- Update all tool definitions to use z.string().optional() for projectRoot
- Fix direct function implementations to use findTasksJsonPath(args, log) pattern
- Enables consistent project root detection without requiring explicit params
- Update changeset to document these improvements
This change ensures MCP tools work properly with the smart project root
detection system, removing the need for explicit projectRoot parameters in
client applications. Improves usability and reduces integration friction.
Overhauls the project root detection system with a hierarchical precedence mechanism that intelligently locates tasks.json and identifies project roots. This improves user experience by reducing the need for explicit path parameters and enhances cross-platform compatibility.
Key Improvements:
- Implement hierarchical precedence for project root detection:
* Environment variable override (TASK_MASTER_PROJECT_ROOT)
* Explicitly provided --project-root parameter
* Cached project root from previous successful operations
* Current directory with project markers
* Parent directory traversal to find tasks.json
* Package directory as fallback
- Create comprehensive PROJECT_MARKERS detection system with 20+ common indicators:
* Task Master specific files (tasks.json, tasks/tasks.json)
* Version control directories (.git, .svn)
* Package manifests (package.json, pyproject.toml, Gemfile, go.mod, Cargo.toml)
* IDE/editor configurations (.cursor, .vscode, .idea)
* Dependency directories (node_modules, venv, .venv)
* Configuration files (.env, tsconfig.json, webpack.config.js)
* CI/CD files (.github/workflows, .gitlab-ci.yml, .circleci/config.yml)
- DRY refactoring of path utilities:
* Centralize path-related functions in core/utils/path-utils.js
* Export PROJECT_MARKERS as a single source of truth
* Add caching via lastFoundProjectRoot for performance optimization
- Enhanced user experience:
* Improve error messages with specific troubleshooting guidance
* Add detailed logging to indicate project root detection source
* Update tool parameter descriptions for better clarity
* Add recursive parent directory searching for tasks.json
Testing:
- Verified in local dev environment
- Added unit tests for the progress bar visualization
- Updated "automatically detected" description in MCP tools
This commit addresses Task #38: Implement robust project root handling for file paths.
- Create direct function wrapper in add-task.js with prompt and dependency handling
- Add MCP tool integration for creating new tasks via AI
- Update task-master-core.js to expose addTaskDirect function
- Update changeset to document the new command
- Create direct function wrapper in expand-task.js with error handling
- Add MCP tool integration for breaking down tasks into subtasks
- Update task-master-core.js to expose expandTaskDirect function
- Update changeset to document the new command
- Parameter support for subtask generation options (num, research, prompt, force)
- Create direct function wrapper in next-task.js with error handling and caching
- Add MCP tool integration for finding the next task to work on
- Update task-master-core.js to expose nextTaskDirect function
- Update changeset to document the new command
- Create direct function wrapper in show-task.js with error handling and caching
- Add MCP tool integration for displaying detailed task information
- Update task-master-core.js to expose showTaskDirect function
- Update changeset to document the new command
- Follow kebab-case/camelCase/snake_case naming conventions
Split monolithic task-master-core.js into separate function files within
the mcp-server/src/core/direct-functions/ directory. This change:
- Creates individual files for each direct function implementation
- Moves findTasksJsonPath to a dedicated utils/path-utils.js file
- Converts task-master-core.js to be a simple import/export hub
- Improves maintainability and organization of the codebase
- Reduces potential merge conflicts when multiple developers contribute
- Follows standard module separation patterns
Each function is now in its own self-contained file with clear imports and
focused responsibility, while maintaining the same API endpoints.
The function aimed to abstract the common flow within MCP tool methods (logging, calling direct function, handling result).
However, the established pattern (e.g., in ) involves the method directly calling the function (which handles its own caching via ) and then passing the result to . This pattern is clear, functional, and leverages the core utilities effectively.
Removing the unused simplifies , eliminates a redundant abstraction layer, and clarifies the standard implementation pattern for MCP tools.
Implemented LRU caching for the function to improve performance for repeated requests.
Key changes include:
- Added dependency.
- Introduced a reusable utility function in leveraging a .
- Refactored in to use the caching utility with a key based on task path, filter, and subtask flag.
