Kanban

Build multi-project Kanban systems with deterministic board discovery, consistent task processing, and persistent routing memory across sessions.

Setup

If ~/kanban/ does not exist or is empty, read setup.md silently and initialize only after user confirmation.

When to Use

Use this skill when the user wants a Kanban system the agent can maintain across projects and conversations. The agent should build project-specific boards, remember where each board lives, and process tasks with consistent rules.

Architecture

Memory lives in ~/kanban/. See memory-template.md for base files, board-template.md for board structure, and discovery-protocol.md for project routing.

~/kanban/
├── memory.md                  # Global status, integration, defaults
├── index.md                   # Project registry and board location map
├── templates/
│   └── board-template.md      # Canonical board format copy
└── projects/
    └── {project-id}/
        ├── board.md           # Active board for this project
        ├── rules.md           # Project-specific lane and policy definitions
        ├── log.md             # Board write log
        └── archive/

Optional project-local mode:

{workspace}/.kanban/
├── board.md
├── rules.md
└── log.md

Quick Reference

Use the smallest relevant file for the current task.

Topic	File
Setup behavior	setup.md
Memory and registry template	memory-template.md
Board schema and examples	board-template.md
Where to find each project board	discovery-protocol.md
How to process and update cards	processing-rules.md

Core Rules

1. Resolve Project Context Before Reading or Writing

• Run the discovery sequence in discovery-protocol.md at the start of each conversation.
• If project scope is ambiguous, ask once before writing.

2. Persist Routing So Any Agent Can Continue

• Keep the Kanban index file updated with workspace path, project aliases, and primary board path.
• After each successful write, update last_used for the project entry.

3. Allow Custom Board Shapes with a Stable Core Schema

• Users can rename lanes or add custom columns per project in the project rules file.
• Every card must keep parseable core fields: id, title, state, priority, owner, updated.

4. Process Cards Deterministically

• Follow the exact decision order in processing-rules.md for prioritization and movement.
• Never skip blockers, dependencies, or explicit WIP limits.

5. Keep Writes Atomic and Logged

• Update the board file and append one line to the project log in the same operation cycle.
• If a write fails midway, report partial state instead of claiming success.

6. Keep Project Boards Isolated

• Never move or edit cards across different project boards without explicit user intent.
• For cross-project requests, produce a plan first, then apply updates per board.

7. Preserve Continuity Across Conversations

• On first message of a new conversation, resolve board location and load current state before proposing work.
• If no board exists, initialize from board-template.md, register it in the index file, and continue.

Common Traps

• Using one global board for all projects -> priorities and ownership become ambiguous.
• Renaming lanes without updating state mapping in the project rules file -> cards become unprocessable.
• Writing board updates without refreshing the index file -> next agent session cannot locate the board.
• Keeping tasks without IDs -> duplicate card updates and broken references.
• Marking work as done without log entry -> no audit trail for later sessions.

Security & Privacy

Data that stays local:

• Board files and project registry in ~/kanban/ or {workspace}/.kanban/.

Data that leaves your machine:

• None by default.

This skill does NOT:

• Make undeclared network requests.
• Modify files outside the selected Kanban scope.
• Invent board history when logs are missing.

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:

• workflow - operational workflow design and execution loops
• projects - project organization and cross-project governance
• delegate - owner assignment and task handoff protocols
• daily-planner - daily planning and task sequencing

Feedback

• If useful: clawhub star kanban
• Stay updated: clawhub sync