---
slug: /api/
sidebar_position: 4
toc_min_heading_level: 2
toc_max_heading_level: 5
---
# API Reference
## CLI
Task command line tool has the following syntax:
```shell
task [--flags] [tasks...] [-- CLI_ARGS...]
```
:::tip
If `--` is given, all remaining arguments will be assigned to a special
`CLI_ARGS` variable
:::
| Short | Flag | Type | Default | Description |
| ----- | --------------------------- | -------- | -------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `-c` | `--color` | `bool` | `true` | Colored output. Enabled by default. Set flag to `false` or use `NO_COLOR=1` to disable. |
| `-C` | `--concurrency` | `int` | `0` | Limit number tasks to run concurrently. Zero means unlimited. |
| `-d` | `--dir` | `string` | Working directory | Sets directory of execution. |
| `-n` | `--dry` | `bool` | `false` | Compiles and prints tasks in the order that they would be run, without executing them. |
| `-x` | `--exit-code` | `bool` | `false` | Pass-through the exit code of the task command. |
| `-f` | `--force` | `bool` | `false` | Forces execution even when the task is up-to-date. |
| `-g` | `--global` | `bool` | `false` | Runs global Taskfile, from `$HOME/Taskfile.{yml,yaml}`. |
| `-h` | `--help` | `bool` | `false` | Shows Task usage. |
| `-i` | `--init` | `bool` | `false` | Creates a new Taskfile.yml in the current folder. |
| `-I` | `--interval` | `string` | `5s` | Sets a different watch interval when using `--watch`, the default being 5 seconds. This string should be a valid [Go Duration](https://pkg.go.dev/time#ParseDuration). |
| `-l` | `--list` | `bool` | `false` | Lists tasks with description of current Taskfile. |
| `-a` | `--list-all` | `bool` | `false` | Lists tasks with or without a description. |
| | `--sort` | `string` | `default` | Changes the order of the tasks when listed.
`default` - Alphanumeric with root tasks first
`alphanumeric` - Alphanumeric
`none` - No sorting (As they appear in the Taskfile) |
| | `--json` | `bool` | `false` | See [JSON Output](#json-output) |
| `-o` | `--output` | `string` | Default set in the Taskfile or `intervealed` | Sets output style: [`interleaved`/`group`/`prefixed`]. |
| | `--output-group-begin` | `string` | | Message template to print before a task's grouped output. |
| | `--output-group-end` | `string` | | Message template to print after a task's grouped output. |
| | `--output-group-error-only` | `bool` | `false` | Swallow command output on zero exit code. |
| `-p` | `--parallel` | `bool` | `false` | Executes tasks provided on command line in parallel. |
| `-s` | `--silent` | `bool` | `false` | Disables echoing. |
| `-y` | `--yes` | `bool` | `false` | Assume "yes" as answer to all prompts. |
| | `--status` | `bool` | `false` | Exits with non-zero exit code if any of the given tasks is not up-to-date. |
| | `--summary` | `bool` | `false` | Show summary about a task. |
| `-t` | `--taskfile` | `string` | `Taskfile.yml` or `Taskfile.yaml` | |
| `-v` | `--verbose` | `bool` | `false` | Enables verbose mode. |
| | `--version` | `bool` | `false` | Show Task version. |
| `-w` | `--watch` | `bool` | `false` | Enables watch of the given task. |
## Exit Codes
Task will sometimes exit with specific exit codes. These codes are split into
three groups with the following ranges:
- General errors (0-99)
- Taskfile errors (100-199)
- Task errors (200-299)
A full list of the exit codes and their descriptions can be found below:
| Code | Description |
| ---- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 0 | Success |
| 1 | An unknown error occurred |
| 100 | No Taskfile was found |
| 101 | A Taskfile already exists when trying to initialize one |
| 102 | The Taskfile is invalid or cannot be parsed |
| 103 | A remote Taskfile could not be downloaded |
| 104 | A remote Taskfile was not trusted by the user |
| 105 | A remote Taskfile was could not be fetched securely |
| 106 | No cache was found for a remote Taskfile in offline mode |
| 107 | No schema version was defined in the Taskfile |
| 200 | The specified task could not be found |
| 201 | An error occurred while executing a command inside of a task |
| 202 | The user tried to invoke a task that is internal |
| 203 | There a multiple tasks with the same name or alias |
| 204 | A task was called too many times |
| 205 | A task was cancelled by the user |
| 206 | A task was not executed due to missing required variables |
These codes can also be found in the repository in
[`errors/errors.go`](https://github.com/go-task/task/blob/main/errors/errors.go).
