chore: add release-check CI to check if we are in release mode

* chore: improve pre-release CI to just use dropdown

* chore: implement requested changes

.changeset/fuzzy-words-count.md

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+"task-master-ai": patch
+---
+
+Fix scope-up/down prompts to include all required fields for better AI model compatibility
+
+- Added missing `priority` field to scope adjustment prompts to prevent validation errors with Claude-code and other models
+- Ensures generated JSON includes all fields required by the schema

.changeset/pre.json

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "mode": "exit",
+  "tag": "rc",
+  "initialVersions": {
+    "task-master-ai": "0.23.0",
+    "extension": "0.23.0"
+  },
+  "changesets": [
+    "fuzzy-words-count",
+    "tender-trams-refuse",
+    "vast-sites-leave"
+  ]
+}

.changeset/tender-trams-refuse.md

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+"task-master-ai": patch
+---
+
+Fix MCP scope-up/down tools not finding tasks
+
+- Fixed task ID parsing in MCP layer - now correctly converts string IDs to numbers
+- scope_up_task and scope_down_task MCP tools now work properly

.changeset/vast-sites-leave.md

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+"task-master-ai": patch
+---
+
+Improve AI provider compatibility for JSON generation
+
+- Fixed schema compatibility issues between Perplexity and OpenAI o3 models
+- Removed nullable/default modifiers from Zod schemas for broader compatibility
+- Added automatic JSON repair for malformed AI responses (handles cases like missing array values)
+- Perplexity now uses JSON mode for more reliable structured output
+- Post-processing handles default values separately from schema validation

.github/scripts/tag-extension.mjs

@@ -62,13 +62,51 @@ assert(rootPkg.repository, 'root package.json must have a repository field');
 const tag = `${pkg.name}@${pkg.version}`;
 
 // Get repository URL from root package.json
-const repoUrl = rootPkg.repository.url;
+// Get repository URL and clean it up for git ls-remote
+let repoUrl = rootPkg.repository.url || rootPkg.repository;
+if (typeof repoUrl === 'string') {
+	// Convert git+https://github.com/... to https://github.com/...
+	repoUrl = repoUrl.replace(/^git\+/, '');
+	// Ensure it ends with .git for proper remote access
+	if (!repoUrl.endsWith('.git')) {
+		repoUrl += '.git';
+	}
+}
 
-const { status, stdout, error } = spawnSync('git', ['ls-remote', repoUrl, tag]);
+console.log(`Checking remote repository: ${repoUrl} for tag: ${tag}`);
 
-assert.equal(status, 0, error);
+let gitResult = spawnSync('git', ['ls-remote', repoUrl, tag], {
+	encoding: 'utf8',
+	env: { ...process.env }
+});
 
-const exists = String(stdout).trim() !== '';
+if (gitResult.status !== 0) {
+	console.error('Git ls-remote failed:');
+	console.error('Exit code:', gitResult.status);
+	console.error('Error:', gitResult.error);
+	console.error('Stderr:', gitResult.stderr);
+	console.error('Command:', `git ls-remote ${repoUrl} ${tag}`);
+
+	// For CI environments, try using origin instead of the full URL
+	if (process.env.CI) {
+		console.log('Retrying with origin remote...');
+		gitResult = spawnSync('git', ['ls-remote', 'origin', tag], {
+			encoding: 'utf8'
+		});
+
+		if (gitResult.status !== 0) {
+			throw new Error(
+				`Failed to check remote for tag ${tag}. Exit code: ${gitResult.status}`
+			);
+		}
+	} else {
+		throw new Error(
+			`Failed to check remote for tag ${tag}. Exit code: ${gitResult.status}`
+		);
+	}
+}
+
+const exists = String(gitResult.stdout).trim() !== '';
 
 if (!exists) {
 	console.log(`Creating new extension tag: ${tag}`);

.github/workflows/pre-release.yml

@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@ name: Pre-Release (RC)
 on:
   workflow_dispatch: # Allows manual triggering from GitHub UI/API
 
-concurrency: pre-release-${{ github.ref }}
-
+concurrency: pre-release-${{ github.ref_name }}
 jobs:
   rc:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # Only allow pre-releases on non-main branches
+    if: github.ref != 'refs/heads/main'
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:

