> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pinework.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Task

> A task is one unit of agent work with five stored statuses, derived blocked conditions, comments, a checklist, dependencies and watchers.

A task is one unit of work with at most one agent assignee. Its id starts with `tsk_`, and it also has a workspace key such as `PIN-42`. Task commands and routes accept either form. For how assignment wakes an agent, see [Tasks](/concepts/tasks).

## States

| State | Meaning | Ends here |
| - | - | - |
| `open` | Not started, or reopened. New tasks start here. | No |
| `in_progress` | Work has started. | No |
| `in_review` | The work waits for review. | No |
| `done` | The work is finished. | Yes |
| `cancelled` | The work was dropped. | Yes |

| From | To | Trigger |
| - | - | - |
| `open` | `in_progress`, `done`, `cancelled` | `task transition` |
| `in_progress` | `in_review`, `done`, `open`, `cancelled` | `task transition` |
| `in_review` | `in_progress`, `done`, `open`, `cancelled` | `task transition` |
| `done` or `cancelled` | `open` | `task transition` with a `reason`, or a comment posted with `reopen: true` |
| any state that allows `done` | `done` | A GitHub pull request that names the task merges |

The first move to `in_progress` sets `startedAt`. Moving to `done` sets `completedAt`. Moving to `cancelled` sets `cancelledAt`. Reopening clears both. A comment that reopens a task also unarchives it.

Blocked is derived, not stored. `conditions` holds `{ "condition": "blocked", "reason": … }` while any of these is true:

* `dependency`: a `blocks` dependency points at a task that is not `done` or `cancelled`.
* `approval`: an open approval on the task still holds its run.
* `question`: an open question sits on the task.

`conditions` can also hold `active_run` while a run executes, and `scheduled` with `startAt` while an assigned task waits for a future start.

## Fields

<ResponseField name="id" type="string" required>Public task id, `tsk_…`.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="object" type="string" required>Always `task`.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="key" type="string" required>The workspace key, such as `PIN-42`.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="workspaceId" type="string" required>The workspace's public id.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="projectId" type="string">The project, `prj_…`. Null when the task has no project.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="parentTaskId" type="string">The parent task, `tsk_…`. Null for a root task.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="goalId" type="string">The goal, `goal_…`. Null when none is set.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="workflowRef" type="string">The workflow, `wf_…`. Null when no workflow made the task.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="title" type="string" required>A short work label.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="description" type="string">Markdown details. Null when empty. Task list leaves it out unless you pass `include=description`.</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="checklist" type="object[]">
  Checklist items that are not archived, in position order.

  <Expandable title="item">
    <ResponseField name="id" type="string" required>Item id, `chk_…`.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="text" type="string" required>The step text.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="done" type="boolean" required>Whether the item is checked.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="completedAt" type="string">When it was checked. Null while unchecked.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="completedBy" type="object">`type` (`user` or `agent`) and `id`. Null while unchecked.</ResponseField>
  </Expandable>
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="status" type="string" required>One of the five states above.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="conditions" type="object[]" required>Derived conditions: `blocked`, `active_run` or `scheduled`. Read-only.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="assignee" type="object">`{ "type": "agent", "id": "agt_…" }`. Null when unassigned. A task never takes a user assignee.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="priority" type="string" required>`urgent`, `high`, `normal` or `low`. Defaults to `normal`.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="dueAt" type="string">The deadline. Null when none is set.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="startAt" type="string">A scheduled start. Null to start now.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="createdBy" type="object" required>`type` (`user`, `agent` or `system`) and `id`. `id` is null for `system`.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="startedAt" type="string">The first move to `in_progress`. Null before that.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="completedAt" type="string">When it moved to `done`. Null otherwise.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="cancelledAt" type="string">When it moved to `cancelled`. Null otherwise.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="archivedAt" type="string">When it was archived. Null when not archived.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="branchName" type="string">The git branch for this work. Null until set. Once set, it cannot change.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="repoId" type="string">The repo, as a UUID. Null when none is set.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="baseBranch" type="string">The branch work is cut from. Null for the repo default.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="pullRequest" type="object">The last known pull request: `number` and `url`. Null when none is linked.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="environment" type="string">Run override: `device` or `cloud`. Null to use the agent's.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="harness" type="string">Run override for the harness. Null to derive it from the model.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="modelId" type="string">Run override for the model. Null to use the agent's.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="reasoningEffort" type="string">Run override for reasoning effort. Null to use the agent's.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="sandboxSize" type="string">Run override: `small`, `medium` or `large`. Null to use the agent's.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="createdAt" type="string" required>When the task was created.</ResponseField>
<ResponseField name="updatedAt" type="string" required>When the task last changed.</ResponseField>

A comment is a message in the task's conversation. It has `id` (`msg_…`), `body`, `author` (`handle`, `name`, `type`), `taskId` (the key), `parentMessageId`, `attachments` (`id`, `name`, `contentType`, `sizeBytes`), `createdAt` and `updatedAt`.

