msd-core/get-shit-done/workflows/add-todo.md

<purpose>
Capture an idea, task, or issue that surfaces during a GSD session as a structured todo for later work. Enables "thought → capture → continue" flow without losing context.
</purpose>

<required_reading>
Read all files referenced by the invoking prompt's execution_context before starting.
</required_reading>

<process>

<step name="init_context">
Load todo context:

```bash
_GSD_SHIM_NAME="gsd-tools.cjs"; _GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT="${RUNTIME_DIR:-$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd)}"; GSD_TOOLS="${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/get-shit-done/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; if [ -f "$GSD_TOOLS" ]; then gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/.claude/get-shit-done/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="${_GSD_RUNTIME_ROOT}/.claude/get-shit-done/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif command -v gsd-tools >/dev/null 2>&1; then GSD_TOOLS="$(command -v gsd-tools)"; gsd_run() { "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; elif [ -f "$HOME/.claude/get-shit-done/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}" ]; then GSD_TOOLS="$HOME/.claude/get-shit-done/bin/${_GSD_SHIM_NAME}"; gsd_run() { node "$GSD_TOOLS" "$@"; }; else echo "ERROR: gsd-tools.cjs not found at $GSD_TOOLS and gsd-tools is not on PATH. Run: npx -y @opengsd/gsd-core@latest --claude --local" >&2; exit 1; fi
INIT=$(gsd_run query init.todos)
if [[ "$INIT" == @file:* ]]; then INIT=$(cat "${INIT#@file:}"); fi
```

Extract from init JSON: `commit_docs`, `date`, `timestamp`, `todo_count`, `todos`, `pending_dir`, `todos_dir_exists`.

Ensure directories exist:
```bash
mkdir -p .planning/todos/pending .planning/todos/completed
```

Note existing areas from the todos array for consistency in infer_area step.
</step>

<step name="extract_content">
**With arguments:** Use as the title/focus.
- `/gsd-add-todo Add auth token refresh` → title = "Add auth token refresh"

**Without arguments:** Analyze recent conversation to extract:
- The specific problem, idea, or task discussed
- Relevant file paths mentioned
- Technical details (error messages, line numbers, constraints)

Formulate:
- `title`: 3-10 word descriptive title (action verb preferred)
- `problem`: What's wrong or why this is needed
- `solution`: Approach hints or "TBD" if just an idea
- `files`: Relevant paths with line numbers from conversation
</step>

<step name="infer_area">
Infer area from file paths:

| Path pattern | Area |
|--------------|------|
| `src/api/*`, `api/*` | `api` |
| `src/components/*`, `src/ui/*` | `ui` |
| `src/auth/*`, `auth/*` | `auth` |
| `src/db/*`, `database/*` | `database` |
| `tests/*`, `__tests__/*` | `testing` |
| `docs/*` | `docs` |
| `.planning/*` | `planning` |
| `scripts/*`, `bin/*` | `tooling` |
| No files or unclear | `general` |

Use existing area from step 2 if similar match exists.
</step>

<step name="check_duplicates">
```bash
# Search for key words from title in existing todos
grep -l -i "[key words from title]" .planning/todos/pending/*.md 2>/dev/null || true
```

If potential duplicate found:
1. Read the existing todo
2. Compare scope


**Text mode (`workflow.text_mode: true` in config or `--text` flag):** Set `TEXT_MODE=true` if `--text` is present in `$ARGUMENTS` OR `text_mode` from init JSON is `true`. When TEXT_MODE is active, replace every `AskUserQuestion` call with a plain-text numbered list and ask the user to type their choice number. This is required for non-Claude runtimes (OpenAI Codex, Gemini CLI, etc.) where `AskUserQuestion` is not available.
If overlapping, use AskUserQuestion:
- header: "Duplicate?"
- question: "Similar todo exists: [title]. What would you like to do?"
- options:
  - "Skip" — keep existing todo
  - "Replace" — update existing with new context
  - "Add anyway" — create as separate todo
</step>

<step name="create_file">
Use values from init context: `timestamp` and `date` are already available.

Generate slug for the title:
```bash
slug=$(gsd_run query generate-slug "$title" --raw)
```

Write to `.planning/todos/pending/${date}-${slug}.md`:

```markdown
---
created: [timestamp]
title: [title]
area: [area]
files:
  - [file:lines]
---

## Problem

[problem description - enough context for future Claude to understand weeks later]

## Solution

[approach hints or "TBD"]
```
</step>

<step name="update_state">
If `.planning/STATE.md` exists:

1. Use `todo_count` from init context (or re-run `init todos` if count changed)
2. Update "### Pending Todos" under "## Accumulated Context"
</step>

<step name="git_commit">
Commit the todo and any updated state:

```bash
gsd_run query commit "docs: capture todo - [title]" --files .planning/todos/pending/[filename] .planning/STATE.md
```

Tool respects `commit_docs` config and gitignore automatically.

Confirm: "Committed: docs: capture todo - [title]"
</step>

<step name="confirm">
```
Todo saved: .planning/todos/pending/[filename]

  [title]
  Area: [area]
  Files: [count] referenced

---

Would you like to:

1. Continue with current work
2. Add another todo
3. View all todos (/gsd:capture --list)
```
</step>

</process>

<success_criteria>
- [ ] Directory structure exists
- [ ] Todo file created with valid frontmatter
- [ ] Problem section has enough context for future Claude
- [ ] No duplicates (checked and resolved)
- [ ] Area consistent with existing todos
- [ ] STATE.md updated if exists
- [ ] Todo and state committed to git
</success_criteria>