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Task Management

AiderDesk's task management system provides a comprehensive way to organize, track, and manage your AI-assisted development work. Tasks have evolved from the previous sessions system to offer enhanced capabilities including cost tracking, Git worktree integration, and built-in todo management.

What are Tasks?​

A task represents a complete unit of work that includes:

  • Chat History: All conversations and AI interactions
  • Context Files: The files currently in the AI's context
  • Cost Tracking: Per-task costs for both Aider and Agent usage
  • Metadata: Creation/update timestamps, working mode, and more
  • Todo Items: Built-in checklist for tracking subtasks
  • Worktree Integration: Optional isolated Git worktree for safe experimentation

Task Organization​

Tasks are organized per project in the .aider-desk/tasks/ directory. Each task has its own folder with:

.aider-desk/tasks/{taskId}/
├── settings.json    # Task metadata and configuration
├── context.json     # Messages and files context
└── todos.json       # Todo items for the task

Task Sidebar​

The Task Sidebar on the left side of the project view provides easy access to all your tasks:

  • Task List: All tasks sorted by last update time
  • Status Indicators: Shows processing state with spinners and question marks
  • Quick Actions: Create, rename, delete, and duplicate tasks
  • Collapsible Interface: Can be collapsed to save screen space

Working Modes​

Tasks support two working modes:

Local Mode​

Work directly in your main project directory. This is the default mode and is suitable for most development work.

Worktree Mode​

Create an isolated Git worktree for safe experimentation:

  • Complete Isolation: Work doesn't affect your main branch
  • Safe Experimentation: Try out ideas without risk
  • Easy Integration: Merge changes back when ready
  • Revert Support: Built-in revert functionality

Task Management Features​

Creating Tasks​

  • Automatic Creation: Tasks are created automatically when you start a new conversation
  • Manual Creation: Use the "New Task" button in the Task Sidebar
  • Smart Naming: Tasks are automatically named based on your first prompt, or you can name them manually

Task Operations​

  • Rename: Change the task name at any time
  • Duplicate: Create a complete copy of a task including all state
  • Delete: Remove tasks with confirmation
  • Export: Export tasks as Markdown or images

Task States​

Tasks track various timestamps and states:

  • Created: When the task was first created
  • Started: When work on the task began
  • Updated: Last time the task was modified
  • Completed: When the task was marked as finished

Cost Tracking​

Each task independently tracks costs for both AI systems:

  • Aider Costs: Token usage and costs for direct Aider interactions
  • Agent Costs: Token usage and costs for Agent mode operations
  • Real-time Updates: Costs are updated as you work
  • Persistent Storage: Cost data is saved with the task

Todo Management​

Tasks include a built-in todo system for breaking down complex work:

The Todo Window​

A floating window appears when todos are present, providing:

  • Real-time View: See all todos and their completion status
  • Manual Control: Check/uncheck items to guide the work
  • Edit Capabilities: Add, edit, or delete todo items
  • Agent Integration: Agents can automatically manage todos

Agent Todo Tools​

When using Agent Mode, the AI can:

  • Set Items: Create or overwrite the todo list with a plan
  • Get Items: Read the current todo state
  • Update Completion: Mark items as complete/incomplete
  • Clear Items: Remove all todos when starting fresh

Advanced Features​

Task Duplication​

Create complete copies of tasks including:

  • All chat messages and context
  • Todo items and their completion state
  • Cost tracking data
  • Worktree configuration

Export Options​

  • Markdown Export: Save the entire conversation as a formatted markdown file
  • Image Export: Capture the task view as a PNG image
  • Context Preservation: Maintains formatting and structure in exports

Integration with Other Features​

  • Git Worktrees: Seamlessly works with isolated development environments
  • Agent Mode: Enhanced capabilities when using AI agents
  • IDE Connectors: Automatic context file management via IDE plugins
  • Custom Commands: Task-aware command execution

Best Practices​

Task Organization​

  • Descriptive Names: Use clear, descriptive names for your tasks
  • Focused Work: Keep each task focused on a specific feature or bug fix
  • Regular Cleanup: Delete completed tasks to keep your workspace organized

Working with Worktrees​

  • Experiment Freely: Use worktree mode for risky experimental changes
  • Feature Isolation: Create separate worktrees for different features
  • Safe Merging: Use the built-in merge and revert functionality

Cost Management​

  • Monitor Costs: Keep an eye on per-task costs to stay within budget
  • Compare Performance: Use cost data to compare different approaches
  • Optimize Prompts: Refine prompts based on cost-effectiveness

Tasks provide a powerful, flexible foundation for managing your AI-assisted development work, offering significant improvements over the previous sessions system while maintaining backward compatibility.