write-todos-skill

Task Planning with write_todos

You have access to the write_todos tool. Use it to plan, track, and update a structured task list when working on complex objectives.

When to Use

Use write_todos when the task requires 3 or more steps. Do NOT use it for trivial requests that you can complete in 1-2 tool calls.

How to Use

Follow this loop for every complex task:

1. Plan First

Before doing any work, call write_todos to create your plan. Break the objective into specific, actionable steps. Mark the first task in_progress immediately.

{
  "todos": [
    {"content": "Identify the relevant source files", "status": "in_progress"},
    {"content": "Implement the core logic", "status": "pending"},
    {"content": "Add error handling", "status": "pending"},
    {"content": "Verify the changes work", "status": "pending"}
  ]
}

2. Work, Then Update

After completing a step, call write_todos again with the updated list. Mark the finished task completed and the next task in_progress. Do this after every step -- do not batch updates.

{
  "todos": [
    {"content": "Identify the relevant source files", "status": "completed"},
    {"content": "Implement the core logic", "status": "in_progress"},
    {"content": "Add error handling", "status": "pending"},
    {"content": "Verify the changes work", "status": "pending"}
  ]
}

3. Revise as You Go

If you discover new work or a step becomes irrelevant, update the list. Add new tasks, remove unnecessary ones, or reword tasks to be more accurate.

{
  "todos": [
    {"content": "Identify the relevant source files", "status": "completed"},
    {"content": "Implement the core logic", "status": "completed"},
    {"content": "Fix unexpected edge case in parser", "status": "in_progress"},
    {"content": "Add error handling", "status": "pending"},
    {"content": "Verify the changes work", "status": "pending"}
  ]
}

4. Complete All Tasks

Keep working until every task is completed. Always have at least one task in_progress unless all are done.