Work Skill
Version: 1.1.0 Portability: Tool-specific (requires gh CLI, dot CLI, git)
Quick Start
Start working on a task in under 2 minutes.
What This Does
Helps you select and begin work on a task, creating the proper git branch/worktree and marking the task as active.
Fastest Path
- •Ensure clean git state (no uncommitted changes)
- •Run
/sdlc:work - •Select task from list (or provide task ID)
- •Start implementing with TDD cycle
Basic Example
# In project directory /sdlc:work # Output shows: # "Ready tasks: # 1. myproject-add-search-def456 - Add search feature [P1] # 2. myproject-fix-bug-ghi789 - Fix login bug [P2] # # Select task (1-2) or enter ID:" # After selection: # ✓ Task marked active # ✓ Branch created: feature/myproject-add-search-def456 # # Acceptance Criteria: # - User can search by keyword # - Results display in <200ms # # Next: Start TDD cycle with /sdlc:red
Current Context
!bash -c "echo '**Branch:** ' && git branch --show-current 2>/dev/null || echo 'No branch'"!
!bash -c "echo '**PR Status:** ' && gh pr view --json number,title,url 2>/dev/null | jq -r '\"#\\(.number) - \\(.title)\\n\\(.url)\"' || echo 'No active PR'"!
!bash -c "BRANCH=\\$(git branch --show-current 2>/dev/null) && if [[ -n \\\"\\$BRANCH\\\" ]]; then TASK_ID=\\\"\\${BRANCH#feature/}\\\"; echo '**Active Task:** ' && dot task show \\\"\\$TASK_ID\\\" 2>/dev/null | grep -E '^(ID|Title|Status):' || echo 'No task found'; fi"!
Common Examples
Example 1: Starting First Task
When: Clean project, ready to begin implementation
Invoke: /sdlc:work
Result: Shows ready tasks, creates branch, displays acceptance criteria
Example 2: Continuing Active Work
When: Returning after break, have active task
Invoke: /sdlc:work
Result: Detects current work, offers to continue or switch
Example 3: Switching Tasks
When: Need to work on higher-priority task
Invoke: /sdlc:work → select different task
Result: Switches branch (after confirming current work committed)
Example 4: Worktree Mode
When: git.worktrees: true in config
Invoke: /sdlc:work
Result: Creates worktree in ../worktrees/<task-id>, isolates work
Example 5: Child Task Priority
When: Active parent has child tasks
Invoke: /sdlc:work
Result: Shows children first (scoped work completes parents)
When to Use
Use this skill when:
- •Starting work on a new task
- •Returning to work after a break
- •Switching between tasks
- •User asks "what should I work on next?"
Don't use when:
- •No tasks exist yet (use
/sdlc:planto create tasks first) - •Need to create PR (use
/sdlc:prafter work complete) - •Addressing PR feedback (use
/sdlc:reviewinstead) - •Project not set up (run
/sdlc:setupfirst)
Related skills:
- •
/sdlc:plan- Create tasks from event model - •
/sdlc:pr- Create pull request - •
/sdlc:review- Address PR feedback - •
/sdlc:complete- Mark task done
Auto-Invocation
Claude automatically invokes this skill when you say:
- •"Start working on the authentication feature"
- •"Let's begin implementing the next task"
- •"What should I work on?"
- •"Show me the ready tasks"
- •"I want to start coding"
- •"Let's work on [feature name]"
You don't need to type /sdlc:work explicitly - Claude will detect these requests and invoke the skill for you.
Before You Start
MANDATORY: Search auto memory for relevant work context.
MEMORY_PATH="$HOME/.claude/projects/$(pwd | sed 's/\//-/g' | sed 's/^-//')/memory" find "$MEMORY_PATH" -name "*.md" -mtime -30 2>/dev/null | \ xargs grep -l -i "current work\|in progress" 2>/dev/null | \ head -5
Displays relevant patterns from past work sessions.
Reference
For detailed information:
- •Principles - Clean state, task hierarchy, worktrees, context assembly
- •Constraints - DO/DON'T rules, integration points, error handling
- •Examples - Comprehensive scenarios with commands
Metadata
Version History:
- •v1.1.0 (2026-02-05): Progressive disclosure restructure, memory search integration
- •v1.0.0: Initial extraction from sdlc plugin v8.0.0
Dependencies: tdd-constraints, github-issues, orchestration-protocol, memory-protocol Portability: Tool-specific (gh, dot, git required)