:::info
When Task is run with the `-x`/`--exit-code` flag, the exit code of any failed
commands will be passed through to the user instead.
:::
## JSON Output
When using the `--json` flag in combination with either the `--list` or
`--list-all` flags, the output will be a JSON object with the following
structure:
```json
{
"tasks": [
{
"name": "",
"desc": "",
"summary": "",
"up_to_date": false,
"location": {
"line": 54,
"column": 3,
"taskfile": "/path/to/Taskfile.yml"
}
}
// ...
],
"location": "/path/to/Taskfile.yml"
}
```
## Special Variables
There are some special variables that is available on the templating system:
| Var | Description |
| ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `CLI_ARGS` | Contain all extra arguments passed after `--` when calling Task through the CLI. |
| `CLI_FORCE` | A boolean containing whether the `--force` or `--force-all` flags were set. |
| `TASK` | The name of the current task. |
| `ROOT_TASKFILE` | The absolute path of the root Taskfile. |
| `ROOT_DIR` | The absolute path of the root Taskfile directory. |
| `TASKFILE` | The absolute path of the included Taskfile. |
| `TASKFILE_DIR` | The absolute path of the included Taskfile directory. |
| `USER_WORKING_DIR` | The absolute path of the directory `task` was called from. |
| `CHECKSUM` | The checksum of the files listed in `sources`. Only available within the `status` prop and if method is set to `checksum`. |
| `TIMESTAMP` | The date object of the greatest timestamp of the files listed in `sources`. Only available within the `status` prop and if method is set to `timestamp`. |
| `TASK_VERSION` | The current version of task. |
| `ITEM` | The value of the current iteration when using the `for` property. Can be changed to a different variable name using `as:`. |
## ENV
Some environment variables can be overridden to adjust Task behavior.
| ENV | Default | Description |
| -------------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `TASK_TEMP_DIR` | `.task` | Location of the temp dir. Can relative to the project like `tmp/task` or absolute like `/tmp/.task` or `~/.task`. |
| `TASK_COLOR_RESET` | `0` | Color used for white. |
| `TASK_COLOR_BLUE` | `34` | Color used for blue. |
| `TASK_COLOR_GREEN` | `32` | Color used for green. |
| `TASK_COLOR_CYAN` | `36` | Color used for cyan. |
| `TASK_COLOR_YELLOW` | `33` | Color used for yellow. |
| `TASK_COLOR_MAGENTA` | `35` | Color used for magenta. |
| `TASK_COLOR_RED` | `31` | Color used for red. |
| `FORCE_COLOR` | | Force color output usage. |
All color variables are [ANSI color codes][ansi]. You can specify multiple codes
separated by a semicolon. For example: `31;1` will make the text bold and red.
Task also supports 8-bit color (256 colors). You can specify these colors by
using the sequence `38;2;R:G:B` for foreground colors and `48;2;R:G:B` for
background colors where `R`, `G` and `B` should be replaced with values between
0 and 255.
For convenience, we allow foreground colors to be specified using shorthand,
comma-separated syntax: `R,G,B`. For example, `255,0,0` is equivalent to
`38;2;255:0:0`.