- Modified to include the boolean flag in the final JSON response structure, nesting the original data under a key.
- Added function and corresponding MCP tool () for monitoring cache performance.
- Improved error handling in for cases where is not found.
This addresses the previous issue of the empty task list likely caused by stale cache entries and provides clear visibility into whether a response is served from the cache.
Relates to #23.9
This commit introduces a major refactoring of the MCP server implementation to prioritize direct function calls over CLI execution, enhancing performance and reliability. It also includes substantial updates to documentation for consistency and interlinking.
**MCP Server & Core Logic Refactoring:**
1. **Introduce Direct Function Wrappers ():**
* Created to house direct wrappers for core Task Master functions (imported from ).
* Implemented as the first wrapper, calling .
* Added utility within to centralize file location logic, removing duplication.
* Established the map for registering these wrappers.
2. **Enhance MCP Utilities ():**
* Added : A primary utility function to streamline MCP tool methods. It handles logging, argument processing (incl. project root normalization), calling the direct action function (e.g., ), processing results via , and formatting the final MCP response.
* Added : Standardizes processing of objects returned by direct function wrappers.
* Added : Filters sensitive/large fields (like , ) from responses sent to the MCP client.
* Added , , to support the new workflow.
* Refactored to use internally, simplifying its usage (though it's now primarily a fallback).
3. **Update MCP Tools (, ):**
* Refactored to use with , significantly simplifying the tool's method.
* Updated (initially) to use the improved (Note: further refactoring to use a direct wrapper for would follow the pattern).
**Documentation Enhancements:**
4. **Comprehensive Interlinking:** Added links across rule files (, , , , , ) to connect related guidelines, improving navigation.
5. **Standardize CLI Syntax ():** Removed legacy ℹ️ Initialized Perplexity client with OpenAI compatibility layer examples, reinforcing ℹ️ Initialized Perplexity client with OpenAI compatibility layer
_____ _ __ __ _
|_ _|_ _ ___| | __ | \/ | __ _ ___| |_ ___ _ __
| |/ _` / __| |/ / | |\/| |/ _` / __| __/ _ \ '__|
| | (_| \__ \ < | | | | (_| \__ \ || __/ |
|_|\__,_|___/_|\_\ |_| |_|\__,_|___/\__\___|_|
by https://x.com/eyaltoledano
╭────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ Version: 0.9.30 Project: Task Master │
│ │
╰────────────────────────────────────────────╯
╭─────────────────────╮
│ │
│ Task Master CLI │
│ │
╰─────────────────────╯
╭───────────────────╮
│ Task Generation │
╰───────────────────╯
parse-prd --input=<file.txt> [--tasks=10] Generate tasks from a PRD document
generate Create individual task files from tasks…
╭───────────────────╮
│ Task Management │
╰───────────────────╯
list [--status=<status>] [--with-subtas… List all tasks with their status
set-status --id=<id> --status=<status> Update task status (done, pending, etc.)
