Generate implementation tasks in the tasks.md file

  • 8 minutes

Technical plans provide architectural direction, but implementation requires concrete, actionable steps. GitHub Spec Kit's task generation transforms your plan into a structured checklist that guides systematic development and enables progress tracking.

Benefits of task breakdown

The /speckit.tasks command converts high-level architectural decisions into specific work items in the tasks.md file. Each task represents a discrete unit of work that can be implemented, tested, and verified independently. This granular approach prevents overwhelming complexity and provides clear checkpoints throughout the implementation process.

Task breakdowns serve multiple purposes beyond just organizing work. They help the AI generate focused code for specific objectives rather than attempting to implement entire features in single operations. They create natural verification points where you can test partial implementations before proceeding. They enable accurate progress tracking by showing exactly what's complete and what remains. They facilitate team coordination by making dependencies explicit.

For the document upload feature, the plan describes the overall architecture and technology choices. The task list translates architectural decisions into specific actions: create a database table, implement an API endpoint, build a React component, add validation logic, write tests. Each task is small enough to complete in a reasonable timeframe while large enough to represent meaningful progress.

Generate tasks using /speckit.tasks

GitHub Spec Kit generates task lists through the /speckit.tasks command in GitHub Copilot Chat. This command processes both spec.md and plan.md to produce a comprehensive, ordered list of implementation tasks.

The AI analyzes the specification to understand what needs to be built, reviews the plan to understand the architectural approach, and generates tasks that bridge the gap between these documents and actual code. The resulting tasks.md file contains numbered or bulleted tasks, often organized into phases for complex features.

Invoke the task generation command

Open GitHub Copilot Chat in Visual Studio Code and enter /speckit.tasks. GitHub Copilot processes the specification and plan to generate a structured task list. The generation process typically completes in a few moments, producing a comprehensive breakdown of implementation work.

The task list automatically inherits context from your specification and plan. If the plan specifies "use Azure Blob Storage," the generated tasks include specific steps for configuring blob storage connections, implementing upload logic, and handling storage errors.

Examine task structure and organization

A well-structured task list organizes work logically, sequences dependencies appropriately, and provides clear guidance for implementation.

Phase-based organization

Complex features benefit from phase-based organization. Each phase represents a logical grouping of related tasks that build toward a specific milestone.

For the document upload feature, a typical phase structure might include:

  • Phase 1: Foundation and Configuration

    • Set up the Azure Blob Storage connection configuration in appsettings.json.
    • Create the DocumentMetadata table in SQL database with appropriate schema.
    • Add the Azure.Storage.Blobs NuGet package to the back-end project.
    • Create the DocumentService class that encapsulates storage operations.

  • Phase 2: Core Upload Functionality

    • Implement POST /api/documents/upload endpoint in DocumentsController.
    • Add file validation logic (size, type) to DocumentService.
    • Implement blob storage upload method with error handling.
    • Save document metadata to database after successful upload.
    • Return upload result with document ID and URL to client.

  • Phase 3: Front-end Implementation

    • Create DocumentUpload React component with file input.
    • Add file size and type validation in component.
    • Implement upload progress indicator.
    • Handle upload success and error responses.
    • Refresh document list after successful upload.

  • Phase 4: Security and Validation

    • Add a Microsoft Entra ID authentication check to the upload endpoint.
    • Implement server-side file type validation using magic numbers.
    • Add request size limits that prevent DoS attacks.
    • Validate file extensions against an allowed list.
    • Add audit logging for upload operations.

  • Phase 5: Testing and Documentation

    • Write unit tests for DocumentService upload methods.
    • Create integration test for complete upload flow.
    • Add error scenario tests (invalid file type, size exceeded).
    • Document API endpoint in OpenAPI/Swagger.
    • Update user documentation with upload instructions.

This phased approach creates natural milestones. After Phase 2, you have a working but minimal back end. After Phase 3, users can upload files. After Phase 4, the system is secure and production-ready. After Phase 5, everything is tested and documented.

Task granularity and scope

Each task should be appropriately scoped—specific enough to provide clear direction, but not so detailed that it becomes prescriptive micromanagement.