.github/workflows/release-check.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+name: Release Check
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
+
+jobs:
+  check-release-mode:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Check release mode
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          echo "🔍 Checking if branch is in pre-release mode..."
+
+          if [[ -f .changeset/pre.json ]]; then
+            echo "❌ ERROR: This branch is in pre-release mode!"
+            echo ""
+            echo "Pre-release mode must be exited before merging to main."
+            echo ""
+            echo "To fix this, run the following commands in your branch:"
+            echo "  npx changeset pre exit"
+            echo "  git add -u"
+            echo "  git commit -m 'chore: exit pre-release mode'"
+            echo "  git push"
+            echo ""
+            echo "Then update this pull request."
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          echo "✅ Not in pre-release mode - PR can be merged"

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -38,27 +38,27 @@ jobs:
         run: npm ci
         timeout-minutes: 2
 
-      - name: Exit pre-release mode and clean up
+      - name: Check pre-release mode
         run: |
-          echo "🔄 Ensuring we're not in pre-release mode for main branch..."
-          
-          # Exit pre-release mode if we're in it
-          npx changeset pre exit || echo "Not in pre-release mode"
-          
-          # Remove pre.json file if it exists (belt and suspenders approach)
-          if [ -f .changeset/pre.json ]; then
-            echo "🧹 Removing pre.json file..."
-            rm -f .changeset/pre.json
-          fi
-          
-          # Verify the file is gone
-          if [ ! -f .changeset/pre.json ]; then
-            echo "✅ pre.json successfully removed"
-          else
-            echo "❌ Failed to remove pre.json"
+          set -euo pipefail
+          echo "🔍 Checking pre-release mode status..."
+          if [[ -f .changeset/pre.json ]]; then
+            echo "❌ ERROR: Main branch is in pre-release mode!"
+            echo ""
+            echo "Pre-release mode should only be used on feature branches, not main."
+            echo ""
+            echo "To fix this, run the following commands locally:"
+            echo "  npx changeset pre exit"
+            echo "  git add -u"
+            echo "  git commit -m 'chore: exit pre-release mode'"
+            echo "  git push origin main"
+            echo ""
+            echo "Then re-run this workflow."
             exit 1
           fi
 
+          echo "✅ Not in pre-release mode - proceeding with release"
+
       - name: Create Release Pull Request or Publish to npm
         uses: changesets/action@v1
         with:

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,24 @@
 # task-master-ai
 
+## 0.23.1-rc.0
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- [#1079](https://github.com/eyaltoledano/claude-task-master/pull/1079) [`e495b2b`](https://github.com/eyaltoledano/claude-task-master/commit/e495b2b55950ee54c7d0f1817d8530e28bd79c05) Thanks [@Crunchyman-ralph](https://github.com/Crunchyman-ralph)! - Fix scope-up/down prompts to include all required fields for better AI model compatibility
+  - Added missing `priority` field to scope adjustment prompts to prevent validation errors with Claude-code and other models
+  - Ensures generated JSON includes all fields required by the schema
+
+- [#1079](https://github.com/eyaltoledano/claude-task-master/pull/1079) [`e495b2b`](https://github.com/eyaltoledano/claude-task-master/commit/e495b2b55950ee54c7d0f1817d8530e28bd79c05) Thanks [@Crunchyman-ralph](https://github.com/Crunchyman-ralph)! - Fix MCP scope-up/down tools not finding tasks
+  - Fixed task ID parsing in MCP layer - now correctly converts string IDs to numbers
+  - scope_up_task and scope_down_task MCP tools now work properly
+
+- [#1079](https://github.com/eyaltoledano/claude-task-master/pull/1079) [`e495b2b`](https://github.com/eyaltoledano/claude-task-master/commit/e495b2b55950ee54c7d0f1817d8530e28bd79c05) Thanks [@Crunchyman-ralph](https://github.com/Crunchyman-ralph)! - Improve AI provider compatibility for JSON generation
+  - Fixed schema compatibility issues between Perplexity and OpenAI o3 models
+  - Removed nullable/default modifiers from Zod schemas for broader compatibility
+  - Added automatic JSON repair for malformed AI responses (handles cases like missing array values)
+  - Perplexity now uses JSON mode for more reliable structured output
+  - Post-processing handles default values separately from schema validation
+
 ## 0.23.0
 
 ### Minor Changes

mcp-server/src/core/direct-functions/scope-down.js

@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ export async function scopeDownDirect(args, log, context = {}) {
 			};
 		}
 
