Task Dispatch

---

name: task-dispatch

description: "Task scheduling and dispatching for task boards. Use when setting up periodic task dispatch, checking for dispatchable tasks, creating subagents to execute tasks, or verifying task completion. Supports task board APIs like ClawBoard."

---

# Task Dispatch

Automated task scheduling and execution for task management systems.

Quick Start

用户说"设置任务调度"或"部署 ClawBoard"时，按以下流程引导：

Step 1: 检测环境

# 检查 Node.js
node --version  # 需要 >= 18

# 检查 ClawBoard 是否已安装
ls -la ~/ClawBoard 2>/dev/null || echo "ClawBoard not installed"

Step 2: 部署 ClawBoard（如未安装）

# 克隆仓库
git clone https://github.com/CCCaptain0129/ClawBoard.git ~/ClawBoard
cd ~/ClawBoard

# 安装依赖并初始化
./clawboard install

# 生成访问 token（自动保存到 .env）
./clawboard token --generate

Step 3: 启动服务

cd ~/ClawBoard
./clawboard start

# 检查状态
./clawboard status

Step 4: 配置 Agent 环境

在 Agent 工作目录创建 `.env` 文件：

# 获取 token
TOKEN=$(cat ~/ClawBoard/.env | grep BOARD_ACCESS_TOKEN | cut -d= -f2)

# 写入 Agent 工作目录
echo "TASKBOARD_API_URL=http://127.0.0.1:3000" >> ~/.openclaw/workspace-<name>/.env
echo "TASKBOARD_ACCESS_TOKEN=$TOKEN" >> ~/.openclaw/workspace-<name>/.env

Step 5: 打开看板

Step 6: 设置定时调度（可选）

用户说"设置定时调度"时：

{
  "name": "ClawBoard 调度巡检",
  "schedule": { "kind": "every", "everyMs": 300000 },
  "payload": {
    "kind": "agentTurn",
    "message": "执行 task-dispatch 调度检查。无任务时返回 HEARTBEAT_OK。"
  },
  "sessionTarget": "isolated",
  "delivery": { "mode": "none" }
}

---

Agent Role

**You are a dispatcher, not an executor.**

Data Source of Truth

| What | Source |

|------|--------|

| Task data | API endpoint (e.g., `http://127.0.0.1:3000/api/tasks/...`) |

| Task files | `tasks/*.json` (written by API) |

| Project docs | `projects/<project-name>/docs/` |

| **NOT** source of truth | Frontend dashboard (view only) |

ClawBoard Deployment Guide

Prerequisites

Installation Commands

| Command | Description |

|---------|-------------|

| `./clawboard install` | Install dependencies, create .env |

| `./clawboard start` | Start frontend + backend services |

| `./clawboard stop` | Stop all services |

| `./clawboard status` | Check service health |

| `./clawboard token` | Show current access token |

| `./clawboard token --generate` | Generate new token |

Verification Checklist

After deployment, verify:

1. ✅ Backend API responds: `curl http://127.0.0.1:3000/health`

2. ✅ Frontend loads: open http://127.0.0.1:5173

3. ✅ Token works: `curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" http://127.0.0.1:3000/api/tasks/projects`

4. ✅ Agent .env configured with token

Common Issues

| Issue | Solution |

|-------|----------|

| Port 3000 in use | `lsof -i :3000` then kill process |

| Port 5173 in use | `lsof -i :5173` then kill process |

| Token not working | Regenerate with `./clawboard token --generate` |

| Services not starting | Check logs in `~/ClawBoard/logs/` |

---

Dispatch Operations

Overview

This skill enables agents to:

1. Check task boards for dispatchable tasks

2. Spawn subagents to execute tasks

3. Verify completion and update task status

4. **Continue dispatching until no tasks remain** (no waiting for next cron)

Key Principle: Continuous Dispatch

触发一次 → 循环执行直到无任务 → 结束

而不是：

触发一次 → 派发一个任务 → 等待下次触发

Dispatch Loop

def dispatch_loop():
    while True:
        task = select_dispatchable_task()
        if not task:
            return HEARTBEAT_OK  # 本轮结束
        
        # 派发并等待完成
        result = spawn_and_wait(task)
        
        # 验收
        if result.success:
            update_task(task.id, status="review")
        else:
            update_task(task.id, status="failed", blockingReason=result.error)
        