Well-scoped tasks share these characteristics:

  • Actionable: The task clearly states what needs to be done.
  • Testable: You can verify when the task is complete.
  • Independent where possible: The task can be completed without waiting for unrelated work.
  • Time-bounded: A developer can complete the task in a reasonable timeframe (typically hours to a day, not weeks).

Example of well-scoped task: "Implement POST /api/documents/upload endpoint that accepts multipart file uploads, validates file size is under 50 MB, stores the file in Azure Blob Storage, and returns the blob URL and document ID."

This task is specific about what to build (an endpoint), what it accepts (multipart files), what validations to apply (size limit), where to store files (Azure Blob Storage), and what to return (URL and ID). A developer knows exactly what to implement.

Here's an example of an insufficiently scoped task: "Make the upload work." This example provides no actionable guidance about what "work" means or what components are involved.

Here'e and example of an overly prescriptive task: "On line 47 of DocumentsController.cs, add a method named UploadDocument with parameters (IFormFile file, string userId) and implement it using exactly these steps..." This task description removes developer agency and doesn't account for evolving code structure.

Task dependencies and sequencing

The task order matters. Some tasks must complete before others can begin.

Database schema changes typically come first because back-end code depends on schema existence. Back-end API endpoints come before front-end components that call those endpoints. Configuration setup precedes code that uses that configuration. Testing comes after the code being tested exists.

The task list should sequence work to minimize blocking. If front end and back end tasks are independent, they can proceed in parallel. If multiple back-end endpoints exist, developers could implement the tasks concurrently.

For the document upload feature, the logical sequence ensures:

  1. Configuration and database setup happen first (no dependencies).
  2. Back-end API implementation follows database setup (depends on schema).
  3. Front-end components follow API implementation (depend on endpoints existing).
  4. Security hardening happens after core functionality (depends on code existing).
  5. Testing happens after all implementation (depends on completed code).

This task sequence allows continuous progress without waiting for unrelated work to complete.

Review and validate the tasks list

The tasks list requires critical review to ensure completeness and correctness.

Verify coverage of plan elements

Compare tasks.md against plan.md systematically. Every architectural decision and implementation step in the plan should correspond to one or more tasks.

If the plan specifies "implement server-side validation," specific tasks should cover file type validation, file size validation, and error response handling. If the plan mentions "audit logging," a task should address creating log entries for upload operations.

Missing tasks indicate either incomplete generation or plan elements that don't translate to concrete work. Resolve this issue by adding tasks manually or providing more context and regenerating.

Check for logical gaps

Look for functionality gaps that aren't obvious from the plan but become apparent when considering implementation details.

Common gaps include:

  • Error handling: Are there tasks for handling network errors, storage failures, or database issues?
  • Edge cases: What happens when users upload files with identical names? How are concurrent uploads handled?
  • Configuration: Are connection strings, API keys, and service endpoints properly configured?
  • User feedback: How do users know when uploads complete or fail?
  • Data cleanup: If an upload partially succeeds, then fails, is cleanup handled?

Identify these gaps during review and add appropriate tasks before implementation begins.

Assess task order and dependencies

Verify that tasks are sequenced appropriately. Database schema tasks should precede code that accesses those tables. API endpoint tasks should precede front-end components that call those endpoints.

If you find tasks out of order, resequence them manually. For example, if a front-end task appears before the corresponding back-end task, move it to the appropriate phase.

Consider dependencies between tasks within the same phase. If one task's output is required for another task, ensure the first task appears earlier in the sequence.

Validate task granularity

Ensure each task is appropriately scoped. Tasks that are too large ("implement entire back end") should be broken down into smaller, manageable pieces. Tasks that are too small ("add semicolon to line 42") should be combined into more meaningful units.

A well-scoped task typically takes a few hours to a day to complete, can be tested independently, and produces demonstrable progress.

Use tasks to guide implementation

Once validated, tasks.md becomes your implementation roadmap.

Systematic progression through tasks

Work through tasks in order, completing each before moving to the next. This disciplined approach ensures nothing is skipped and provides clear progress indicators.

