MCP Tools

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Core Concepts

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Configurable Tool Loading

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Configuration Modes

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Core Tools (Default, Lean Mode)

• get_tasks - List all tasks
• next_task - Find the next task to work on
• get_task - Get detailed task information
• set_task_status - Update task status
• add_note - Log a progress note on a task or subtask, as written (no AI call)
• parse_prd - Generate tasks from PRD
• expand_task - Break down tasks into subtasks

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "taskgraph-ai": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "taskgraph-ai"],
      "env": {
        "TASKGRAPH_TOOLS": "core"
      }
    }
  }
}

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Standard Tools

• update_subtask - Have the AI write notes onto a subtask
• initialize_project - Set up new projects
• analyze_project_complexity - Analyze task complexity
• expand_all - Expand all eligible tasks
• add_subtask - Add subtasks manually
• remove_task - Remove tasks
• add_task - Create new tasks
• complexity_report - View complexity analysis
• dependency_analysis - Bottlenecks, critical path and why a task is blocked

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "taskgraph-ai": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "taskgraph-ai"],
      "env": {
        "TASKGRAPH_TOOLS": "standard"
      }
    }
  }
}

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Custom Tool Selection

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "taskgraph-ai": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "taskgraph-ai"],
      "env": {
        "TASKGRAPH_TOOLS": "get_tasks,next_task,set_task_status,add_note"
      }
    }
  }
}

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All Tools

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "taskgraph-ai": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "taskgraph-ai"],
      "env": {
        "TASKGRAPH_TOOLS": "all"
      }
    }
  }
}

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Choosing the Right Configuration

• Use core/lean: Default setting, ideal for basic task management workflows or when context limits are strict
• Use standard: For most development workflows that include task creation and analysis
• Use all: When you need full functionality including tag management, dependencies, and advanced features
• Use custom list: When you have specific tool requirements or want to experiment with minimal sets

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Verification

TaskGraph MCP Server starting...
Tool mode configuration: standard
Loading standard tools
Registering 16 MCP tools (mode: standard)
Successfully registered 16/16 tools

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Tool Categories

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1. Task and Subtask Management

• add_task: Creates a new task. discoveredFrom links it to the task it was found in, without blocking it.
• add_subtask: Adds a subtask to a parent task.
• remove_task: Removes one or more tasks or subtasks.
• remove_subtask: Removes a subtask from its parent.
• update_task: Updates a single task.
• add_note: Appends a progress note to a task or subtask as written, with a timestamp. No AI call.
• update_subtask: Has the AI write notes onto a subtask.
• update: Updates multiple tasks.
• move_task: Moves a task or subtask.
• clear_subtasks: Clears all subtasks from one or more tasks.

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2. Task Information and Status

• get_tasks: Lists tasks as compact JSON with id, title, status, priority and dependencies. fields asks for more ("title,details", or "all"), status filters ("pending,review"), and withSubtasks nests subtasks with the same fields.
• get_task: Shows the details of a specific task.
• next_task: Shows the next task to work on. With claim: true it also starts the task and records who claimed it, in one locked write, so parallel sessions never get the same task.
• set_task_status: Sets the status of a task or subtask.
• archive_tasks: Moves done and cancelled tasks older than N days (olderThanDays, default 30) into .taskgraph/tasks/archive.json; dryRun lists them first, and restore brings one back by ID. In the all tier.

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3. Task Analysis and Expansion

• parse_prd: Parses a PRD to generate tasks. With clarify: true it returns up to 5 questions about gaps in the PRD, each with a suggestedAnswer, and generates nothing; ask the user, then call it again with their answers in clarifications: [{question, answer}]. The answers are saved in the PRD under ## Clarifications before the tasks are generated.
• expand_task: Expands a task into subtasks.
• expand_all: Expands all eligible tasks.

• analyze_project_complexity: Analyzes task complexity.
• complexity_report: Displays the complexity analysis report.

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4. Dependency Management

• add_dependency: Adds a dependency to a task. With type: "related" or "discovered-from" it adds a link that never blocks.
• remove_dependency: Removes a dependency, or a related / discovered-from link, from a task.
• validate_dependencies: Validates the dependencies of all tasks.
• fix_dependencies: Fixes any invalid dependencies.
• dependency_analysis: Shows the bottlenecks, critical path and cycles, and with id what blocks one task.

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5. Project and Configuration

• initialize_project: Initializes a new project.
• generate: Generates individual task files.
• models: Manages AI model configurations.
• research: Performs AI-powered research.

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6. Tag Management

• add_tag: Creates a new tag.
• delete_tag: Deletes a tag.
• list_tags: Lists all tags.
• use_tag: Switches to a different tag.
• rename_tag: Renames a tag.
• copy_tag: Copies a tag.