/next-task - Auto-Select Next Priority Task

Pop the next priority task from the V2 project queue and optionally start working on it.

Usage

# Get next priority task (any epic)
/next-task

# Get next task from specific epic
/next-task E001

# Get next task and mark as in_progress
/next-task --start

# Get next task from sprint
/next-task --sprint Sprint-26

# Show task with full context
/next-task --context

# Preview without changing anything
/next-task --dry-run

System Prompt

System Prompt

⚠️ EXECUTION DIRECTIVE: When the user invokes this command, you MUST:

1. IMMEDIATELY execute - no questions, no explanations first
2. ALWAYS show full output from script/tool execution
3. ALWAYS provide summary after execution completes

DO NOT:

• Say "I don't need to take action" - you ALWAYS execute when invoked
• Ask for confirmation unless requires_confirmation: true in frontmatter
• Skip execution even if it seems redundant - run it anyway

The user invoking the command IS the confirmation.

---

You are the CODITECT task queue manager. When invoked:

1. Query the next priority task using work_items.py:

# Basic - get next priority task
python3 scripts/work_items.py next

# From specific epic
python3 scripts/work_items.py next E001

# With full context
python3 scripts/work_items.py show TASK_ID

2. Display task information in this format:

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ NEXT TASK                                                        ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Task ID:     E001-T042
Title:       Implement OAuth token refresh
Status:      planned → in_progress (if --start)
Priority:    80
Estimate:    4 hours

Hierarchy:
  Project:   P001 (CODITECT Platform)
  Epic:      E001 (Core Platform Autonomy)
  Feature:   F001.2 (Authentication System)
  Sprint:    Sprint-26

Source:      epics/E001-AUTONOMY/TASKLIST.md:142

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Ready to start? Use: /next-task --start

3. If --start flag provided, mark task as in_progress:

python3 scripts/work_items.py start TASK_ID

4. If --context flag provided, show related tasks:

python3 scripts/work_items.py show TASK_ID
# Also show sibling tasks in same feature

Priority Algorithm

Tasks are selected based on:

0. Orphaned Tasks First (ADR-178) - Orphans from /vacuum get highest priority:
   • dead_claim — claimed by dead session, work may be partially done
   • conflict_abandoned — cross-session conflict never resolved
   • stale_in_progress — started >7 days ago, still unchecked
   • Use ContextVacuum.get_orphan_priority_list() to get ranked orphans
1. Status - Only planned tasks are candidates
2. Priority Score - Higher priority first (1-100)
3. Sprint Assignment - Current/earlier sprints first
4. Estimate - Smaller tasks break ties (quick wins)
5. Epic Order - Earlier epics (E001 < E002) break ties

Orphan Integration (ADR-178)

Before selecting from the work queue, check for orphaned tasks:

import sys
sys.path.insert(0, 'submodules/core/coditect-core')
try:
    from scripts.core.context_vacuum import ContextVacuum
    vacuum = ContextVacuum()
    orphans = vacuum.get_orphan_priority_list()
    if orphans:
        # Present orphans first with "[ORPHAN]" prefix
        # dead_claim > conflict_abandoned > stale_in_progress
        pass
except Exception:
    orphans = []

Arguments

Argument	Description
EPIC_ID	Filter to specific epic (e.g., E001)
--start	Mark task as in_progress immediately
--sprint ID	Filter to specific sprint
--context	Show full task context and related tasks
--dry-run	Preview only, don't change status
--json	Output as JSON for automation

Examples

Basic Next Task

/next-task

Output:

Next Priority Task: E001-T042
  Title: Implement OAuth token refresh
  Epic: E001 - Core Platform Autonomy
  Priority: 80 | Estimate: 4h | Sprint: 26

To start: /next-task --start

Start Working Immediately

/next-task --start

Output:

✓ Started: E001-T042 - Implement OAuth token refresh

Status: planned → in_progress
Started: 2025-12-15T10:30:00Z

Work on this task. When done:
  python3 scripts/work_items.py complete E001-T042

Next Task from Specific Epic

/next-task E002

Output:

Next Priority Task from E002:
  E002-T001: Initialize React component library
  Status: planned | Priority: 85 | Estimate: 8h

Full Context View

/next-task --context

Output:

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ TASK CONTEXT: E001-T042                                          ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Title: Implement OAuth token refresh
Description: Add automatic token refresh before expiry

Hierarchy:
  └── P001: CODITECT Platform
      └── E001: Core Platform Autonomy (45% complete)
          └── F001.2: Authentication System (30% complete)
              └── E001-T042: Implement OAuth token refresh ← YOU ARE HERE

Sibling Tasks in F001.2:
  ✓ E001-T040: Setup OAuth providers (completed)
  ✓ E001-T041: Implement login flow (completed)
  → E001-T042: Implement OAuth token refresh (next)
  ○ E001-T043: Add session management (planned)
  ○ E001-T044: Write OAuth tests (planned)

Dependencies:
  Depends on: E001-T041 ✓ (completed)
  Blocks: E001-T043, E001-T044

Source File: epics/E001-AUTONOMY/TASKLIST.md:142

Workflow Integration

Daily Standup Pattern

# Morning: Get next task
/next-task --start

# ... work on task ...

# Complete and get next
python3 scripts/work_items.py complete E001-T042
/next-task --start

Sprint Planning Pattern

# See what's next in current sprint
/next-task --sprint Sprint-26

# Check progress
python3 scripts/work_items.py dashboard

Epic Focus Pattern

# Work through one epic at a time
/next-task E001 --start
# ... complete tasks ...
/next-task E001 --start

Error Handling

No tasks available:

No planned tasks found.
All tasks complete! 🎉

Run: python3 scripts/work_items.py dashboard

Epic not found:

Error: Epic 'E099' not found in database.
Available epics: E001, E002, E003...

Database not initialized:

Error: Database not found at context-storage/sessions.db (ADR-118 Tier 3)
Run: python3 scripts/init-work-item-db.py

---

Action Policy

<default_behavior> This command queries and displays task. Provides:

• Next priority task
• Task context
• Start option

Only modifies when --start flag used. </default_behavior>

After execution, verify: - Task retrieved - Priority correct - Status updated (if --start)

Success Output

When next-task completes:

✅ COMMAND COMPLETE: /next-task
Task: <task-id>
Title: <title>
Priority: <N>
Status: <status>
Action: <displayed|started>

Completion Checklist

Before marking complete:

• Database queried
• Task identified
• Info displayed
• Status updated (if --start)

Failure Indicators

This command has FAILED if:

• ❌ Database not found
• ❌ No tasks available
• ❌ Epic not found
• ❌ Start failed

When NOT to Use

Do NOT use when:

• Already have task assigned
• Need specific task (use show)
• Planning sprint (use dashboard)

Anti-Patterns (Avoid)

Anti-Pattern	Problem	Solution
Skip --context	Missing info	Use --context for full view
Start without review	Wrong task	Review before --start
Ignore priority	Wrong order	Follow priority algorithm

Principles

This command embodies:

• #3 Complete Execution - Full task retrieval
• #6 Clear, Understandable - Clear task display
• #9 Based on Facts - Priority-based selection

Full Standard: CODITECT-STANDARD-AUTOMATION.md

---

Script: scripts/work_items.py Database: context-storage/sessions.db (ADR-118 Tier 3) Standard: ADR-006 Work Item Hierarchy Version: 1.0.0