As you complete each task:

  1. Implement the required functionality.
  2. Test the implementation to verify correctness.
  3. Mark the task as complete (add a checkbox or strikethrough).
  4. Commit your changes with a reference to the task.

This systematic approach creates a clear audit trail linking completed work to specific tasks.

Track progress and communicate status

The task list provides an objective measure of progress. If 15 of 30 tasks are complete, the feature is roughly 50% implemented. This metric helps with project planning and stakeholder communication.

Share tasks.md with your team to communicate what's complete and what remains. Team members can see at a glance which areas need attention and where to focus review efforts.

Adapt tasks during implementation

If implementation reveals new requirements or better approaches, update tasks.md accordingly. The task list should reflect reality, not an outdated plan.

Distribute tasks among team members

Clear task definitions allow work distribution across multiple developers. The back-end team can work on API tasks while the front-end team builds UI components. Database administrators can set up schemas while developers prepare configuration.

Explicitly calling out task dependencies helps to prevent blocking. If Task B depends on Task A, ensure Task A is assigned and prioritized appropriately. Document completion criteria in tasks to ensure handoffs are clean.

Implement tasks using GitHub Spec Kit

The /speckit.implement command uses tasks.md to generate code systematically. Rather than attempting to implement entire features in one pass, the AI works through tasks sequentially. This approach produces more focused, correct code.

You can invoke /speckit.implement with a specific task number, a range of tasks, or description of the implementation taken from the tasks.md file. The AI references spec.md, plan.md, and tasks.md to produce code that aligns with the overall architecture and requirements.

For example, to implement the document upload endpoint, you might enter:

/speckit.implement Implement the MVP first strategy (Tasks: T001 - T027)

This command instructs the AI to focus on tasks T001 through T027, generating code that fulfills each task's requirements in sequence.

Provide assistance during implementation

The AI might require assistance or permission to proceed with certain tasks. For example, if a task requires building or running the app, the AI may prompt for confirmation before proceeding.

In addition, the AI might discover a bug when testing the implementation of a task. Provide detailed information to help diagnose the issue. You can also provide additional context or clarifications if the AI encounters ambiguities.

When prompted for assistance in the Chat view, a quick response helps to keep implementation moving smoothly.

Verification checkpoints

After completing an implementation command, verify the results before proceeding. Run the application, execute tests, and confirm that each task is implemented and its objective is achieved. This incremental verification catches issues early when they're easiest to fix.

Context maintenance across tasks

As you progress through tasks, previously completed work provides context for subsequent tasks. The AI can reference earlier implementations when building related functionality, improving code quality and maintaining architectural consistency.

Common challenges arise when managing implementation tasks.

Tasks that grow in scope

When a task reveals unexpected complexity during implementation, pause and reassess. Break the bloated task into multiple smaller tasks. Update tasks.md to reflect the true scope. Communicate the scope expansion to stakeholders.

Blocked tasks

Tasks sometimes become blocked by external dependencies. Mark blocked tasks explicitly in tasks.md with block reasons: "BLOCKED: Waiting for Azure Blob Storage container provisioning - ticket #1234." Track blocked tasks separately to ensure they don't get forgotten.

Changing priorities

Business needs evolve. When priorities shift, update tasks.md accordingly. Reorder your tasks in a way that reflects new priorities. Add new tasks for emergent requirements. Consider deferring or removing tasks that are no longer valuable.

Task ambiguity discovered during implementation

When ambiguity surfaces, pause implementation and seek clarification. Review the specification and plan to understand the original intent. Update the task description with specific, unambiguous language before proceeding.

Summary

Task generation transforms architectural plans into actionable implementation steps. Generate task lists using /speckit.tasks to create structured, phase-based breakdowns of implementation work. Review generated tasks critically to ensure comprehensive coverage, logical sequencing, and appropriate granularity. Use the validated task list to guide systematic implementation, track progress, and coordinate team efforts.

The combination of spec.md, plan.md, and tasks.md creates a complete development framework. The specification defines what to build and why. The plan defines how to build it architecturally. The tasks define the specific steps to execute the build. Together, these artifacts transform ambiguous requirements into concrete, trackable development work that maintains alignment with project goals throughout implementation.