Task New

TASK New

Create implementation tasks for a requirement.

Arguments

If $ARGUMENTS is provided, parse for:

• REQ-NNN → target requirement
• Task name in quotes → use as task name
• --from-criteria → generate tasks from acceptance criteria
• --batch → create multiple tasks in sequence

Usage

/task-new                           # Prompt for REQ
/task-new REQ-001                   # Create task for specific REQ
/task-new REQ-001 "Task name"       # Quick mode with name
/task-new REQ-001 --from-criteria   # Generate from acceptance criteria
/task-new REQ-001 --batch           # Create multiple tasks

Behavior

1. Identify Parent Requirement

If no REQ specified, list available:

| REQ | Feature | Status | Tasks |
|-----|---------|--------|-------|
| REQ-001 | Scanner | In Progress | 2 |
| REQ-002 | Rewriter | Draft | 0 |

Which REQ? (number)

Read parent requirement to understand context and acceptance criteria.

2. Offer Auto-Generation

If REQ has acceptance criteria:

REQ-001 has 4 acceptance criteria. Generate tasks from these? (Y/n/select)

If Y: Generate one task per criterion with placeholder steps. If select: Let user pick which criteria to generate tasks for.

3. Determine Next TASK Number

Scan .sdlc/specs/REQ-NNN-*/tasks/TASK-*.md for highest number in this REQ, increment.

Task numbers are per-REQ (REQ-001 has TASK-001, TASK-002; REQ-002 has its own TASK-001).

4. Gather Information (Streamlined)

Task name and description?

Accept: "Name - description" or ask description separately.

Implementation steps (numbered list):

Accept freeform numbered list. Parse into steps array.

Files to create/modify (path: action - purpose):

Accept freeform. Parse into table with path, action (create/modify), purpose.

Prerequisites? (other TASKs, or "none")

Verification steps?

Accept: "tox -e lint, tox -e unit" or freeform list. Always use tox envs (ADR-047).

Which acceptance criteria? (numbers from REQ)

Show AC list from parent REQ, accept numbers.

5. Size Check

If task has >6 steps or >5 files:

This task has N steps and M files - larger than ideal (1-2 hours).
Consider splitting? (Y/n)

If Y: Help split into smaller tasks.

6. Create Task File

Create .sdlc/specs/REQ-NNN-slug/tasks/TASK-NNN-task-slug.md using template.

Slug: 2-4 words, lowercase, hyphens.

Fill:

• Parent REQ link
• Status: Pending
• Description
• Prerequisites (if any)
• Implementation steps (numbered)
• Files table
• Verification checklist
• Acceptance criteria reference

7. Summary & Continue

Done!
- Created: REQ-001-scanner/tasks/TASK-001-ari-wrapper.md
- Status: Pending
- Addresses: AC 1, 3

Create another task for REQ-001? (Y/n)

If Y: Loop back to step 4.

Quick Mode

With inline parameters:

Auto-Generation Mode

With --from-criteria:

1. Read acceptance criteria from REQ
2. Generate one task per criterion
3. Task name = criterion summary
4. Steps = placeholder "Implement [criterion]"
5. User refines by editing files directly

Batch Mode

With --batch:

1. Minimal prompts per task (name, brief steps, files)
2. Auto-continue after each task
3. Type "done" to finish

Parsing Freeform Input

Steps — accept:

1. Create module
2. Add parse method
3. Write tests

or

- Create module
- Add parse method
- Write tests

Files — accept:

src/module.py: create - main implementation
tests/test_module.py: create - tests
src/existing.py: modify - add import

Parse into structured table.

Edge Cases