---
title: "Task Master Commands"
description: "A comprehensive reference of all available Task Master commands"
---

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Parse PRD">
    ```bash
    # Parse a PRD file and generate tasks
    task-master parse-prd <prd-file.txt>

    # Limit the number of tasks generated
    task-master parse-prd <prd-file.txt> --num-tasks=10
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="List Tasks">
    ```bash
    # List all tasks
    task-master list

    # List tasks with a specific status
    task-master list --status=<status>

    # List tasks with subtasks
    task-master list --with-subtasks

    # List tasks with a specific status and include subtasks
    task-master list --status=<status> --with-subtasks
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Show Next Task">
    ```bash
    # Show the next task to work on based on dependencies and status
    task-master next
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Show Specific Task">
    ```bash
    # Show details of a specific task
    task-master show <id>
    # or
    task-master show --id=<id>

    # View a specific subtask (e.g., subtask 2 of task 1)
    task-master show 1.2
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Update Tasks">
    ```bash
    # Update tasks from a specific ID and provide context
    task-master update --from=<id> --prompt="<prompt>"
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Update a Specific Task">
    ```bash
    # Update a single task by ID with new information
    task-master update-task --id=<id> --prompt="<prompt>"

    # Use research-backed updates with Perplexity AI
    task-master update-task --id=<id> --prompt="<prompt>" --research
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Update a Subtask">
    ```bash
    # Append additional information to a specific subtask
    task-master update-subtask --id=<parentId.subtaskId> --prompt="<prompt>"

    # Example: Add details about API rate limiting to subtask 2 of task 5
    task-master update-subtask --id=5.2 --prompt="Add rate limiting of 100 requests per minute"

    # Use research-backed updates with Perplexity AI
    task-master update-subtask --id=<parentId.subtaskId> --prompt="<prompt>" --research
    ```

    Unlike the `update-task` command which replaces task information, the `update-subtask` command _appends_ new information to the existing subtask details, marking it with a timestamp. This is useful for iteratively enhancing subtasks while preserving the original content.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Generate Task Files">
    ```bash
    # Generate individual task files from tasks.json
    task-master generate
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Set Task Status">
    ```bash
    # Set status of a single task
    task-master set-status --id=<id> --status=<status>

    # Set status for multiple tasks
    task-master set-status --id=1,2,3 --status=<status>

    # Set status for subtasks
    task-master set-status --id=1.1,1.2 --status=<status>
    ```

    When marking a task as "done", all of its subtasks will automatically be marked as "done" as well.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Expand Tasks">
    ```bash
    # Expand a specific task with subtasks
    task-master expand --id=<id> --num=<number>

    # Expand with additional context
    task-master expand --id=<id> --prompt="<context>"

    # Expand all pending tasks
    task-master expand --all

    # Force regeneration of subtasks for tasks that already have them
    task-master expand --all --force

    # Research-backed subtask generation for a specific task
    task-master expand --id=<id> --research

    # Research-backed generation for all tasks
    task-master expand --all --research
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Clear Subtasks">
    ```bash
    # Clear subtasks from a specific task
    task-master clear-subtasks --id=<id>

    # Clear subtasks from multiple tasks
    task-master clear-subtasks --id=1,2,3

    # Clear subtasks from all tasks
    task-master clear-subtasks --all
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Analyze Task Complexity">
    ```bash
    # Analyze complexity of all tasks
    task-master analyze-complexity

    # Save report to a custom location
    task-master analyze-complexity --output=my-report.json

    # Use a specific LLM model
    task-master analyze-complexity --model=claude-3-opus-20240229

    # Set a custom complexity threshold (1-10)
    task-master analyze-complexity --threshold=6

    # Use an alternative tasks file
    task-master analyze-complexity --file=custom-tasks.json

    # Use Perplexity AI for research-backed complexity analysis
    task-master analyze-complexity --research
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="View Complexity Report">
    ```bash
    # Display the task complexity analysis report
    task-master complexity-report

    # View a report at a custom location
    task-master complexity-report --file=my-report.json
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Managing Task Dependencies">
    ```bash
    # Add a dependency to a task
    task-master add-dependency --id=<id> --depends-on=<id>

    # Remove a dependency from a task
    task-master remove-dependency --id=<id> --depends-on=<id>

    # Validate dependencies without fixing them
    task-master validate-dependencies

    # Find and fix invalid dependencies automatically
    task-master fix-dependencies
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Add a New Task">
    ```bash
    # Add a new task using AI
    task-master add-task --prompt="Description of the new task"

    # Add a task with dependencies
    task-master add-task --prompt="Description" --dependencies=1,2,3

    # Add a task with priority
    task-master add-task --prompt="Description" --priority=high
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Initialize a Project">
    ```bash
    # Initialize a new project with Task Master structure
    task-master init
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="TDD Workflow (Autopilot)">
    ```bash
    # Start autonomous TDD workflow for a task
    task-master autopilot start <taskId>

    # Get next action with context
    task-master autopilot next

    # Complete phase with test results
    task-master autopilot complete --results '{"total":N,"passed":N,"failed":N}'

    # Commit changes
    task-master autopilot commit

    # Check workflow status
    task-master autopilot status

    # Resume interrupted workflow
    task-master autopilot resume

    # Abort workflow
    task-master autopilot abort
    ```

    The TDD workflow enforces RED → GREEN → COMMIT cycles for each subtask. See [AI Agent Integration](/tdd-workflow/ai-agent-integration) for details.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>