## Taskfile Schema
| Attribute | Type | Default | Description |
| ---------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `version` | `string` | | Version of the Taskfile. The current version is `3`. |
| `output` | `string` | `interleaved` | Output mode. Available options: `interleaved`, `group` and `prefixed`. |
| `method` | `string` | `checksum` | Default method in this Taskfile. Can be overridden in a task by task basis. Available options: `checksum`, `timestamp` and `none`. |
| `includes` | [`map[string]Include`](#include) | | Additional Taskfiles to be included. |
| `vars` | [`map[string]Variable`](#variable) | | A set of global variables. |
| `env` | [`map[string]Variable`](#variable) | | A set of global environment variables. |
| `tasks` | [`map[string]Task`](#task) | | A set of task definitions. |
| `silent` | `bool` | `false` | Default 'silent' options for this Taskfile. If `false`, can be overridden with `true` in a task by task basis. |
| `dotenv` | `[]string` | | A list of `.env` file paths to be parsed. |
| `run` | `string` | `always` | Default 'run' option for this Taskfile. Available options: `always`, `once` and `when_changed`. |
| `interval` | `string` | `5s` | Sets a different watch interval when using `--watch`, the default being 5 seconds. This string should be a valid [Go Duration](https://pkg.go.dev/time#ParseDuration). |
| `set` | `[]string` | | Specify options for the [`set` builtin](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/The-Set-Builtin.html). |
| `shopt` | `[]string` | | Specify option for the [`shopt` builtin](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/The-Shopt-Builtin.html). |
### Include
| Attribute | Type | Default | Description |
| ---------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `taskfile` | `string` | | The path for the Taskfile or directory to be included. If a directory, Task will look for files named `Taskfile.yml` or `Taskfile.yaml` inside that directory. If a relative path, resolved relative to the directory containing the including Taskfile. |
| `dir` | `string` | The parent Taskfile directory | The working directory of the included tasks when run. |
| `optional` | `bool` | `false` | If `true`, no errors will be thrown if the specified file does not exist. |
| `internal` | `bool` | `false` | Stops any task in the included Taskfile from being callable on the command line. These commands will also be omitted from the output when used with `--list`. |
| `aliases` | `[]string` | | Alternative names for the namespace of the included Taskfile. |
| `vars` | `map[string]Variable` | | A set of variables to apply to the included Taskfile. |
:::info
Informing only a string like below is equivalent to setting that value to the
`taskfile` attribute.
```yaml
includes:
foo: ./path
```
:::
### Variable
| Attribute | Type | Default | Description |
| --------- | -------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| _itself_ | `string` | | A static value that will be set to the variable. |
| `sh` | `string` | | A shell command. The output (`STDOUT`) will be assigned to the variable. |
:::info
Static and dynamic variables have different syntaxes, like below:
```yaml
vars:
STATIC: static
DYNAMIC:
sh: echo "dynamic"
```
:::
:::info
In a variables map, variables defined later may reference variables defined
earlier (declaration order is respected):
```yaml
vars:
FIRST_VAR: "hello"
SECOND_VAR: "{{.FIRST_VAR}} world"
```
:::
### Task
| Attribute | Type | Default | Description |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `cmds` | [`[]Command`](#command) | | A list of shell commands to be executed. |
| `deps` | [`[]Dependency`](#dependency) | | A list of dependencies of this task. Tasks defined here will run in parallel before this task. |
| `label` | `string` | | Overrides the name of the task in the output when a task is run. Supports variables. |
| `desc` | `string` | | A short description of the task. This is displayed when calling `task --list`. |
| `prompt` | `string` | | A prompt that will be presented before a task is run. Declining will cancel running the current and any subsequent tasks. |
| `summary` | `string` | | A longer description of the task. This is displayed when calling `task --summary [task]`. |
| `aliases` | `[]string` | | A list of alternative names by which the task can be called. |
| `sources` | `[]string` | | A list of sources to check before running this task. Relevant for `checksum` and `timestamp` methods. Can be file paths or star globs. |
| `generates` | `[]string` | | A list of files meant to be generated by this task. Relevant for `timestamp` method. Can be file paths or star globs. |
| `status` | `[]string` | | A list of commands to check if this task should run. The task is skipped otherwise. This overrides `method`, `sources` and `generates`. |
| `preconditions` | [`[]Precondition`](#precondition) | | A list of commands to check if this task should run. If a condition is not met, the task will error. |
| `requires` | [`Requires`](#requires) | | A list of required variables which should be set if this task is to run, if any variables listed are unset the task will error and not run. |
| `dir` | `string` | | The directory in which this task should run. Defaults to the current working directory. |
| `vars` | [`map[string]Variable`](#variable) | | A set of variables that can be used in the task. |
| `env` | [`map[string]Variable`](#variable) | | A set of environment variables that will be made available to shell commands. |
| `dotenv` | `[]string` | | A list of `.env` file paths to be parsed. |
| `silent` | `bool` | `false` | Hides task name and command from output. The command's output will still be redirected to `STDOUT` and `STDERR`. When combined with the `--list` flag, task descriptions will be hidden. |
| `interactive` | `bool` | `false` | Tells task that the command is interactive. |
