How do I install the Ba skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add open-horizon-labs/ba in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

What does the Ba skill do?

Task tracking. "$ba status" for current tasks, "$ba claim " to start work, "$ba finish " when done. It is listed under Productivity on SkillMD.

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Ba?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

open-horizon-labs (@open-horizon-labs) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Ba by open-horizon-labs — Agent Skill

Name: Ba
Author: open-horizon-labs

File contents

ba - Task Tracking for AI Sessions

Simple, file-based task tracking. No server, no database - just files in .ba/.

All commands invoke the ba CLI. If ba is not installed, show:

ba not installed. Install with:
  brew tap open-horizon-labs/homebrew-tap && brew install ba
  # or: cargo install ba

$ba status

Show current task status - what's ready, what's claimed, what's blocked.

ba ready && echo "" && ba mine && echo "" && ba list --status open

$ba init

Initialize task tracking for this project.

ba init

$ba claim

Claim a task to start working on it.

ba claim <id>

$ba finish

Mark a task as complete (releases claim and closes).

ba finish <id>

$ba create

Create a new task.

ba create "<title>"

$ba ready

Show tasks that are ready to work on (open and not blocked).

ba ready

$ba list

List all tasks with optional filters.

ba list                    # All tasks
ba list --status open      # Open tasks only
ba list --status closed    # Closed tasks only
ba list --label <label>    # Tasks with specific label

$ba show

Show details of a specific task including comments and blocking relationships.

ba show <id>

$ba block

Mark that task is blocked by task .

ba block <id> <blocker>

$ba unblock

Remove a blocking relationship.

ba unblock <id> <blocker>

$ba comment

Add a comment to a task.

ba comment <id> "<comment>"

$ba tree

Show the dependency tree of all tasks.

ba tree

$ba quickstart

Show the quick start guide for using ba.

ba quickstart

Workflow

Typical task workflow:

Check what's ready: $ba status or $ba ready
Claim a task: $ba claim <id>
Do the work
Add comments if needed: ba comment <id> "progress note"
Finish when done: $ba finish <id>

Protocol: Always track non-trivial work. If a task has multiple steps or will take >5 minutes, create a task.

---name: badescription: Task tracking. "$ba status" for current tasks, "$ba claim <id>" to start work, "$ba finish <id>" when done.---# ba - Task Tracking for AI SessionsSimple, file-based task tracking. No server, no database - just files in `.ba/`.All commands invoke the `ba` CLI. If ba is not installed, show:```ba not installed. Install with: brew tap open-horizon-labs/homebrew-tap && brew install ba # or: cargo install ba```## $ba statusShow current task status - what's ready, what's claimed, what's blocked.```bashba ready && echo "" && ba mine && echo "" && ba list --status open```## $ba initInitialize task tracking for this project.```bashba init```## $ba claim <id>Claim a task to start working on it.```bashba claim <id>```## $ba finish <id>Mark a task as complete (releases claim and closes).```bashba finish <id>```## $ba create <title>Create a new task.```bashba create "<title>"```## $ba readyShow tasks that are ready to work on (open and not blocked).```bashba ready```## $ba listList all tasks with optional filters.```bashba list # All tasksba list --status open # Open tasks onlyba list --status closed # Closed tasks onlyba list --label <label> # Tasks with specific label```## $ba show <id>Show details of a specific task including comments and blocking relationships.```bashba show <id>```## $ba block <id> <blocker>Mark that task <id> is blocked by task <blocker>.```bashba block <id> <blocker>```## $ba unblock <id> <blocker>Remove a blocking relationship.```bashba unblock <id> <blocker>```## $ba comment <id> <comment>Add a comment to a task.```bashba comment <id> "<comment>"```## $ba treeShow the dependency tree of all tasks.```bashba tree```## $ba quickstartShow the quick start guide for using ba.```bashba quickstart```---## WorkflowTypical task workflow:1. **Check what's ready:** `$ba status` or `$ba ready`2. **Claim a task:** `$ba claim <id>`3. **Do the work**4. **Add comments if needed:** `ba comment <id> "progress note"`5. **Finish when done:** `$ba finish <id>`**Protocol:** Always track non-trivial work. If a task has multiple steps or will take >5 minutes, create a task.

Frequently asked questions

Ba