claude-task-master/apps/docs/archive/ai-development-workflow.mdx

---
title: "AI Development Workflow"
description: "Learn how Task Master and Cursor AI work together to streamline your development workflow"
---

<Tip>The Cursor agent is pre-configured (via the rules file) to follow this workflow</Tip>

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="1. Task Discovery and Selection">
    Ask the agent to list available tasks:

    ```
    What tasks are available to work on next?
    ```

    The agent will:

    - Run `task-master list` to see all tasks
    - Run `task-master next` to determine the next task to work on
    - Analyze dependencies to determine which tasks are ready to be worked on
    - Prioritize tasks based on priority level and ID order
    - Suggest the next task(s) to implement
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="2. Task Implementation">
    When implementing a task, the agent will:

    - Reference the task's details section for implementation specifics
    - Consider dependencies on previous tasks
    - Follow the project's coding standards
    - Create appropriate tests based on the task's testStrategy

    You can ask:

    ```
    Let's implement task 3. What does it involve?
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="3. Task Verification">
    Before marking a task as complete, verify it according to:

    - The task's specified testStrategy
    - Any automated tests in the codebase
    - Manual verification if required
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="4. Task Completion">
    When a task is completed, tell the agent:

    ```
    Task 3 is now complete. Please update its status.
    ```

    The agent will execute:

    ```bash
    task-master set-status --id=3 --status=done
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="5. Handling Implementation Drift">
    If during implementation, you discover that:

    - The current approach differs significantly from what was planned
    - Future tasks need to be modified due to current implementation choices
    - New dependencies or requirements have emerged

    Tell the agent:

    ```
    We've changed our approach. We're now using Express instead of Fastify. Please update all future tasks to reflect this change.
    ```

    The agent will execute:

    ```bash
    task-master update --from=4 --prompt="Now we are using Express instead of Fastify."
    ```

    This will rewrite or re-scope subsequent tasks in tasks.json while preserving completed work.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="6. Breaking Down Complex Tasks">
    For complex tasks that need more granularity:

    ```
    Task 5 seems complex. Can you break it down into subtasks?
    ```

    The agent will execute:

    ```bash
    task-master expand --id=5 --num=3
    ```

    You can provide additional context:

    ```
    Please break down task 5 with a focus on security considerations.
    ```

    The agent will execute:

    ```bash
    task-master expand --id=5 --prompt="Focus on security aspects"
    ```

    You can also expand all pending tasks:

    ```
    Please break down all pending tasks into subtasks.
    ```

    The agent will execute:

    ```bash
    task-master expand --all
    ```

    For research-backed subtask generation using Perplexity AI:

    ```
    Please break down task 5 using research-backed generation.
    ```

    The agent will execute:

    ```bash
    task-master expand --id=5 --research
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Example Cursor AI Interactions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Starting a new project">
    ```
    I've just initialized a new project with Claude Task Master. I have a PRD at scripts/prd.txt.
    Can you help me parse it and set up the initial tasks?
    ```
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Working on tasks">
    ```
    What's the next task I should work on? Please consider dependencies and priorities.
    ```
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Implementing a specific task">
    ```
    I'd like to implement task 4. Can you help me understand what needs to be done and how to approach it?
    ```
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Managing subtasks">
    ```
    I need to regenerate the subtasks for task 3 with a different approach. Can you help me clear and regenerate them?
    ```
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Handling changes">
    ```
    We've decided to use MongoDB instead of PostgreSQL. Can you update all future tasks to reflect this change?
    ```
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Completing work">
    ```
    I've finished implementing the authentication system described in task 2. All tests are passing.
    Please mark it as complete and tell me what I should work on next.
    ```
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Analyzing complexity">
    ```
    Can you analyze the complexity of our tasks to help me understand which ones need to be broken down further?
    ```
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Viewing complexity report">
    ```
    Can you show me the complexity report in a more readable format?
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>