| `internal` | `bool` | `false` | Stops a task from being callable on the command line. It will also be omitted from the output when used with `--list`. |
| `method` | `string` | `checksum` | Defines which method is used to check the task is up-to-date. `timestamp` will compare the timestamp of the sources and generates files. `checksum` will check the checksum (You probably want to ignore the .task folder in your .gitignore file). `none` skips any validation and always run the task. |
| `prefix` | `string` | | Defines a string to prefix the output of tasks running in parallel. Only used when the output mode is `prefixed`. |
| `ignore_error` | `bool` | `false` | Continue execution if errors happen while executing commands. |
| `run` | `string` | The one declared globally in the Taskfile or `always` | Specifies whether the task should run again or not if called more than once. Available options: `always`, `once` and `when_changed`. |
| `platforms` | `[]string` | All platforms | Specifies which platforms the task should be run on. [Valid GOOS and GOARCH values allowed](https://github.com/golang/go/blob/master/src/go/build/syslist.go). Task will be skipped otherwise. |
| `set` | `[]string` | | Specify options for the [`set` builtin](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/The-Set-Builtin.html). |
| `shopt` | `[]string` | | Specify option for the [`shopt` builtin](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/The-Shopt-Builtin.html). |
:::info
These alternative syntaxes are available. They will set the given values to
`cmds` and everything else will be set to their default values:
```yaml
tasks:
foo: echo "foo"
foobar:
- echo "foo"
- echo "bar"
baz:
cmd: echo "baz"
```
:::
#### Command
| Attribute | Type | Default | Description |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `cmd` | `string` | | The shell command to be executed. |
| `task` | `string` | | Set this to trigger execution of another task instead of running a command. This cannot be set together with `cmd`. |
| `for` | [`For`](#for) | | Runs the command once for each given value. |
| `silent` | `bool` | `false` | Skips some output for this command. Note that STDOUT and STDERR of the commands will still be redirected. |
| `vars` | [`map[string]Variable`](#variable) | | Optional additional variables to be passed to the referenced task. Only relevant when setting `task` instead of `cmd`. |
| `ignore_error` | `bool` | `false` | Continue execution if errors happen while executing the command. |
| `defer` | `string` | | Alternative to `cmd`, but schedules the command to be executed at the end of this task instead of immediately. This cannot be used together with `cmd`. |
| `platforms` | `[]string` | All platforms | Specifies which platforms the command should be run on. [Valid GOOS and GOARCH values allowed](https://github.com/golang/go/blob/master/src/go/build/syslist.go). Command will be skipped otherwise. |
| `set` | `[]string` | | Specify options for the [`set` builtin](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/The-Set-Builtin.html). |
| `shopt` | `[]string` | | Specify option for the [`shopt` builtin](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/The-Shopt-Builtin.html). |
:::info
If given as a a string, the value will be assigned to `cmd`:
```yaml
tasks:
foo:
cmds:
- echo "foo"
- echo "bar"
```
:::
#### Dependency
| Attribute | Type | Default | Description |
| --------- | ---------------------------------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `task` | `string` | | The task to be execute as a dependency. |
| `vars` | [`map[string]Variable`](#variable) | | Optional additional variables to be passed to this task. |
| `silent` | `bool` | `false` | Hides task name and command from output. The command's output will still be redirected to `STDOUT` and `STDERR`. |
:::tip
If you don't want to set additional variables, it's enough to declare the
dependency as a list of strings (they will be assigned to `task`):
```yaml
tasks:
foo:
deps: [foo, bar]
```
:::
#### For
The `for` parameter can be defined as a string, a list of strings or a map. If
it is defined as a string, you can give it any of the following values:
- `source` - Will run the command for each source file defined on the task.
(Glob patterns will be resolved, so `*.go` will run for every Go file that
matches).
If it is defined as a list of strings, the command will be run for each value.
Finally, the `for` parameter can be defined as a map when you want to use a
variable to define the values to loop over:
| Attribute | Type | Default | Description |
| --------- | -------- | ---------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| `var` | `string` | | The name of the variable to use as an input. |
| `split` | `string` | (any whitespace) | What string the variable should be split on. |
| `as` | `string` | `ITEM` | The name of the iterator variable. |
#### Precondition
| Attribute | Type | Default | Description |
| --------- | -------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `sh` | `string` | | Command to be executed. If a non-zero exit code is returned, the task errors without executing its commands. |
| `msg` | `string` | | Optional message to print if the precondition isn't met. |
:::tip
If you don't want to set a different message, you can declare a precondition
like this and the value will be assigned to `sh`:
```yaml
tasks:
foo:
precondition: test -f Taskfile.yml
```
:::
#### Requires
| Attribute | Type | Default | Description |
| --------- | ---------- | ------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `vars` | `[]string` | | List of variable or environment variable names that must be set if this task is to execute and run |
{/* prettier-ignore-start */}
[ansi]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_escape_code
{/* prettier-ignore-end */}