# Work On Next Task

> Execute next uncompleted task with full project context (PRD, architecture, tasks). Usage /groundwork:work-on-next-task

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-etr-groundwork-work-on-next-task`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [etr](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/etr)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Agent Skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/agent-skills)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [etr](https://github.com/etr)
- **Source:** https://github.com/etr/groundwork/tree/main/skills/work-on-next-task

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-etr-groundwork-work-on-next-task
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Next Task Skill

Finds the next uncompleted task from `{{specs_dir}}/tasks/` (or `{{specs_dir}}/tasks.md`) and delegates execution to the `work-on` skill.

## Pre-flight: Model Recommendation

**Your current effort level is `{{effort_level}}`.**

Skip this step silently if effort is `high`, `xhigh`, or `max` (the scale is `low`  "You're working from `` (inside **[cwd-project]**), but the selected Groundwork project is **[selected-project]** (`[selected-project-path]/`). What would you like to do?"
     > - "Switch to [cwd-project]"
     > - "Stay with [selected-project]"
     If the user switches, invoke `Skill(skill="groundwork:select-project")`.
   - If CWD doesn't match any project → proceed without warning (shared directory).
3. Proceed with the resolved project context. All `{{specs_dir}}/` paths will resolve to the correct location.

### Step 1: Load Task Index

Read **only** the task index to find available tasks — do NOT read individual task files:
- Directory mode: `{{specs_dir}}/tasks/_index.md` (preferred — contains status table)
- Single file fallback: `{{specs_dir}}/tasks.md`

**Detection:** Check for `{{specs_dir}}/tasks/_index.md` first, then `{{specs_dir}}/tasks.md`. Do NOT aggregate all task files — the index contains the status table with all the information needed to find the next task.

### Step 2: Find Next Task

Parse the status table in `_index.md` to find the next task:

```markdown
| # | Task | Milestone | Status | Blocked by |
|---|------|-----------|--------|------------|
| TASK-001 | Auth setup | M1 | Complete | None |
| TASK-002 | Login UI | M1 | In Progress | TASK-001 |
| TASK-003 | Dashboard | M2 | Not Started | TASK-002 |
```

1. Look for all rows with Status = `Not Started`
2. Check dependencies — filter to unblocked tasks (all tasks in `Blocked by` column are `Complete`)
3. **Detect ambiguity:**
   - Let `candidates` = unblocked not-started tasks
   - Let `next_sequential` = lowest numbered candidate (e.g., TASK-004)
   - Let `completed_after` = any complete task with number > next_sequential

4. **If ambiguous (completed tasks exist after candidates):**
   Present options to user with context about the gap:

   > "Multiple tasks are available. Tasks 1,2,3,5 are complete.
   > - **TASK-004:** [Title] - Earlier in sequence, may have been skipped intentionally
   > - **TASK-006:** [Title] - Next sequential after completed work
   >
   > Which would you like to work on? (or use `/groundwork:work-on N` to select a specific task)"

   Wait for user selection before proceeding.

5. **If unambiguous:** Select the first unblocked, not-started task

**Dependency check:** A task is blocked if its `Blocked by` column lists any task that is not `Complete` in the status table.

**Fallback:** If `_index.md` has no status table, read individual task files to find statuses (legacy single-file format).

**Tip:** For direct task selection, use `/groundwork:work-on N` to work on a specific task by number.

### Step 3: Handle Edge Cases

| Situation | Response |
|-----------|----------|
| No `specs/` directory | "No specs directory found. Run `/groundwork:design-product` to start defining your project." |
| Missing tasks file | "Tasks file not found. Run `/groundwork:create-tasks` to generate tasks from your PRD and architecture." |
| No tasks found | "No tasks found in {{specs_dir}}/tasks/. The directory may need to be regenerated with `/groundwork:create-tasks`." |
| All tasks complete | "All tasks complete! Consider running `/groundwork:source-product-specs-from-code` to update documentation or plan the next phase." |
| Only blocked tasks | "All remaining tasks are blocked. Blocked tasks: [list]. Would you like to override and work on one anyway?" |
| Parse error | "Could not parse tasks.md. Expected format: `### TASK-NNN: Title` with `**Status:**` field." |

### Step 4: Delegate to Execute Task

**You MUST call the Skill tool now:** `Skill(skill="groundwork:work-on", args="")`

Replace `` with the identified task identifier (e.g., `TASK-004`).

Do NOT load project context, explore the codebase, present summaries, or begin task execution yourself. The work-on skill handles the complete workflow including worktree setup, TDD, and validation.

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [etr](https://github.com/etr)
- **Source:** [etr/groundwork](https://github.com/etr/groundwork)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-etr-groundwork-work-on-next-task
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/etr
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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