trax/scripts/TASKMASTER_TRACKER_SUMMARY.md

Taskmaster Tracker Implementation Summary

Overview

I've successfully created a comprehensive Taskmaster task tracking system that automatically adds datetime stamps to tasks whenever they're created or their status changes. This system provides valuable audit trails and lifecycle tracking for your project management.

Files Created

Core Implementation

• scripts/taskmaster_tracker.py - Main Python script that monitors and updates tasks
• scripts/tm_tracker.sh - Shell wrapper for easy execution
• scripts/demo_tracker.sh - Demo script for showcasing the tracker
• scripts/README_taskmaster_tracker.md - Comprehensive documentation

Generated Files

• .taskmaster/tracker_state.json - Persistent state tracking (auto-generated)
• .taskmaster/backups/ - Automatic backups directory (auto-generated)
• logs/taskmaster_tracker.log - Activity logging (auto-generated)

Features Implemented

✅ Automatic Timestamping

• created_at - Added when tasks are first detected
• updated_at - Updated whenever tasks change
• status_changed_to_X - Added when status changes (e.g., status_changed_to_done)

✅ Smart Change Detection

• Uses MD5 hashing to detect file changes efficiently
• Persists state between runs to track task history
• Handles both old and new Taskmaster file formats

✅ Safety Features

• Automatic Backups - Creates timestamped backups before any changes
• Non-Destructive - Only adds new fields, never modifies existing data
• Error Handling - Graceful handling of file errors and JSON issues
• State Persistence - Remembers known tasks between runs

✅ Comprehensive Logging

• Logs all activities with timestamps
• Tracks new task detection and status changes
• Records backup creation and file updates
• Debug information for troubleshooting

Usage Examples

Quick Commands

# Run once to process current tasks
./scripts/tm_tracker.sh --once

# Watch for changes continuously (5-second interval)
./scripts/tm_tracker.sh --watch

# Watch with custom interval (10 seconds)
./scripts/tm_tracker.sh --watch --interval 10

# Run demo
./scripts/demo_tracker.sh

Python Direct Usage

# Run once
uv run python scripts/taskmaster_tracker.py

# Watch continuously
uv run python scripts/taskmaster_tracker.py --watch

# Watch with custom interval
uv run python scripts/taskmaster_tracker.py --watch --interval 10

How It Works

1. File Monitoring: Uses MD5 hashing to detect changes in tasks.json
2. State Management: Persists known tasks in .taskmaster/tracker_state.json
3. Change Detection: Compares current tasks with previously known tasks
4. Timestamp Addition: Adds appropriate timestamps for new tasks and status changes
5. Backup Creation: Creates timestamped backups before making changes
6. Logging: Records all activities for audit purposes

Example Output

New Task Creation

{
  "id": 11,
  "title": "New Task",
  "status": "pending",
  "created_at": "2025-08-30T10:12:53.075193+00:00",
  "updated_at": "2025-08-30T10:12:53.075193+00:00"
}

Status Change

{
  "id": 2,
  "title": "Task Title",
  "status": "done",
  "created_at": "2025-08-30T10:12:53.075193+00:00",
  "updated_at": "2025-08-30T10:12:53.075193+00:00",
  "status_changed_to_done": "2025-08-30T10:13:46.314472+00:00"
}

Integration with Taskmaster

The tracker works seamlessly with Taskmaster:

• No Conflicts - Only adds timestamp fields, doesn't interfere with operations
• Automatic Detection - Detects changes made by Taskmaster CLI or MCP tools
• Backup Safety - Creates backups before any modifications
• Audit Trail - Provides complete history of task changes

Testing Results

✅ Successfully tested with your current Trax project:

• Added timestamps to all 10 existing tasks
• Detected status change from "pending" to "done" for task 2
• Added status_changed_to_done timestamp
• Created automatic backups
• Logged all activities

Next Steps

1. Start Using: Run ./scripts/tm_tracker.sh --watch to begin automatic tracking
2. Monitor Logs: Check logs/taskmaster_tracker.log for activity
3. Review Backups: Check .taskmaster/backups/ for automatic backups
4. Customize: Modify the script if you need additional timestamp types

Benefits

• Audit Trail: Complete history of when tasks were created and changed
• Progress Tracking: See when tasks moved through different statuses
• Backup Safety: Automatic backups prevent data loss
• Zero Maintenance: Runs automatically without manual intervention
• Non-Intrusive: Doesn't interfere with normal Taskmaster operations

The tracker is now ready to use and will automatically enhance your Taskmaster experience with comprehensive timestamp tracking!