update --from=<id> --prompt="<context>" Update tasks based on new requirements
add-task --prompt="<text>" [--dependencies=… Add a new task using AI
add-dependency --id=<id> --depends-on=<id> Add a dependency to a task
remove-dependency --id=<id> --depends-on=<id> Remove a dependency from a task
╭──────────────────────────╮
│ Task Analysis & Detail │
╰──────────────────────────╯
analyze-complexity [--research] [--threshold=5] Analyze tasks and generate expansion re…
complexity-report [--file=<path>] Display the complexity analysis report
expand --id=<id> [--num=5] [--research] [… Break down tasks into detailed subtasks
expand --all [--force] [--research] Expand all pending tasks with subtasks
clear-subtasks --id=<id> Remove subtasks from specified tasks
╭─────────────────────────────╮
│ Task Navigation & Viewing │
╰─────────────────────────────╯
next Show the next task to work on based on …
show <id> Display detailed information about a sp…
╭─────────────────────────╮
│ Dependency Management │
╰─────────────────────────╯
validate-dependenci… Identify invalid dependencies without f…
fix-dependencies Fix invalid dependencies automatically
╭─────────────────────────╮
│ Environment Variables │
╰─────────────────────────╯
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY Your Anthropic API key Required
MODEL Claude model to use Default: claude-3-7-sonn…
MAX_TOKENS Maximum tokens for responses Default: 4000
TEMPERATURE Temperature for model responses Default: 0.7
PERPLEXITY_API_KEY Perplexity API key for research Optional
PERPLEXITY_MODEL Perplexity model to use Default: sonar-pro
DEBUG Enable debug logging Default: false
LOG_LEVEL Console output level (debug,info,warn,error) Default: info
DEFAULT_SUBTASKS Default number of subtasks to generate Default: 3
DEFAULT_PRIORITY Default task priority Default: medium
PROJECT_NAME Project name displayed in UI Default: Task Master
_____ _ __ __ _
|_ _|_ _ ___| | __ | \/ | __ _ ___| |_ ___ _ __
| |/ _` / __| |/ / | |\/| |/ _` / __| __/ _ \ '__|
| | (_| \__ \ < | | | | (_| \__ \ || __/ |
|_|\__,_|___/_|\_\ |_| |_|\__,_|___/\__\___|_|
by https://x.com/eyaltoledano
╭────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ Version: 0.9.30 Project: Task Master │
│ │
╰────────────────────────────────────────────╯
╭─────────────────────╮
│ │
│ Task Master CLI │
│ │
╰─────────────────────╯
╭───────────────────╮
│ Task Generation │
╰───────────────────╯
parse-prd --input=<file.txt> [--tasks=10] Generate tasks from a PRD document
generate Create individual task files from tasks…
╭───────────────────╮
│ Task Management │
╰───────────────────╯
list [--status=<status>] [--with-subtas… List all tasks with their status
set-status --id=<id> --status=<status> Update task status (done, pending, etc.)
update --from=<id> --prompt="<context>" Update tasks based on new requirements
add-task --prompt="<text>" [--dependencies=… Add a new task using AI
add-dependency --id=<id> --depends-on=<id> Add a dependency to a task
remove-dependency --id=<id> --depends-on=<id> Remove a dependency from a task
╭──────────────────────────╮
│ Task Analysis & Detail │
╰──────────────────────────╯
analyze-complexity [--research] [--threshold=5] Analyze tasks and generate expansion re…
complexity-report [--file=<path>] Display the complexity analysis report
expand --id=<id> [--num=5] [--research] [… Break down tasks into detailed subtasks
expand --all [--force] [--research] Expand all pending tasks with subtasks
clear-subtasks --id=<id> Remove subtasks from specified tasks
╭─────────────────────────────╮
│ Task Navigation & Viewing │
╰─────────────────────────────╯
next Show the next task to work on based on …
show <id> Display detailed information about a sp…
╭─────────────────────────╮
│ Dependency Management │
╰─────────────────────────╯
validate-dependenci… Identify invalid dependencies without f…
fix-dependencies Fix invalid dependencies automatically
╭─────────────────────────╮
│ Environment Variables │
╰─────────────────────────╯
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY Your Anthropic API key Required
MODEL Claude model to use Default: claude-3-7-sonn…
MAX_TOKENS Maximum tokens for responses Default: 4000
TEMPERATURE Temperature for model responses Default: 0.7
PERPLEXITY_API_KEY Perplexity API key for research Optional
PERPLEXITY_MODEL Perplexity model to use Default: sonar-pro
DEBUG Enable debug logging Default: false
LOG_LEVEL Console output level (debug,info,warn,error) Default: info
DEFAULT_SUBTASKS Default number of subtasks to generate Default: 3
DEFAULT_PRIORITY Default task priority Default: medium
PROJECT_NAME Project name displayed in UI Default: Task Master as the primary CLI.
6. **Add MCP Architecture & Workflow Sections:** Added detailed sections in and explaining MCP server structure and the workflow for adding new MCP tool integrations using the direct function pattern.
7. **Clarify MCP Role:** Updated and to better explain the MCP server's role and its specific utilities.
Overall, this establishes a cleaner, more performant, and maintainable pattern for integrating Task Master functionality with the MCP server, supported by improved documentation.
