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Skillintermediate
Add Todo Item
- Current timestamp: !`date "+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M"`
Claude Code Knowledge Pack7/10/2026
Overview
Add Todo Item
Context
- Current timestamp: !
date "+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M"
Instructions
-
Read TO-DOS.md in the working directory (create with Write tool if it doesn't exist)
-
Check for duplicates:
- Extract key concept/action from the new todo
- Search existing todos for similar titles or overlapping scope
- If found, ask user: "A similar todo already exists: [title]. Would you like to:
\
-
Skip adding (keep existing)\
-
Replace existing with new version\
-
Add anyway as separate item
Reply with the number of your choice."- Wait for user response before proceeding
-
Extract todo content:
- With $ARGUMENTS: Use as the focus/title for the todo and context heading
- Without $ARGUMENTS: Analyze recent conversation to extract:
- Specific problem or task discussed
- Relevant file paths that need attention
- Technical details (line numbers, error messages, conflicting specifications)
- Root cause if identified
-
Append new section to bottom of file:
- Heading:
## Brief Context Title - YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM(3-8 word title, current timestamp) - Todo format:
- **[Action verb] [Component]** - [Brief description]. **Problem:** [What's wrong/why needed]. **Files:** [Comma-separated paths with line numbers]. **Solution:** [Approach hints or constraints, if applicable]. - Required fields: Problem and Files (with line numbers like
path/to/file.ts:123-145) - Optional field: Solution
- Make each section self-contained for future Claude to understand weeks later
- Use simple list items (not checkboxes) - todos are removed when work begins
- Heading:
-
Confirm and offer to continue with original work:
- Identify what the user was working on before
/add-to-todoswas called - Confirm the todo was saved: "✓ Saved to todos."
- Ask if they want to continue with the original work: "Would you like to continue with [original task]?"
- Wait for user response
- Identify what the user was working on before
Format Example
## Add Todo Command Improvements - 2025-11-15 14:23
- **Add structured format to add-to-todos** - Standardize todo entries with Problem/Files/Solution pattern. **Problem:** Current todos lack consistent structure, making it hard for Claude to have enough context when revisiting tasks later. **Files:** `commands/add-to-todos.md:22-29`. **Solution:** Use inline bold labels with required Problem and Files fields, optional Solution field.
- **Create check-todos command** - Build companion command to list and select todos. **Problem:** Need workflow to review outstanding todos and load context for selected item. **Files:** `commands/check-todos.md` (new), `TO-DOS.md` (reads from). **Solution:** Parse markdown list, display numbered list, accept selection to load full context and remove item.