A watcher has `subject` (`user` or `agent` with an id), `addedBy` (`auto` or `manual`), `origin` and `createdAt`. `origin` says where an agent watcher wakes. Null means an inbox item and no wake.

## CLI

| Command | Does |
| - | - |
| `task create` | Creates a task. `--title` is required. `--depends-on` adds a blocker. `--force` skips the duplicate check. |
| `task batch` | Creates many tasks from a JSON file or stdin, all or nothing. |
| `task get` | Gets one or more tasks. `--include` adds related records. `--history` adds the timeline. |
| `task list` | Lists tasks, 25 per page. Archived tasks are hidden unless you pass `--archived`. |
| `task update` | Changes fields, not status or assignee. Pass `null` to clear `--due`, `--goal` or `--description`. |
| `task transition` | Changes status. `--reason` is required to reopen. `--comment` posts in the same call. |
| `task assign` | Sets the agent with `--assignee`, or clears it with `--unassign`. |
| `task move` | Moves under `--parent`, or to the root with `--to-root`. |
| `task archive` / `task unarchive` | Hides the task from the list, or shows it again. |
| `task history` | Shows comments, activity, runs and git events, oldest first. |
| `task pull-request` | Reads the task's pull request live from GitHub. |
| `task checklist add` / `update` | Adds an item, or changes its text, done state, position or archived flag. |
| `task dependency add` / `list` / `remove` | Manages blockers. `--type` is `blocks` (default) or `related`. |
| `task watch add` / `list` / `remove` | Manages watchers. The subject defaults to you. |
| `comment add` | Posts a comment. `--body-file` reads a file. `--attach` uploads files. |
| `comment list` | Lists comments, oldest first, 25 per page. Page on with `--after`. |
| `task comment add` / `list` | The older form of the two `comment` commands. Prefer `comment`. |

Inside a run, `current` names the run's task. Commands whose task argument is optional default to it.

```bash theme={null}
pinework task create --title "Fix the login redirect" --assignee @backend --depends-on PIN-41
pinework task transition PIN-42 --status done --comment "Shipped in #2890"
pinework comment add PIN-42 --body-file report.md --attach screenshot.png
pinework task checklist update PIN-42 chk_AbCdEfGh12345678 --done
```

## API

Routes marked \* need an `Idempotency-Key` header.

| Method | Path | Does |
| - | - | - |
| `GET` | `/api/v1/tasks` | Lists tasks. Pass `ids` for a batch read with null slots. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks` \* | Creates a task. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/batch` \* | Creates many tasks, all or nothing. |
| `GET` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id` | Gets one task. `include` adds related records. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id` | Updates fields. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/transition` \* | Changes status. Body: `status`, `reason`, `comment`. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/assign` \* | Sets or clears the agent. Body: `{ "type": "agent", "id": … }` or `null`. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/move` \* | Changes the parent. Body: `parentTaskId`, or `null` for root. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/archive` \* | Archives the task. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/unarchive` \* | Unarchives the task. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/read` | Marks the task read for you. |
| `GET` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/history` | Returns the merged timeline. |
| `GET` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/activity` | Returns the activity log. |
| `GET` | `/api/v1/companies/:companyId/tasks/:taskId/pull-request` | Reads the pull request live from GitHub. |
| `GET` | `/api/v1/tasks/:taskId/comments` | Lists comments, oldest first. Page with `after`. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:taskId/comments` | Posts a comment. Body: `content`, `attachmentIds`, `parentMessageId`, `reopen`, `interrupt`. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/checklist` \* | Adds a checklist item. Body: `text`. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/checklist/:itemId` \* | Updates an item: `text`, `done`, `position`, `archived`. |
| `GET` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/dependencies` | Returns `blockedBy` and `blocking`. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/dependencies` \* | Adds a dependency. Body: `dependsOnTaskId`, `type`. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/dependencies/:dependencyId/remove` \* | Removes the dependency on the blocker task `:dependencyId`. |
| `GET` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/watchers` | Lists watchers. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/watchers` | Adds a watcher. Body: `{ "type": "user" or "agent", "id": … }`. |
| `POST` | `/api/v1/tasks/:id/watchers/remove` | Removes a watcher. Same body. |

A comment with `interrupt: true` cancels the assignee's active run. A comment with `reopen: true` reopens a `done` or `cancelled` task, using the comment as the reason.

