to run tests. Running without a path executes all tests found by the Jest configuration.

## Instructions for Completing Tasks

**IMPORTANT:** As you complete each task, you must check it off in this markdown file by changing `- [ ]` to `- [x]`. This helps track progress and ensures you don't skip any steps.

Example:
- `- [ ] 1.1 Read file` → `- [x] 1.1 Read file` (after completing)

Update the file after completing each sub-task, not just after completing an entire parent task.

## Tasks

- [ ] 0.0 Create feature branch
  - [ ] 0.1 Create and checkout a new branch for this feature (e.g., `git checkout -b feature/[feature-name]`)
- [ ] 1.0 Parent Task Title
  - [ ] 1.1 [Sub-task description 1.1]
  - [ ] 1.2 [Sub-task description 1.2]
- [ ] 2.0 Parent Task Title
  - [ ] 2.1 [Sub-task description 2.1]
- [ ] 3.0 Parent Task Title (may not require sub-tasks if purely structural or configuration)

Interaction Model

The process explicitly requires a pause after generating parent tasks to get user confirmation ("Go") before proceeding to generate the detailed sub-tasks. This ensures the high-level plan aligns with user expectations before diving into details.

Target Audience

Assume the primary reader of the task list is a junior developer who will implement the feature.