-		// Parse task IDs
-		const taskIds = id.split(',').map((taskId) => taskId.trim());
+		// Parse task IDs - convert to numbers as expected by scopeDownTask
+		const taskIds = id.split(',').map((taskId) => parseInt(taskId.trim(), 10));
 
 		log.info(
 			`Scoping down tasks: ${taskIds.join(', ')}, strength: ${strength}, research: ${research}`
@@ -90,10 +90,10 @@ export async function scopeDownDirect(args, log, context = {}) {
 				projectRoot,
 				commandName: 'scope-down',
 				outputType: 'mcp',
-				tag
-			},
-			'json', // outputFormat
+				tag,
 				research
+			},
+			'json' // outputFormat
 		);
 
 		// Restore normal logging

mcp-server/src/core/direct-functions/scope-up.js

@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ export async function scopeUpDirect(args, log, context = {}) {
 			};
 		}
 
-		// Parse task IDs
-		const taskIds = id.split(',').map((taskId) => taskId.trim());
+		// Parse task IDs - convert to numbers as expected by scopeUpTask
+		const taskIds = id.split(',').map((taskId) => parseInt(taskId.trim(), 10));
 
 		log.info(
 			`Scoping up tasks: ${taskIds.join(', ')}, strength: ${strength}, research: ${research}`
@@ -90,10 +90,10 @@ export async function scopeUpDirect(args, log, context = {}) {
 				projectRoot,
 				commandName: 'scope-up',
 				outputType: 'mcp',
-				tag
-			},
-			'json', // outputFormat
+				tag,
 				research
+			},
+			'json' // outputFormat
 		);
 
 		// Restore normal logging

package-lock.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
 	"name": "task-master-ai",
-	"version": "0.22.1-rc.0",
+	"version": "0.23.0",
 	"lockfileVersion": 3,
 	"requires": true,
 	"packages": {
 		"": {
 			"name": "task-master-ai",
-			"version": "0.22.1-rc.0",
+			"version": "0.23.0",
 			"license": "MIT WITH Commons-Clause",
 			"workspaces": [
 				"apps/*",
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 				"helmet": "^8.1.0",
 				"inquirer": "^12.5.0",
 				"jsonc-parser": "^3.3.1",
+				"jsonrepair": "^3.13.0",
 				"jsonwebtoken": "^9.0.2",
 				"lru-cache": "^10.2.0",
 				"ollama-ai-provider": "^1.2.0",
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@
 			}
 		},
 		"apps/extension": {
-			"version": "0.22.3",
+			"version": "0.23.0",
 			"devDependencies": {
 				"@dnd-kit/core": "^6.3.1",
 				"@dnd-kit/modifiers": "^9.0.0",
@@ -14942,6 +14943,15 @@
 				"graceful-fs": "^4.1.6"
 			}
 		},
+		"node_modules/jsonrepair": {
+			"version": "3.13.0",
+			"resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/jsonrepair/-/jsonrepair-3.13.0.tgz",
+			"integrity": "sha512-5YRzlAQ7tuzV1nAJu3LvDlrKtBFIALHN2+a+I1MGJCt3ldRDBF/bZuvIPzae8Epot6KBXd0awRZZcuoeAsZ/mw==",
+			"license": "ISC",
+			"bin": {
+				"jsonrepair": "bin/cli.js"
+			}
+		},
 		"node_modules/jsonwebtoken": {
 			"version": "9.0.2",
 			"resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/jsonwebtoken/-/jsonwebtoken-9.0.2.tgz",

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"name": "task-master-ai",
-	"version": "0.23.0",
+	"version": "0.23.1-rc.0",
 	"description": "A task management system for ambitious AI-driven development that doesn't overwhelm and confuse Cursor.",
 	"main": "index.js",
 	"type": "module",
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@
 		"helmet": "^8.1.0",
 		"inquirer": "^12.5.0",
 		"jsonc-parser": "^3.3.1",
+		"jsonrepair": "^3.13.0",
 		"jsonwebtoken": "^9.0.2",
 		"lru-cache": "^10.2.0",
 		"ollama-ai-provider": "^1.2.0",

scripts/modules/commands.js

@@ -1479,7 +1479,8 @@ function registerCommands(programInstance) {
 					projectRoot: taskMaster.getProjectRoot(),
 					tag,
 					commandName: 'scope-up',
-					outputType: 'cli'
+					outputType: 'cli',
+					research: options.research || false
 				};
 
