name: tasks-py
description: Create and maintain tasks.py task runner files. Use when user wants to add project automation, create a tasks.py file, add tasks, or mentions "tasks.py".

tasks.py Task Runner

A zero-dependency Python task runner using do_ prefixed functions.

Creating a New tasks.py

Minimal (zero dependencies, self-contained): Copy tasks.py to the project root.

Maximal (argparse integration, task modules, task-by-index): Use scaffer-templates tasks.py

Use minimal for standard tasks (check, format, test). Use maximal for project-specific tasks or if you need argparse arguments.

Adding Tasks

Add new tasks by creating do_<name> functions:

def do_build(args) -> None:
    """Build the project"""
    c("python -m build")

Common Task Patterns

Publishing to PyPI

def do_publish(args) -> None:
    """Publish package to PyPI"""
    shutil.rmtree("dist", ignore_errors=True)
    c("python -m build")
    c("twine upload dist/*")

Running in subdirectory

def do_test(args) -> None:
    """Run tests in test directory"""
    os.chdir("test")
    c("pytest")

Using c_dir for directory-scoped commands

def do_frontend(args) -> None:
    """Build frontend"""
    c_dir("npm run build", "frontend")

Task with arguments

def do_greet(args) -> None:
    """Greet someone: greet <name>"""
    name = args[0] if args else "World"
    print(f"Hello, {name}!")

Usage

python tasks.py              # Show available tasks
python tasks.py check        # Run the check task
python tasks.py test -h      # Show help for test task

Library Functions Reference

Guidelines

• Keep tasks.py at project root
• Only use standard library imports
• Document tasks with docstrings
• Use c() for commands that must succeed
• Use c_ignore() for optional/cleanup commands