feat(mcp): Implement update-subtask MCP command for appending information to subtasks

.changeset/two-bats-smoke.md

@@ -2,4 +2,6 @@
 "task-master-ai": patch
 ---
 
-Split monolithic task-master-core.js into separate function files within direct-functions directory and implement update-task MCP command for updating a single task by ID
+- Split monolithic task-master-core.js into separate function files within direct-functions directory
+- Implement update-task MCP command for updating a single task by ID
+- Implement update-subtask MCP command for appending information to specific subtasks

.cursor/rules/dev_workflow.mdc

@@ -342,4 +342,4 @@ alwaysApply: true
       - Start by mapping all functions in the source file
       - Create target module files based on function grouping
       - Verify all functions were properly migrated
-      - Check for any unintentional duplications or omissions
+      - Check for any unintentional duplications or omissions

mcp-server/src/core/direct-functions/update-subtask-by-id.js

@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+/**
+ * update-subtask-by-id.js
+ * Direct function implementation for appending information to a specific subtask
+ */
+
+import { updateSubtaskById } from '../../../../scripts/modules/task-manager.js';
+import { findTasksJsonPath } from '../utils/path-utils.js';
+
+/**
+ * Direct function wrapper for updateSubtaskById with error handling.
+ * 
+ * @param {Object} args - Command arguments containing id, prompt, useResearch and file path options.
+ * @param {Object} log - Logger object.
+ * @returns {Promise<Object>} - Result object with success status and data/error information.
+ */
+export async function updateSubtaskByIdDirect(args, log) {
+  try {
+    log.info(`Updating subtask with args: ${JSON.stringify(args)}`);
+    
+    // Check required parameters
+    if (!args.id) {
+      const errorMessage = 'No subtask ID specified. Please provide a subtask ID to update.';
+      log.error(errorMessage);
+      return { 
+        success: false, 
+        error: { code: 'MISSING_SUBTASK_ID', message: errorMessage },
+        fromCache: false 
+      };
+    }
+    
+    if (!args.prompt) {
+      const errorMessage = 'No prompt specified. Please provide a prompt with information to add to the subtask.';
+      log.error(errorMessage);
+      return { 
+        success: false, 
+        error: { code: 'MISSING_PROMPT', message: errorMessage },
+        fromCache: false 
+      };
+    }
+    
+    // Validate subtask ID format
+    const subtaskId = args.id;
+    if (typeof subtaskId !== 'string' || !subtaskId.includes('.')) {
+      const errorMessage = `Invalid subtask ID format: ${subtaskId}. Subtask ID must be in format "parentId.subtaskId" (e.g., "5.2").`;
+      log.error(errorMessage);
+      return { 
+        success: false, 
+        error: { code: 'INVALID_SUBTASK_ID_FORMAT', message: errorMessage },
+        fromCache: false 
+      };
+    }
+    
+    // Get tasks file path
+    let tasksPath;
+    try {
+      tasksPath = findTasksJsonPath(args, log);
+    } catch (error) {
+      log.error(`Error finding tasks file: ${error.message}`);
+      return { 
+        success: false, 
+        error: { code: 'TASKS_FILE_ERROR', message: error.message },
+        fromCache: false 
+      };
+    }
+    
+    // Get research flag
+    const useResearch = args.research === true;
+    
+    log.info(`Updating subtask with ID ${subtaskId} with prompt "${args.prompt}" and research: ${useResearch}`);
+    
+    // Execute core updateSubtaskById function
+    const updatedSubtask = await updateSubtaskById(tasksPath, subtaskId, args.prompt, useResearch);
+    
+    // Handle the case where the subtask couldn't be updated (e.g., already marked as done)
+    if (!updatedSubtask) {
+      return {
+        success: false,
+        error: { 
+          code: 'SUBTASK_UPDATE_FAILED', 
+          message: 'Failed to update subtask. It may be marked as completed, or another error occurred.' 
+        },
+        fromCache: false
+      };
+    }
+    
+    // Return the updated subtask information
+    return {
+      success: true,
+      data: {
+        message: `Successfully updated subtask with ID ${subtaskId}`,
+        subtaskId,
+        parentId: subtaskId.split('.')[0],
+        subtask: updatedSubtask,
+        tasksPath,
+        useResearch
+      },
+      fromCache: false // This operation always modifies state and should never be cached
+    };
+  } catch (error) {
+    log.error(`Error updating subtask by ID: ${error.message}`);
+    return { 
+      success: false, 
+      error: { code: 'UPDATE_SUBTASK_ERROR', message: error.message || 'Unknown error updating subtask' },
+      fromCache: false 
+    };
+  }
+} 

mcp-server/src/core/task-master-core.js

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { getCacheStatsDirect } from './direct-functions/cache-stats.js';
 import { parsePRDDirect } from './direct-functions/parse-prd.js';
 import { updateTasksDirect } from './direct-functions/update-tasks.js';
 import { updateTaskByIdDirect } from './direct-functions/update-task-by-id.js';
+import { updateSubtaskByIdDirect } from './direct-functions/update-subtask-by-id.js';
 
