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Update Command

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Keep your tasks and memory in sync effortlessly.

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What Update Command does

The Update Command skill is designed to help users maintain an organized task list and ensure their memory is up-to-date with current activities. This skill is particularly useful for developers and designers who juggle multiple projects and need to stay on top of their tasks without missing important details. It operates in two modes: Default and Comprehensive, allowing for flexibility based on user needs.

In Default mode, the skill reads the existing task list from TASKS.md and checks for tasks from external sources like project trackers and GitHub issues. It intelligently compares these tasks with the current list, identifying any new tasks that need to be added, as well as flagging stale or overdue items for triage. This helps users manage their workload effectively by ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks.

The Comprehensive mode takes it a step further by performing a deep scan of recent activity across various sources, including chat, email, calendar, and documents. It identifies missed tasks that may not have been captured in the task list and suggests new entries to fill memory gaps. This mode is particularly beneficial for users who want a thorough review of their recent activities to ensure all actionable items are accounted for.

Overall, the Update Command skill is an essential tool for anyone looking to enhance their productivity and maintain clarity in their task management. By automating the synchronization of tasks and memory, users can focus more on their work and less on tracking down forgotten items.

When to use it

Use this skill when you need to sync tasks from project trackers or when triaging overdue tasks.

When not to use it

This skill may not be suitable for users who prefer manual task management or those without external task sources connected.

What you can build with it

Syncing New Tasks

Use the Update Command to pull new tasks from your project tracker into TASKS.md, ensuring nothing is overlooked.

Triage Overdue Tasks

Run the skill to identify and manage stale tasks that need attention, helping you prioritize effectively.

Fill Memory Gaps

Utilize the comprehensive mode to discover and fill gaps in your memory regarding projects and people based on recent activity.

How to install Update Command

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins/update --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by anthropics

Update Command

If you see unfamiliar placeholders or need to check which tools are connected, see CONNECTORS.md.

Keep your task list and memory current. Two modes:

  • Default: Sync tasks from external tools, triage stale items, check memory for gaps
  • --comprehensive: Deep scan chat, email, calendar, docs — flag missed todos and suggest new memories

Usage

/productivity:update
/productivity:update --comprehensive

Default Mode

1. Load Current State

Read TASKS.md and memory/ directory. If they don't exist, suggest /productivity:start first.

2. Sync Tasks from External Sources

Check for available task sources:

  • Project tracker (e.g. Asana, Linear, Jira) (if MCP available)
  • GitHub Issues (if in a repo): gh issue list --assignee=@me

If no sources are available, skip to Step 3.

Fetch tasks assigned to the user (open/in-progress). Compare against TASKS.md:

External taskTASKS.md match?Action
Found, not in TASKS.mdNo matchOffer to add
Found, already in TASKS.mdMatch by title (fuzzy)Skip
In TASKS.md, not in externalNo matchFlag as potentially stale
Completed externallyIn Active sectionOffer to mark done

Present diff and let user decide what to add/complete.

3. Triage Stale Items

Review Active tasks in TASKS.md and flag:

  • Tasks with due dates in the past
  • Tasks in Active for 30+ days
  • Tasks with no context (no person, no project)

Present each for triage: Mark done? Reschedule? Move to Someday?

4. Decode Tasks for Memory Gaps

For each task, attempt to decode all entities (people, projects, acronyms, tools, links):

Task: "Send PSR to Todd re: Phoenix blockers"

Decode:
- PSR → ✓ Pipeline Status Report (in glossary)
- Todd → ✓ Todd Martinez (in people/)
- Phoenix → ? Not in memory

Track what's fully decoded vs. what has gaps.

5. Fill Gaps

Present unknown terms grouped:

I found terms in your tasks I don't have context for:

1. "Phoenix" (from: "Send PSR to Todd re: Phoenix blockers")
   → What's Phoenix?

2. "Maya" (from: "sync with Maya on API design")
   → Who is Maya?

Add answers to the appropriate memory files (people/, projects/, glossary.md).

6. Capture Enrichment

Tasks often contain richer context than memory. Extract and update:

  • Links from tasks → add to project/people files
  • Status changes ("launch done") → update project status, demote from CLAUDE.md
  • Relationships ("Todd's sign-off on Maya's proposal") → cross-reference people
  • Deadlines → add to project files

7. Report

Update complete:
- Tasks: +3 from project tracker (e.g. Asana), 1 completed, 2 triaged
- Memory: 2 gaps filled, 1 project enriched
- All tasks decoded ✓

Comprehensive Mode (--comprehensive)

Everything in Default Mode, plus a deep scan of recent activity.

Extra Step: Scan Activity Sources

Gather data from available MCP sources:

  • Chat: Search recent messages, read active channels
  • Email: Search sent messages
  • Documents: List recently touched docs
  • Calendar: List recent + upcoming events

Extra Step: Flag Missed Todos

Compare activity against TASKS.md. Surface action items that aren't tracked:

## Possible Missing Tasks

From your activity, these look like todos you haven't captured:

1. From chat (Jan 18):
   "I'll send the updated mockups by Friday"
   → Add to TASKS.md?

2. From meeting "Phoenix Standup" (Jan 17):
   You have a recurring meeting but no Phoenix tasks active
   → Anything needed here?

3. From email (Jan 16):
   "I'll review the API spec this week"
   → Add to TASKS.md?

Let user pick which to add.

Extra Step: Suggest New Memories

Surface new entities not in memory:

## New People (not in memory)
| Name | Frequency | Context |
|------|-----------|---------|
| Maya Rodriguez | 12 mentions | design, UI reviews |
| Alex K | 8 mentions | DMs about API |

## New Projects/Topics
| Name | Frequency | Context |
|------|-----------|---------|
| Starlight | 15 mentions | planning docs, product |

## Suggested Cleanup
- **Horizon project** — No mentions in 30 days. Mark completed?

Present grouped by confidence. High-confidence items offered to add directly; low-confidence items asked about.

Notes

  • Never auto-add tasks or memories without user confirmation
  • External source links are preserved when available
  • Fuzzy matching on task titles handles minor wording differences
  • Safe to run frequently — only updates when there's new info
  • --comprehensive always runs interactively

Frequently asked questions about Update Command

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