 				const result = await scopeUpTask(
@@ -1605,7 +1606,8 @@ function registerCommands(programInstance) {
 					projectRoot: taskMaster.getProjectRoot(),
 					tag,
 					commandName: 'scope-down',
-					outputType: 'cli'
+					outputType: 'cli',
+					research: options.research || false
 				};
 
 				const result = await scopeDownTask(

scripts/modules/task-manager/parse-prd.js

@@ -23,14 +23,14 @@ import { displayAiUsageSummary } from '../ui.js';
 
 // Define the Zod schema for a SINGLE task object
 const prdSingleTaskSchema = z.object({
-	id: z.number().int().positive(),
+	id: z.number(),
 	title: z.string().min(1),
 	description: z.string().min(1),
-	details: z.string().nullable(),
-	testStrategy: z.string().nullable(),
-	priority: z.enum(['high', 'medium', 'low']).nullable(),
-	dependencies: z.array(z.number().int().positive()).nullable(),
-	status: z.string().nullable()
+	details: z.string(),
+	testStrategy: z.string(),
+	priority: z.enum(['high', 'medium', 'low']),
+	dependencies: z.array(z.number()),
+	status: z.string()
 });
 
 // Define the Zod schema for the ENTIRE expected AI response object
@@ -257,10 +257,15 @@ async function parsePRD(prdPath, tasksPath, numTasks, options = {}) {
 			return {
 				...task,
 				id: newId,
-				status: 'pending',
+				status: task.status || 'pending',
 				priority: task.priority || 'medium',
 				dependencies: Array.isArray(task.dependencies) ? task.dependencies : [],
-				subtasks: []
+				subtasks: [],
+				// Ensure all required fields have values (even if empty strings)
+				title: task.title || '',
+				description: task.description || '',
+				details: task.details || '',
+				testStrategy: task.testStrategy || ''
 			};
 		});
 

scripts/modules/task-manager/scope-adjustment.js

@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ ${
 }
 
 Return a JSON object with a "subtasks" array. Each subtask should have:
-- id: Sequential number starting from 1
+- id: Sequential NUMBER starting from 1 (e.g., 1, 2, 3 - NOT "1", "2", "3")
 - title: Clear, specific title
 - description: Detailed description
 - dependencies: Array of dependency IDs as STRINGS (use format ["${task.id}.1", "${task.id}.2"] for siblings, or empty array [] for no dependencies)
@@ -345,7 +345,9 @@ Return a JSON object with a "subtasks" array. Each subtask should have:
 - status: "pending"
 - testStrategy: Testing approach
 
-IMPORTANT: Dependencies must be strings, not numbers!
+IMPORTANT: 
+- The 'id' field must be a NUMBER, not a string!
+- Dependencies must be strings, not numbers!
 
 Ensure the JSON is valid and properly formatted.`;
 
@@ -358,14 +360,14 @@ Ensure the JSON is valid and properly formatted.`;
 					description: z.string().min(10),
 					dependencies: z.array(z.string()),
 					details: z.string().min(20),
-					status: z.string().default('pending'),
-					testStrategy: z.string().nullable().default('')
+					status: z.string(),
+					testStrategy: z.string()
 				})
 			)
 		});
 
 		const aiResult = await generateObjectService({
-			role: 'main',
+			role: context.research ? 'research' : 'main',
 			session: context.session,
 			systemPrompt,
 			prompt,
@@ -377,14 +379,21 @@ Ensure the JSON is valid and properly formatted.`;
 
 		const generatedSubtasks = aiResult.mainResult.subtasks || [];
 
+		// Post-process generated subtasks to ensure defaults
+		const processedGeneratedSubtasks = generatedSubtasks.map((subtask) => ({
+			...subtask,
+			status: subtask.status || 'pending',
+			testStrategy: subtask.testStrategy || ''
+		}));
+
 		// Update task with preserved subtasks + newly generated ones
-		task.subtasks = [...preservedSubtasks, ...generatedSubtasks];
+		task.subtasks = [...preservedSubtasks, ...processedGeneratedSubtasks];
 
 		return {
 			updatedTask: task,
 			regenerated: true,
 			preserved: preservedSubtasks.length,
-			generated: generatedSubtasks.length
+			generated: processedGeneratedSubtasks.length
 		};
 	} catch (error) {
 		log(
@@ -457,6 +466,7 @@ ADJUSTMENT REQUIREMENTS:
 - description: Updated task description  
 - details: Updated implementation details
 - testStrategy: Updated test strategy
+- priority: Task priority ('low', 'medium', or 'high')
 
