How do I install the Work Queue skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/work-queue 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.

Is Work Queue safe to use?

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 Work Queue?

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.

Is Work Queue free to use?

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

Who published Work Queue?

tomevault-io (@tomevault-io) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Work Queue by tomevault-io — Agent Skill

Name: Work Queue
Author: tomevault-io

Work Queue

Activate when user has a large task to break into smaller work items. Activate when user asks about work queue status or what remains to do. Activate when managing sequential or parallel execution. Creates and manages .agent/queue/ for cross-platform work tracking. Use when this capability is needed.

tomevault-io de5bbec 2 files · 4.0 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Work Queue Skill

Manage work items in .agent/queue/ for cross-platform agent compatibility.

When to Invoke (Automatic)

Trigger	Action
Large task detected	Break down into work items
Work item completed	Check for next item
User asks "what's left?"	List remaining items
Multiple tasks identified	Queue for sequential/parallel execution

Directory Structure

.agent/
└── queue/
    ├── 001-pending-implement-auth.md
    ├── 002-pending-write-tests.md
    └── 003-completed-setup-db.md

Setup (Automatic)

On first use, the skill ensures:

Create directory: mkdir -p .agent/queue

Add to .gitignore (if not present):

# Agent work queue (local, not committed)
.agent/

Work Item Format

Each work item is a simple markdown file:

# [Title]

**Status**: pending | in_progress | completed | blocked
**Priority**: high | medium | low
**Assignee**: @Developer | @Reviewer | etc.

## Description
What needs to be done.

## Success Criteria
- [ ] Criterion 1
- [ ] Criterion 2

## Notes
Any relevant context.

File Naming Convention

NNN-STATUS-short-description.md

Examples:

001-pending-implement-auth.md
002-in_progress-write-tests.md
003-completed-setup-database.md

Operations

Add Work Item

# Create new work item
echo "# Implement authentication" > .agent/queue/001-pending-implement-auth.md

Update Status

# Rename to reflect status change
mv .agent/queue/001-pending-implement-auth.md .agent/queue/001-in_progress-implement-auth.md

List Pending Work

ls .agent/queue/*-pending-*.md 2>/dev/null

List All Work

ls -la .agent/queue/

Complete Work Item

mv .agent/queue/001-in_progress-implement-auth.md .agent/queue/001-completed-implement-auth.md

Platform Behavior

Platform	Primary Tracking	.agent/queue/
Claude Code	TodoWrite (display)	Persistence
Gemini CLI	File-based	Primary
Codex CLI	File-based	Primary
Others	File-based	Primary

Workflow Integration

PM breaks down story → Creates work items in queue
Agent picks next item → Updates status to in_progress
Work completes → Updates status to completed
Autonomy skill checks → Continues to next pending item

Queue Commands

Check queue status:

What work is in the queue?
Show pending work items

Add to queue:

Add "implement login" to work queue
Queue these tasks: auth, tests, deploy

Process queue:

Work through the queue
Execute next work item

Integration

Works with:

autonomy skill - Automatic continuation through queue
process skill - Quality gates between items
pm skill - Story breakdown into queue items

Converted and distributed by TomeVault — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

---name: work-queuedescription: Activate when user has a large task to break into smaller work items. Activate when user asks about work queue status or what remains to do. Activate when managing sequential or parallel execution. Creates and manages .agent/queue/ for cross-platform work tracking. Use when this capability is needed.---# Work Queue SkillManage work items in `.agent/queue/` for cross-platform agent compatibility.## When to Invoke (Automatic)| Trigger | Action ||---------|--------|| Large task detected | Break down into work items || Work item completed | Check for next item || User asks "what's left?" | List remaining items || Multiple tasks identified | Queue for sequential/parallel execution |## Directory Structure```.agent/└── queue/ ├── 001-pending-implement-auth.md ├── 002-pending-write-tests.md └── 003-completed-setup-db.md```## Setup (Automatic)On first use, the skill ensures:1. **Create directory**: `mkdir -p .agent/queue`2. **Add to .gitignore** (if not present): ``` # Agent work queue (local, not committed) .agent/ ```## Work Item FormatEach work item is a simple markdown file:```markdown# [Title]**Status**: pending | in_progress | completed | blocked**Priority**: high | medium | low**Assignee**: @Developer | @Reviewer | etc.## DescriptionWhat needs to be done.## Success Criteria- [ ] Criterion 1- [ ] Criterion 2## NotesAny relevant context.```## File Naming Convention```NNN-STATUS-short-description.md```Examples:- `001-pending-implement-auth.md`- `002-in_progress-write-tests.md`- `003-completed-setup-database.md`## Operations### Add Work Item```bash# Create new work itemecho "# Implement authentication" > .agent/queue/001-pending-implement-auth.md```### Update Status```bash# Rename to reflect status changemv .agent/queue/001-pending-implement-auth.md .agent/queue/001-in_progress-implement-auth.md```### List Pending Work```bashls .agent/queue/*-pending-*.md 2>/dev/null```### List All Work```bashls -la .agent/queue/```### Complete Work Item```bashmv .agent/queue/001-in_progress-implement-auth.md .agent/queue/001-completed-implement-auth.md```## Platform Behavior| Platform | Primary Tracking | .agent/queue/ ||----------|-----------------|---------------|| Claude Code | TodoWrite (display) | Persistence || Gemini CLI | File-based | Primary || Codex CLI | File-based | Primary || Others | File-based | Primary |## Workflow Integration1. **PM breaks down story** → Creates work items in queue2. **Agent picks next item** → Updates status to `in_progress`3. **Work completes** → Updates status to `completed`4. **Autonomy skill checks** → Continues to next pending item## Queue Commands**Check queue status:**```What work is in the queue?Show pending work items```**Add to queue:**```Add "implement login" to work queueQueue these tasks: auth, tests, deploy```**Process queue:**```Work through the queueExecute next work item```## IntegrationWorks with:- autonomy skill - Automatic continuation through queue- process skill - Quality gates between items- pm skill - Story breakdown into queue items---> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/intelligentcode-ai) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

Frequently asked questions