# Work On Task

> Work on a specific task assigned to you in the agent swarm

- Skill: `desplega-ai/work-on-task` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add desplega-ai/work-on-task`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/desplega-ai/work-on-task/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: desplega-ai (https://skillmd.com/u/desplega-ai)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/desplega-ai/work-on-task

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# Working on a Task

If no `taskId` is provided, call `poll-task` to get a new task.

## Workflow

1. **Get task details**: Call `get-task-details` with the taskId.

2. **Recall relevant memories**: Use `memory-search` with the task description before starting any work. Past learnings, solutions, and gotchas are indexed here.

3. **Choose your approach** based on the task type:
   - **Research task** → use `/researching`
   - **Development task** → use `/planning` first, then `/implementing`
   - **Simple/direct task** (no plan needed) → implement directly

4. **Work on it**, calling `store-progress` at each meaningful milestone (not just start and end — the lead monitors this).

5. **Complete the task** — see Completion below.

## Completion

Call `store-progress` with:
- **Success**: `status: "completed"` + `output: "<what you did and the result>"`. Output should be specific enough for the lead to assess without re-reading your work.
- **Failure**: `status: "failed"` + `failureReason: "<what went wrong and what you tried>"`.

Then reply "DONE" to end the session.

## Interruptions

If interrupted by the user, adapt to their instructions. When resuming, call `/skill:work-on-task <taskId>` again to pick up where you left off.

## When to escalate

If you're stuck after genuine effort (not just first failure), use `/skill:swarm-chat` to ask the lead for help or clarification. Don't spin — escalate.