Autonomous Skill

Autonomous Skill - Long-Running Task Execution

Execute complex, long-running tasks across multiple sessions using a dual-agent pattern (Initializer + Executor) with automatic session continuation.

Directory Structure

All task data is stored in .autonomous/<task-name>/ under the project root: project-root/ └── .autonomous/ ├── build-rest-api/ │ ├── task_list.md │ └── progress.md ├── refactor-auth/ │ ├── task_list.md │ └── progress.md └── ... This allows multiple autonomous tasks to run in parallel without conflicts.

Workflow Overview

User Request → Generate Task Name → Create .autonomous/<task-name>/ → Execute Sessions

Step 1: Initialize Task Directory

Generate a task name from user's description and create the directory: # Generate task name (lowercase, hyphens, max 30 chars) # Example: "Build a REST API for todo app" → "build-rest-api-todo" TASK_NAME=$(echo "$USER_TASK" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]' | sed 's/[^a-z0-9]/-/g' | sed 's/--*/-/g' | cut -c1-30 | sed 's/-$//') # Create task directory TASK_DIR=".autonomous/$TASK_NAME" mkdir -p "$TASK_DIR" echo "Task directory: $TASK_DIR"

Step 2: Analyze Current State

Check if this is a new task or continuation: TASK_DIR=".autonomous/$TASK_NAME" # Look for existing task list if [ -f "$TASK_DIR/task_list.md" ]; then echo "=== CONTINUATION MODE ===" echo "Found existing task at: $TASK_DIR" # Show progress summary TOTAL=$(grep -c '^\- \[' "$TASK_DIR/task_list.md" 2>/dev/null || echo "0") DONE=$(grep -c '^\- \[x\]' "$TASK_DIR/task_list.md" 2>/dev/null || echo "0") echo "Progress: $DONE/$TOTAL tasks completed" # Show recent progress notes echo "" echo "=== Recent Progress ===" head -50 "$TASK_DIR/task_list.md" else echo "=== NEW TASK MODE ===" echo "Creating new task at: $TASK_DIR" mkdir -p "$TASK_DIR" fi

For NEW Tasks (Initializer Mode)

If task_list.md does NOT exist in the task directory: SKILL_DIR="${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/autonomous-skill" TASK_DIR=".autonomous/$TASK_NAME" # Read the initializer prompt template INITIALIZER_PROMPT=$(cat "$SKILL_DIR/templates/initializer-prompt.md") # Execute initializer session claude -p "Task: $USER_TASK_DESCRIPTION Task Directory: $TASK_DIR $INITIALIZER_PROMPT" \ --output-format stream-json \ --max-turns 50 \ --append-system-prompt "You are the Initializer Agent. Create task_list.md and progress.md in $TASK_DIR directory."

For CONTINUATION (Executor Mode)

If task_list.md EXISTS in the task directory: SKILL_DIR="${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/autonomous-skill" TASK_DIR=".autonomous/$TASK_NAME" # Read the executor prompt template EXECUTOR_PROMPT=$(cat "$SKILL_DIR/templates/executor-prompt.md") # Read current state TASK_LIST=$(cat "$TASK_DIR/task_list.md") PROGRESS=$(cat "$TASK_DIR/progress.md" 2>/dev/null || echo "No previous progress notes") # Execute executor session claude -p "Continue working on the task. Task Directory: $TASK_DIR Current task_list.md: $TASK_LIST Previous progress notes: $PROGRESS $EXECUTOR_PROMPT" \ --output-format stream-json \ --max-turns 100 \ --append-system-prompt "You are the Executor Agent. Complete tasks and update files in $TASK_DIR directory."

Step 4: Auto-Continue Loop

After each session completes, check remaining tasks and auto-continue: #!/bin/bash TASK_DIR=".autonomous/$TASK_NAME" AUTO_CONTINUE_DELAY=3 SESSION_NUM=1 while true; do echo "" echo "==========================================" echo " SESSION $SESSION_NUM - Task: $TASK_NAME" echo "==========================================" # Run the appropriate agent # ... execute session ... # Check completion if [ -f "$TASK_DIR/task_list.md" ]; then TOTAL=$(grep -c '^\- \[' "$TASK_DIR/task_list.md" 2>/dev/null || echo "0") DONE=$(grep -c '^\- \[x\]' "$TASK_DIR/task_list.md" 2>/dev/null || echo "0") echo "" echo "=== Progress: $DONE/$TOTAL tasks completed ===" if [ "$DONE" -eq "$TOTAL" ] && [ "$TOTAL" -gt 0 ]; then echo "" echo "All tasks completed! Exiting." break fi fi # Auto-continue with delay echo "" echo "Continuing in $AUTO_CONTINUE_DELAY seconds... (Press Ctrl+C to pause)" sleep $AUTO_CONTINUE_DELAY SESSION_NUM=$((SESSION_NUM + 1)) done

Step 5: Report Progress

• After execution, display a clear progress report:
• ==========================================
• SESSION COMPLETE - Task: build-rest-api
• ==========================================
• Task Directory: .autonomous/build-rest-api/
• Tasks completed this session:
• [x] Task 5: Implement user authentication
• [x] Task 6: Add login form validation
• Overall Progress: 18/50 tasks (36%)
• Next tasks:
• [ ] Task 7: Create password reset flow
• [ ] Task 8: Add session management
• Continuing in 3 seconds... (Press Ctrl+C to pause)

Example 1: Start New Task

User: Please use autonomous skill to build a REST API for a todo app Response: 1. Generated task name: "build-rest-api-todo" 2. Created directory: .autonomous/build-rest-api-todo/ 3. Running Initializer Agent... 4. Created task_list.md with 25 tasks 5. Progress: 3/25 completed 6. Auto-continuing in 3 seconds...

Example 2: Continue Existing Task

User: Continue the autonomous task "build-rest-api-todo" Response: 1. Found task: .autonomous/build-rest-api-todo/ 2. Current progress: 15/25 tasks 3. Running Executor Agent... 4. Completed tasks 16-17 5. Progress: 17/25 completed 6. Auto-continuing in 3 seconds...

Example 3: List All Tasks

# List all autonomous tasks ls -la .autonomous/ # Show progress for specific task cat .autonomous/build-rest-api-todo/task_list.md

Key Files

For each task in .autonomous/<task-name>/: FilePurposetask_list.mdMaster task list with checkbox progressprogress.mdSession-by-session progress notes

Important Notes

Task Isolation: Each task has its own directory, no conflicts Task Naming: Auto-generated from description (lowercase, hyphens) Task List is Sacred: Never delete or modify descriptions, only mark [x] One Task at a Time per Session: Focus on completing tasks thoroughly Auto-Continue: Sessions auto-continue with 3s delay; Ctrl+C to pause

Troubleshooting

IssueSolutionTask not foundCheck .autonomous/ for existing tasksMultiple tasksSpecify task name explicitlySession stuckCheck progress.md in task directoryNeed to restartDelete task directory and start fresh