Can I use short IDs to reference tasks?

Yes, all commands support 6-character suffixes or prefixes of the ULID for easier manual interaction while maintaining global uniqueness.

How does the dependency system work in this skill?

The system uses a 'blocks' field where an item lists the IDs of tasks that wait on it. This establishes a clear execution order (A blocks B means A must finish before B starts).

Where are the tasks actually stored?

Tasks are stored as individual .lua files using the Work{} callback pattern within a specific directory structure (~/*/*/work/), making them easy to grep or version control.

Is there support for automated tooling?

Every command in the work system supports a --json flag, providing machine-readable output for integration with other scripts or dashboards.

What are relative due dates?

Relative due dates, like '-1d' or '-2w', are automatically resolved based on the earliest deadline of the items that depend on the current task.

Work Todo System

Name: Work Todo System
Author: whilp

bywhilp

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Productivity & Workflow

Manages complex task hierarchies and work items using a callback-based Lua system with integrated dependency tracking.

About

The Work Todo System skill integrates a robust task management framework into Claude Code, enabling the creation, tracking, and visualization of work items stored as individual Lua files. It utilizes a sophisticated dependency model where items can block others, allowing for the generation of comprehensive task trees and 'ready' lists of unblocked items. With support for ULID identification, relative due dates calculated from dependencies, and timestamped progress logging, this skill is designed for developers who need an extensible, scriptable, and localized workflow management tool.

Key Features

Relative due date resolution based on dependent task deadlines
9 GitHub stars
Hierarchical tree visualization of tasks and their prerequisites
Advanced dependency tracking using a blocking-based hierarchy model
Time-ordered, globally unique ULID generation for every work item
Automated ISO 8601 logging for tracking progress and investigation notes

Use Cases

Managing multi-stage feature implementations with strict prerequisite tasks
Calculating project timelines using relative deadlines across a dependency chain
Maintaining a local-first, version-controllable task database using Lua storage

About

Key Features

Relative due date resolution based on dependent task deadlines
9 GitHub stars
Hierarchical tree visualization of tasks and their prerequisites
Advanced dependency tracking using a blocking-based hierarchy model
Time-ordered, globally unique ULID generation for every work item
Automated ISO 8601 logging for tracking progress and investigation notes

Use Cases

Managing multi-stage feature implementations with strict prerequisite tasks
Calculating project timelines using relative deadlines across a dependency chain
Maintaining a local-first, version-controllable task database using Lua storage