 Ensure the JSON is valid and properly formatted.`;
 
@@ -501,14 +511,11 @@ async function adjustTaskComplexity(
 			.string()
 			.min(1)
 			.describe('Updated testing approach for the adjusted scope'),
-		priority: z
-			.enum(['low', 'medium', 'high'])
-			.optional()
-			.describe('Task priority level')
+		priority: z.enum(['low', 'medium', 'high']).describe('Task priority level')
 	});
 
 	const aiResult = await generateObjectService({
-		role: 'main',
+		role: context.research ? 'research' : 'main',
 		session: context.session,
 		systemPrompt,
 		prompt,
@@ -520,10 +527,16 @@ async function adjustTaskComplexity(
 
 	const updatedTaskData = aiResult.mainResult;
 
+	// Ensure priority has a value (in case AI didn't provide one)
+	const processedTaskData = {
+		...updatedTaskData,
+		priority: updatedTaskData.priority || task.priority || 'medium'
+	};
+
 	return {
 		updatedTask: {
 			...task,
-			...updatedTaskData
+			...processedTaskData
 		},
 		telemetryData: aiResult.telemetryData
 	};

src/ai-providers/base-provider.js

@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
-import { generateObject, generateText, streamText } from 'ai';
+import {
+	generateObject,
+	generateText,
+	streamText,
+	zodSchema,
+	JSONParseError,
+	NoObjectGeneratedError
+} from 'ai';
+import { jsonrepair } from 'jsonrepair';
 import { log } from '../../scripts/modules/utils.js';
 
 /**
@@ -206,8 +214,8 @@ export class BaseAIProvider {
 			const result = await generateObject({
 				model: client(params.modelId),
 				messages: params.messages,
-				schema: params.schema,
-				mode: 'auto',
+				schema: zodSchema(params.schema),
+				mode: params.mode || 'auto',
 				maxTokens: params.maxTokens,
 				temperature: params.temperature
 			});
@@ -226,6 +234,43 @@ export class BaseAIProvider {
 				}
 			};
 		} catch (error) {
+			// Check if this is a JSON parsing error that we can potentially fix
+			if (
+				NoObjectGeneratedError.isInstance(error) &&
+				JSONParseError.isInstance(error.cause) &&
+				error.cause.text
+			) {
+				log(
+					'warn',
+					`${this.name} generated malformed JSON, attempting to repair...`
+				);
+
+				try {
+					// Use jsonrepair to fix the malformed JSON
+					const repairedJson = jsonrepair(error.cause.text);
+					const parsed = JSON.parse(repairedJson);
+
+					log('info', `Successfully repaired ${this.name} JSON output`);
+
+					// Return in the expected format
+					return {
+						object: parsed,
+						usage: {
+							// Extract usage information from the error if available
+							inputTokens: error.usage?.promptTokens || 0,
+							outputTokens: error.usage?.completionTokens || 0,
+							totalTokens: error.usage?.totalTokens || 0
+						}
+					};
+				} catch (repairError) {
+					log(
+						'error',
+						`Failed to repair ${this.name} JSON: ${repairError.message}`
+					);
+					// Fall through to handleError with original error
+				}
+			}
+
 			this.handleError('object generation', error);
 		}
 	}

src/ai-providers/perplexity.js

@@ -44,4 +44,21 @@ export class PerplexityAIProvider extends BaseAIProvider {
 			this.handleError('client initialization', error);
 		}
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Override generateObject to use JSON mode for Perplexity
+	 *
+	 * NOTE: Perplexity models (especially sonar models) have known issues
+	 * generating valid JSON, particularly with array fields. They often
+	 * generate malformed JSON like "dependencies": , instead of "dependencies": []
+	 *
+	 * The base provider now handles JSON repair automatically for all providers.
+	 */
+	async generateObject(params) {
+		// Force JSON mode for Perplexity as it may help with reliability
+		return super.generateObject({
+			...params,
+			mode: 'json'
+		});
+	}
 }