 // Re-export utility functions
 export { findTasksJsonPath } from './utils/path-utils.js';
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ export {
   parsePRDDirect,
   updateTasksDirect,
   updateTaskByIdDirect,
+  updateSubtaskByIdDirect,
 };
 
 /**
@@ -33,5 +35,6 @@ export const directFunctions = {
   parsePRD: parsePRDDirect,
   update: updateTasksDirect,
   updateTask: updateTaskByIdDirect,
+  updateSubtask: updateSubtaskByIdDirect,
   // Add more functions as we implement them
 }; 

mcp-server/src/tools/index.js

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import { registerAddTaskTool } from "./addTask.js";
 import { registerParsePRDTool } from "./parsePRD.js";
 import { registerUpdateTool } from "./update.js";
 import { registerUpdateTaskTool } from "./update-task.js";
+import { registerUpdateSubtaskTool } from "./update-subtask.js";
 
 /**
  * Register all Task Master tools with the MCP server
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ export function registerTaskMasterTools(server) {
   registerParsePRDTool(server);
   registerUpdateTool(server);
   registerUpdateTaskTool(server);
+  registerUpdateSubtaskTool(server);
 }
 
 export default {

mcp-server/src/tools/update-subtask.js

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/**
+ * tools/update-subtask.js
+ * Tool to append additional information to a specific subtask
+ */
+
+import { z } from "zod";
+import {
+  handleApiResult,
+  createErrorResponse
+} from "./utils.js";
+import { updateSubtaskByIdDirect } from "../core/task-master-core.js";
+
+/**
+ * Register the update-subtask tool with the MCP server
+ * @param {Object} server - FastMCP server instance
+ */
+export function registerUpdateSubtaskTool(server) {
+  server.addTool({
+    name: "update-subtask",
+    description: "Appends additional information to a specific subtask without replacing existing content",
+    parameters: z.object({
+      id: z.string().describe("ID of the subtask to update in format \"parentId.subtaskId\" (e.g., \"5.2\")"),
+      prompt: z.string().describe("Information to add to the subtask"),
+      research: z.boolean().optional().describe("Use Perplexity AI for research-backed updates"),
+      file: z.string().optional().describe("Path to the tasks file"),
+      projectRoot: z
+        .string()
+        .optional()
+        .describe(
+          "Root directory of the project (default: current working directory)"
+        ),
+    }),
+    execute: async (args, { log }) => {
+      try {
+        log.info(`Updating subtask with args: ${JSON.stringify(args)}`);
+        
+        // Call the direct function wrapper
+        const result = await updateSubtaskByIdDirect(args, log);
+        
+        // Log result
+        log.info(`${result.success ? `Successfully updated subtask with ID ${args.id}` : 'Failed to update subtask'}`);
+        
+        // Use handleApiResult to format the response
+        return handleApiResult(result, log, 'Error updating subtask');
+      } catch (error) {
+        log.error(`Error in update-subtask tool: ${error.message}`);
+        return createErrorResponse(error.message);
+      }
+    },
+  });
+} 

tasks/task_023.txt

@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ Following MCP implementation standards:
    - Unit test for updateTaskByIdDirect.js
    - Integration test for MCP tool
 
-## 19. Implement update-subtask MCP command [pending]
+## 19. Implement update-subtask MCP command [done]
 ### Dependencies: None
 ### Description: Create direct function wrapper and MCP tool for appending information to a specific subtask.
 ### Details:

tasks/tasks.json

@@ -1519,7 +1519,7 @@
           "title": "Implement update-subtask MCP command",
           "description": "Create direct function wrapper and MCP tool for appending information to a specific subtask.",
           "details": "Following MCP implementation standards:\n\n1. Create updateSubtaskByIdDirect.js in mcp-server/src/core/direct-functions/:\n   - Import updateSubtaskById from task-manager.js\n   - Handle file paths using findTasksJsonPath utility\n   - Process arguments: subtaskId, prompt, useResearch\n   - Validate inputs and handle errors with try/catch\n   - Return standardized { success, data/error } object\n\n2. Export from task-master-core.js:\n   - Import the function from its file\n   - Add to directFunctions map\n\n3. Create update-subtask.js MCP tool in mcp-server/src/tools/:\n   - Import z from zod for parameter schema\n   - Import executeMCPToolAction from ./utils.js\n   - Import updateSubtaskByIdDirect from task-master-core.js\n   - Define parameters matching CLI options using zod schema\n   - Implement registerUpdateSubtaskTool(server) with server.addTool\n   - Use executeMCPToolAction in execute method\n\n4. Register in tools/index.js\n\n5. Add to .cursor/mcp.json with appropriate schema\n\n6. Write tests following testing guidelines:\n   - Unit test for updateSubtaskByIdDirect.js\n   - Integration test for MCP tool",
-          "status": "pending",
+          "status": "done",
           "dependencies": [],
           "parentTaskId": 23
         },