claude-task-master
Task Master is a task management system tailored for AI-driven development. It supports seamless integration with multiple AI models and can be operated from various code editors or command line, enhancing project management efficiency. The tool is especially useful for parsing project requirements and planning implementation steps.
Task Master 
By @eyaltoledano & @RalphEcom
A task management system for AI-driven development with Claude, designed to work seamlessly with Cursor AI.
Requirements
Taskmaster utilizes AI across several commands, and those require a separate API key. You can use a variety of models from different AI providers provided you add your API keys. For example, if you want to use Claude 3.7, you'll need an Anthropic API key.
You can define 3 types of models to be used: the main model, the research model, and the fallback model (in case either the main or research fail). Whatever model you use, its provider API key must be present in either mcp.json or .env.
At least one (1) of the following is required:
- Anthropic API key (Claude API)
- OpenAI API key
- Google Gemini API key
- Perplexity API key (for research model)
- xAI API Key (for research or main model)
- OpenRouter API Key (for research or main model)
Using the research model is optional but highly recommended. You will need at least ONE API key. Adding all API keys enables you to seamlessly switch between model providers at will.
Quick Start
Option 1: MCP (Recommended)
MCP (Model Control Protocol) lets you run Task Master directly from your editor.
1. Add your MCP config at the following path depending on your editor
Editor | Scope | Linux/macOS Path | Windows Path | Key |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cursor | Global | ~/.cursor/mcp.json | %USERPROFILE%\.cursor\mcp.json | mcpServers |
Project | <project_folder>/.cursor/mcp.json | <project_folder>\.cursor\mcp.json | mcpServers | |
Windsurf | Global | ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json | %USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json | mcpServers |
VS Code | Project | <project_folder>/.vscode/mcp.json | <project_folder>\.vscode\mcp.json | servers |
Cursor & Windsurf (mcpServers
)
{
"mcpServers": {
"taskmaster-ai": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "--package=task-master-ai", "task-master-ai"],
"env": {
"ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY_HERE",
"PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_PERPLEXITY_API_KEY_HERE",
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_KEY_HERE",
"GOOGLE_API_KEY": "YOUR_GOOGLE_KEY_HERE",
"MISTRAL_API_KEY": "YOUR_MISTRAL_KEY_HERE",
"OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENROUTER_KEY_HERE",
"XAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_XAI_KEY_HERE",
"AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_AZURE_KEY_HERE",
"OLLAMA_API_KEY": "YOUR_OLLAMA_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
🔑 Replace
YOUR_…_KEY_HERE
with your real API keys. You can remove keys you don't use.
VS Code (servers
+ type
)
{
"servers": {
"taskmaster-ai": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "--package=task-master-ai", "task-master-ai"],
"env": {
"ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY_HERE",
"PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_PERPLEXITY_API_KEY_HERE",
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_KEY_HERE",
"GOOGLE_API_KEY": "YOUR_GOOGLE_KEY_HERE",
"MISTRAL_API_KEY": "YOUR_MISTRAL_KEY_HERE",
"OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENROUTER_KEY_HERE",
"XAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_XAI_KEY_HERE",
"AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_AZURE_KEY_HERE"
},
"type": "stdio"
}
}
}
🔑 Replace
YOUR_…_KEY_HERE
with your real API keys. You can remove keys you don't use.
2. (Cursor-only) Enable Taskmaster MCP
Open Cursor Settings (Ctrl+Shift+J) ➡ Click on MCP tab on the left ➡ Enable task-master-ai with the toggle
3. (Optional) Configure the models you want to use
In your editor’s AI chat pane, say:
Change the main, research and fallback models to <model_name>, <model_name> and <model_name> respectively.
4. Initialize Task Master
In your editor’s AI chat pane, say:
Initialize taskmaster-ai in my project
5. Make sure you have a PRD in <project_folder>/scripts/prd.txt
An example of a PRD is located into <project_folder>/scripts/example_prd.txt
.
Always start with a detailed PRD.
The more detailed your PRD, the better the generated tasks will be.
6. Common Commands
Use your AI assistant to:
- Parse requirements:
Can you parse my PRD at scripts/prd.txt?
- Plan next step:
What’s the next task I should work on?
- Implement a task:
Can you help me implement task 3?
- Expand a task:
Can you help me expand task 4?
Option 2: Using Command Line
Installation
# Install globally
npm install -g task-master-ai
# OR install locally within your project
npm install task-master-ai
Initialize a new project
# If installed globally
task-master init
# If installed locally
npx task-master init
This will prompt you for project details and set up a new project with the necessary files and structure.
Common Commands
# Initialize a new project
task-master init
# Parse a PRD and generate tasks
task-master parse-prd your-prd.txt
# List all tasks
task-master list
# Show the next task to work on
task-master next
# Generate task files
task-master generate
Documentation
For more detailed information, check out the documentation in the docs
directory:
- - Set up environment variables and customize Task Master
- - Step-by-step guide to getting started with Task Master
- - Complete list of all available commands
- - Understanding the task format and features
- - Common Cursor AI interaction examples
Troubleshooting
If task-master init
doesn't respond:
Try running it with Node directly:
node node_modules/claude-task-master/scripts/init.js
Or clone the repository and run:
git clone https://github.com/eyaltoledano/claude-task-master.git
cd claude-task-master
node scripts/init.js
Contributors
Star History
Licensing
Task Master is licensed under the MIT License with Commons Clause. This means you can:
✅ Allowed:
- Use Task Master for any purpose (personal, commercial, academic)
- Modify the code
- Distribute copies
- Create and sell products built using Task Master
❌ Not Allowed:
- Sell Task Master itself
- Offer Task Master as a hosted service
- Create competing products based on Task Master
See the file for the complete license text and for more information.