Anthropic Replaces Todos with Persistent Tasks Feature in Claude Code Upgrade
Anthropic Replaces Todos with Persistent Tasks Feature in Claude Code Upgrade
Anthropic Introduces Tasks for Enhanced AI Coding Workflow Management
Anthropic has rolled out a significant upgrade to Claude Code, replacing its existing Todos system with a new Tasks feature designed to enable persistent, collaborative project management across multiple coding sessions. The upgrade addresses longstanding limitations in AI-assisted development workflows, particularly for complex, multi-session projects.
The new Tasks system marks a shift from ephemeral, memory-based task lists to file-backed project management that persists between sessions and enables coordination across multiple AI agents.
Key Improvements Over Previous System
The original Todos tool stored all task information in active memory, meaning users lost their task lists upon closing a session. Sub-agents operated in isolation without awareness of the main agent’s objectives, and coordinating work across multiple Claude Code sessions was effectively impossible.
Tasks resolve these limitations through three core architectural changes:
- File-system persistence — Tasks are stored in
~/.claude/tasks, allowing them to survive session closures and enabling users to build custom utilities on top of the task files - Dependency mapping — Unlike the flat list structure of Todos, Tasks support hierarchical relationships where tasks can be blocked until prerequisites complete
- Cross-session synchronization — Multiple Claude Code instances and sub-agents can now share and update a unified task list in real time
Multi-Agent Collaboration Enabled
The synchronization capability represents the most substantial advancement. When multiple sessions operate with the same task list ID—set via the environment variable CLAUDE_CODE_TASK_LIST_ID—updates propagate across all active instances. This allows parallel execution where one sub-agent might handle operating system tasks while another manages database schema work and a third generates tests, with each agent seeing live status updates from the others.
The feature extends to Claude Code’s CLI mode (claude -p) and the Agent SDK, supporting automation pipelines that coordinate work across multiple Claude Code instances.
Workflow Integration and Use Cases
For straightforward requests—single-function refactoring or bug fixes—Anthropic indicates that explicit task management may be unnecessary, as Claude’s autonomous capabilities have improved sufficiently to handle such work directly.
Tasks prove most valuable for:
- Multi-file feature development
- Large-scale refactoring operations
- Comprehensive test suite creation
- Any project requiring work across multiple sessions or agent instances
Community Tool Implications
The upgrade incorporates functionality that previously required third-party extensions. The Ralph Wiggum plugin, which trapped Claude Code in execution loops until task completion, and Ralphie, which added parallel execution and Git worktree management, addressed gaps that Tasks now handles natively—specifically persistent task tracking and cross-agent coordination.
However, community tools retain relevance for specialized workflows. Ralphie’s Git worktree isolation and automatic pull request creation features remain valuable additions not replicated in the core Tasks implementation.
Current Limitations
Early adopters have identified several areas for improvement:
- Documentation remains minimal following the feature’s announcement on X, requiring users to deduce functionality through experimentation
- No visual dashboard exists for monitoring task progress and dependency graphs
- The environment variable requirement for sharing task lists lacks the convenience of a built-in slash command or configuration option
Industry Direction
The Tasks upgrade reflects a broader evolution in AI coding tools from assistant-based interaction toward team-oriented development models. As AI systems assume more autonomous responsibility in software creation, structured project management capabilities become essential infrastructure rather than optional add-ons.
The feature is available now to Claude Code users, with community-developed visual interfaces and enhanced documentation anticipated as adoption increases.