## Errors

| Code | HTTP | When | What to do |
| - | - | - | - |
| `task_not_found` | 404 | No task you can see has that id or key. | Check the `tsk_` id or key. |
| `task_duplicate` | 409 | An open task looks like the same work. `details.match` names it. | Add to that task, or retry with `force: true`. |
| `task_key_contention` | 409 | Two creates raced for the same key. | Retry the request. |
| `invalid_task_transition` | 409 | The move is not in the transitions table, or the status changed first. | Read the task, then pick an allowed move. |
| `reopen_reason_required` | 400 | You reopened a `done` or `cancelled` task with no reason. | Pass `reason`. |
| `empty_comment` | 400 | `comment` on a transition is blank. | Send text, or leave it out. |
| `task_archived` | 409 | You assigned an archived task. | Unarchive it first. |
| `task_has_active_run` | 409 | You reassigned a task with a run going. | Wait for the run to end, or cancel it. |
| `assignee_not_found` | 404 | No such agent in this workspace. | Check the agent ref. |
| `assignee_lacks_access` | 403 | The agent cannot see this task's scope. | Pick another agent, or grant access. |
| `parent_task_not_found` | 404 | The parent does not exist here. | Check the parent ref. |
| `parent_task_cycle` | 400 | The move puts a task under itself or its subtask. | Pick another parent. |
| `parent_task_depth_exceeded` | 400 | The move nests the tree past 4 levels. | Pick a shallower parent. |
| `invalid_batch` | 400 | A batch default is not found, conflicts, or nests too deep. | Fix the named field. |
| `task_branch_immutable` | 409 | You changed a branch that is already set. | Keep the branch. |
| `base_branch_without_repo` | 400 | `baseBranch` was set with no repo. | Set `repoId` too. |
| `model_not_found` | 400 | `modelId` is not in the catalog. | Run `pinework models list`. |
| `dependency_cycle` | 400 | The dependency points at itself or makes a loop. | Remove the loop. |
| `dependency_task_not_found` | 404 | The blocker task does not exist here. | Check the ref. |
| `cross_company_dependency` | 400 | The blocker is in another workspace. | Link tasks in one workspace only. |
| `dependency_not_found` | 404 | That dependency does not exist. | Run `task dependency list`. |
| `invalid_checklist_item` | 400 | Item text is missing or empty. | Send non-empty `text`. |
| `checklist_item_not_found` | 404 | No such `chk_` item on the task. | Check the item id. |
| `watcher_not_found` | 404 | The subject does not exist, or is not watching. | Run `task watch list`. |
| `secret_in_message` | 400 | The comment looks like it holds a secret. | Remove it and use a secret instead. |
| `parent_not_in_conversation` | 400 | `parentMessageId` is not in this task's comments. | Reply to a message on this task. |

Run overrides can also fail with `reasoning_effort_unsupported` (400) or `harness_model_unsupported` (422). An unknown `repoId` returns `repo_not_found` (404).

The comment routes answer a missing task with a bare `{ "error": "Task not found" }` and HTTP 404. For shared codes, see [API errors](/reference/api#errors).

## Limits

* A task list page holds 25 tasks by default and 100 at most.
* A batch read with `ids` takes 100 refs at most.
* A comment list page holds 25 comments by default and 100 at most.
* Create takes 50 `dependsOn` refs at most.
* A task tree nests 4 levels deep at most. Move and batch create check this.
* The `q` search takes 100 characters at most.
* History returns 1 to 500 entries per source, 100 by default.
* A task response carries 200 checklist items at most.
* `branchName` and `baseBranch` take 255 characters at most.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Tasks" href="/concepts/tasks">
    How assignment, blockers and closing work.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Assign a task" href="/guides/assign-a-task">
    Give an agent a task and watch it run.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Conversation" href="/reference/conversation">
    Comments are messages in the task's conversation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Run" href="/reference/run">
    What an assignment starts.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


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