Task Generator

Task Generator Skill

Purpose

Creates comprehensive, prioritized task lists with accurate time estimates, dependencies, and resource requirements for efficient course development.

MCP Tool Enhanced

coursekit.tasks - Transforms basic task generation into strategic work breakdown with critical path analysis and resource optimization

Value Proposition

Without this skill:

• Generic task list without priorities
• Unrealistic time estimates
• Missing dependencies
• No parallel work identification
• Resource conflicts

With this skill:

• Priority-based task sequencing
• Data-driven time estimates
• Clear dependency mapping
• Parallel work opportunities
• Resource optimization

Information Gathering Flow

Stage 1: Development Resources

Questions to Ask:

1. "Who's available to help develop content? Just you or a team?"
2. "How many hours per week can you dedicate?"
3. "What's your deadline for completion?"
4. "Any tasks you're particularly fast/slow at?"

What We're Building:

• Resource availability map
• Realistic timeline
• Personal velocity factors
• Deadline alignment

Time Estimation Factors:

• First time creating: 1.5x base time
• Experienced creator: 0.75x base time
• Team collaboration: 1.2x for coordination
• Solo development: 1x base time

Stage 2: Content Preferences

Questions to Ask:

1. "What content are you most excited to create?"
2. "What parts feel most daunting?"
3. "Any existing materials to adapt?"
4. "Prefer to polish as you go or iterate quickly?"

What We're Building:

• Motivation-based sequencing
• Risk identification
• Reuse opportunities
• Quality vs. speed tradeoffs

Stage 3: Tool & Format Decisions

Questions to Ask:

1. "What tools will you use for slides? (PowerPoint/Slidev/Google Slides)"
2. "How will you create exercises? (GitHub/CodePen/Local files)"
3. "Documentation format? (Markdown/Docx/PDF)"
4. "Any required templates or branding?"

What We're Building:

• Tool-specific task adjustments
• Format requirements
• Template needs
• Brand compliance tasks

Stage 4: Quality & Review Process

Questions to Ask:

1. "Will anyone review the content?"
2. "Need pilot testing?"
3. "Accessibility requirements?"
4. "Translation needs?"

What We're Building:

• Review cycles
• Testing tasks
• Compliance checks
• Localization tasks

Task Prioritization Framework

Priority Levels

function prioritizeTasks(tasks, context) {
  return tasks.map(task => ({
    ...task,
    priority: calculatePriority(task, context),
    effort: estimateEffort(task, context),
    value: estimateValue(task, context),
    risk: assessRisk(task, context)
  })).sort((a, b) => {
    // Sort by WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First)
    const wsjfA = (a.value * a.risk) / a.effort;
    const wsjfB = (b.value * b.risk) / b.effort;
    return wsjfB - wsjfA;
  });
}

Priority Categories

P0 - Critical Path (Must have for minimum viable course)

• Core content slides
• Essential exercises
• Basic setup guide
• Assessment materials

P1 - Enhanced Experience (Significantly improves quality)

• Facilitator notes
• Solution walkthroughs
• Troubleshooting guides
• Visual aids

P2 - Nice to Have (Adds polish)

• Bonus exercises
• Alternative approaches
• Extended resources
• Video supplements

P3 - Future Enhancements (Post-launch improvements)

• Advanced topics
• Recorded demos
• Online versions
• Automated grading

Task Dependencies Mapping

function mapDependencies(tasks) {
  const dependencyGraph = {
    'constitution': [],
    'specification': ['constitution'],
    'plan': ['specification'],
    'slides-module-1': ['plan'],
    'exercise-module-1': ['slides-module-1'],
    'slides-module-2': ['plan'],
    'exercise-module-2': ['slides-module-2'],
    'facilitator-notes': ['all-slides'],
    'setup-guide': [],  // Can be done in parallel
    'assessment': ['all-exercises'],
    'final-review': ['all-content']
  };
  
  return tasks.map(task => ({
    ...task,
    dependencies: dependencyGraph[task.id] || [],
    canStartWhen: calculateEarliestStart(task, dependencyGraph)
  }));
}

Time Estimation Model

Base Time Estimates

• Slides: 3-5 minutes per slide creation
• Exercises: 45-90 minutes per exercise with solution
• Documentation: 30-60 minutes per guide page
• Review: 20% of creation time
• Testing: 30% of creation time

Adjustment Factors

function adjustTimeEstimate(baseTime, factors) {
  let adjusted = baseTime;
  
  // Experience factor
  adjusted *= factors.experienceLevel || 1.0;
  
  // Complexity factor
  adjusted *= factors.complexity || 1.0;
  
  // Quality factor (polish level)
  adjusted *= factors.qualityTarget || 1.0;
  
  // Collaboration overhead
  if (factors.teamSize > 1) {
    adjusted *= 1 + (0.1 * factors.teamSize);
  }
  
  // Add buffer
  adjusted *= 1.2; // 20% buffer
  
  return Math.ceil(adjusted);
}

Sprint Planning

Sprint Structure

function planSprints(tasks, context) {
  const sprintDuration = context.hoursPerSprint;
  const sprints = [];
  let currentSprint = { tasks: [], hours: 0 };
  
  for (const task of tasks) {
    if (currentSprint.hours + task.effort <= sprintDuration) {
      currentSprint.tasks.push(task);
      currentSprint.hours += task.effort;
    } else {
      sprints.push(currentSprint);
      currentSprint = { tasks: [task], hours: task.effort };
    }
  }
  
  if (currentSprint.tasks.length > 0) {
    sprints.push(currentSprint);
  }
  
  return sprints.map((sprint, index) => ({
    ...sprint,
    number: index + 1,
    focus: determineFocus(sprint.tasks),
    deliverables: sprint.tasks.map(t => t.output)
  }));
}

Example Interaction

Human: Generate tasks for my workshop

Assistant with Task Generator Skill:

I'll help you create a strategic task list with realistic time estimates and 
clear priorities. Let me understand your development context.

**First, let's assess your resources:**

Development capacity:
- Will you be developing this solo or with a team?
- How many hours per week can you dedicate?
- When do you need everything complete?
- What type of content creation are you fastest at? (slides/code/writing)