manage-dependencies

Manage Dependencies Skill

Manages task dependencies in the local tasks.db SQLite database. Dependencies define which tasks must be completed before another task can be started.

Commands

Add a dependency

Make a task depend on another task (the dependency must be completed first):

python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py add <task_id> <depends_on_id>

Example: Task 5 cannot start until Task 3 is done:

python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py add 5 3

Remove a dependency

Remove a dependency relationship:

python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py remove <task_id> <depends_on_id>

List dependencies for a task

Show all tasks that must be completed before a specific task can start:

python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py list <task_id>

List dependents of a task

Show all tasks that are waiting on a specific task:

python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py dependents <task_id>

Show blocked tasks

List all tasks that cannot be started because their dependencies are incomplete:

python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py blocked

Show ready tasks

List all tasks that are ready to start (all dependencies complete or no dependencies):

python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py ready

Show all dependencies

Display all dependency relationships in the system:

python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py all

Usage Examples

Setting up a dependency chain:

# Task 10 (Deploy feature) depends on Task 8 (Write tests)
python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py add 10 8

# Task 8 (Write tests) depends on Task 5 (Implement feature)
python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py add 8 5

Checking what's blocking a task:

python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py list 10

Finding what a completed task unblocks:

python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py dependents 5

Finding work that can be started now:

python3 scripts/manage_dependencies.py ready

Validation

The script automatically validates:

• Task existence: Both tasks must exist in the database
• Self-dependency: A task cannot depend on itself
• Circular dependencies: Adding a dependency that would create a cycle is rejected

Error Handling

• If a task ID doesn't exist, an error message is displayed
• If a dependency already exists, it reports "Dependency already exists"
• If removing a non-existent dependency, it reports "No dependency found"
• Circular dependency attempts are blocked with an error message

Arguments

Parse the user's request to determine:

1. The command (add, remove, list, dependents, blocked, ready, all)
2. The task IDs involved (if applicable)

Then run the appropriate command from the examples above.