taskmaster

Prevent AI coding agents from stopping before completing multi-step workflows.

5|Updated Mar 27, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/barkleesanders/claude-code-starter --skill taskmaster-barkleesanders
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: taskmaster
Source: https://github.com/barkleesanders/claude-code-starter/tree/main/skills/taskmaster
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/barkleesanders/claude-code-starter --skill taskmaster-barkleesanders

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires jq, python3, git, bd.

What problem does it solve?

AI coding agents often stop prematurely during complex, multi-step workflows, leaving tasks unfinished, errors unresolved, and uncommitted code at risk of being lost before it can be pushed to remote repositories.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Stop Hook Interception: Automatically triggers when the agent attempts to end a session, scanning for signs of incomplete work before allowing a stop.
  • Comprehensive Incomplete Signal Detection: Checks for pending/in-progress tracked tasks, recent tool errors, uncommitted git worktree changes, unverified LLM prompt edits, and active beads issues to catch all loose ends.
  • Built-in Safety Guardrails: Includes configurable loop protection to prevent infinite continuation cycles, worktree safety checks to avoid losing unpushed code, and AI verification gating for edits made via LLM prompts.
  • Use Case: Ideal for long debugging sessions, multi-step feature implementation, deployment workflows, and any task tracking setup where you need guaranteed completion of all planned work before the agent stops.

Quick Start

Use the taskmaster skill to configure a stop hook that prevents Claude from ending sessions until all planned tasks, pending errors, and uncommitted work are fully resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions about taskmaster

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I prevent an AI coding agent from stopping prematurely during a debugging session?

You prevent premature agent stops by configuring a stop hook that scans session transcripts for incomplete tasks, recent tool errors, and uncommitted git worktree changes before allowing the session to end.

How does stop hook interception work for incomplete multi-step engineering workflows?

Stop hook interception works by automatically triggering when the agent attempts to end a session, checking for pending tracked tasks, unverified LLM prompt edits, and active beads issues to catch all loose ends before stopping.

What happens if the agent gets stuck in an infinite loop trying to finish unresolved tasks?

The stop hook includes built-in safety guardrails with configurable loop protection to prevent infinite continuation cycles, ensuring the agent eventually stops even if tasks remain unresolved.

Do I need git worktrees to use taskmaster for deployment safety?

Git worktrees are not strictly required, but the stop hook performs worktree safety checks to avoid losing unpushed code, making them highly beneficial for deployment workflows and multi-step feature implementation.

What's the best way to ensure AI verification gating for edits made via LLM prompts?

The best way to ensure verification gating is using a stop hook that intercepts session ends and checks for unverified LLM prompt edits, preventing the agent from stopping before edits are confirmed.

Can I use taskmaster with beads integration to catch active issues before a session ends?

Yes, taskmaster supports beads integration by scanning session transcripts for active beads issues during the stop hook interception, ensuring all active issues are resolved before the agent stops.