        # 【关键】立即继续下一轮，不返回
        # 循环会自动检查下一个任务

---

API Reference

Get Projects

GET {TASKBOARD_API_URL}/api/tasks/projects
Authorization: Bearer {TOKEN}

Get Tasks

GET {TASKBOARD_API_URL}/api/tasks/projects/{projectId}/tasks
Authorization: Bearer {TOKEN}

Create Project

POST {TASKBOARD_API_URL}/api/tasks/projects
Authorization: Bearer {TOKEN}
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "id": "my-project",
  "name": "My Project",
  "description": "...",
  "taskPrefix": "MP",
  "color": "#3B82F6",
  "icon": "📁"
}

Create Task

POST {TASKBOARD_API_URL}/api/tasks/projects/{projectId}/tasks
Authorization: Bearer {TOKEN}
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "title": "Task title",
  "description": "...",
  "status": "todo",
  "priority": "P1",
  "executionMode": "auto",
  "assignee": "agent-id"
}

Update Task

PUT {TASKBOARD_API_URL}/api/tasks/projects/{projectId}/tasks/{taskId}
Authorization: Bearer {TOKEN}
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "status": "in-progress",
  "claimedBy": "agent-id"
}

---

Task Selection Rules

A task is dispatchable if ALL conditions are met:

| Condition | Requirement |

|-----------|-------------|

| `executionMode` | `"auto"` |

| `status` | `"todo"` or `"in-progress"` (unclaimed) |

| `assignee` | Empty or null |

| `claimedBy` | Empty or null |

| `dependencies` | All have `status: "done"` |

Priority Order

1. `P0` > `P1` > `P2` > `P3`

2. Same priority: earlier `createdAt` first

---

Subagent Execution

Prepare Dispatch Context

Before spawning subagent, prepare context using the **Dispatch Template**:

See [references/dispatch-template.md](references/dispatch-template.md) for full template.

**Required fields to fill:**

Spawn with Wait

Use `sessions_spawn` with the dispatch context:

{
  "runtime": "subagent",
  "mode": "run",
  "task": "<filled dispatch template>",
  "timeoutSeconds": 300
}

The main agent should:

1. Fill dispatch template with task context

2. Spawn subagent with the template

3. **Wait for completion** (blocking or polling)

4. Parse `completion_signal` from response

5. Verify deliverables and update status

6. **Immediately continue to next task**

Completion Signal

Subagent must return a `completion_signal` block:

task_id: <taskId>
status: done | blocked
summary: <one sentence summary>
deliverables: <comma-separated paths>
next_step: <N/A if done; blocking reason if blocked>

Parse this block to determine task outcome:

---

Status Transitions

todo → in-progress → review → done
                ↓         ↓
              failed    failed

**Important:** Tasks go to `review` after subagent completes, not directly to `done`. User or main agent verifies before `done`.

---

Verification Checklist

After subagent completes, verify:

1. **Deliverables exist**

- Check all paths in `deliverables` array

- Files should be non-empty

2. **Acceptance criteria met**

- Review each criterion

- Mark pass/fail

3. **Update status**

- All pass → `review`

- Any fail → `failed` with `blockingReason`

---

Heartbeat Response

When triggered by cron/heartbeat:

---

Failure Handling

When a task fails or has no valid execution:

1. **Record the reason** in `blockingReason` field

2. **Clear invalid occupation** (`claimedBy`)

3. **Return task to actionable state** (`todo` or `in-progress`)

4. **Never fail silently** - always log or report

Common Failure Scenarios

| Scenario | Action |

|----------|--------|

| Subagent timeout | Set `failed`, clear `claimedBy`, log reason |

| Subagent returns `blocked` | Set `failed` with `blockingReason` |

| Deliverables missing | Set `failed`, clear `claimedBy` |

| API error | Log error, skip this round, try next time |

---

Dispatch Principles

1. **Only dispatch `executionMode=auto` tasks**

2. **Priority order**: `todo` first, then unclaimed `in-progress`

3. **Respect assignee**: Don't re-dispatch if `assignee` is set

4. **Verify before done**: Tasks go to `review` first, then `done` after verification

---

Configuration

See [references/config.md](references/config.md) for:

---

Example Usage

Deploy ClawBoard

"部署 ClawBoard 看板"

Setup with User Guidance

"帮我设置任务调度系统"

Manual Dispatch (runs until empty)

"检查任务看板，派发所有待执行任务"

Setup Periodic Check

"设置每10分钟自动检查任务"

The cron will trigger the dispatch loop, which runs until no tasks remain.