# Managing Tasks (/docs/verdent/task-based-guides/managing-tasks)

> Create, switch, and organize tasks in Verdent



Tasks in Verdent are conversation threads within a workspace. This guide covers creating, switching, and organizing tasks for efficient multi-task workflows.

***

## What You'll Learn [#what-youll-learn]

* How to create new tasks
* Switching between tasks
* Organizing and naming tasks
* Task context and state management
* Best practices for task workflows

***

## Understanding Tasks [#understanding-tasks]

### What Is a Task? [#what-is-a-task]

A task is a conversation thread within a workspace. Each task:

| Property         | Description                                              |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Conversation** | Has its own message history                              |
| **Context**      | Maintains its own AI context                             |
| **Agent**        | Has its own agent with custom configuration (model)      |
| **Workspace**    | Belongs to a specific workspace                          |
| **File Access**  | Shares file state with other tasks in the same workspace |

### Task Hierarchy [#task-hierarchy]

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    P[Project] --> W[Workspace]
    W --> T1[Task 1: Plan feature]
    W --> T2[Task 2: Implement feature]
    W --> T3[Task 3: Review feature]
```

***

## Creating New Tasks [#creating-new-tasks]

### Using the New Task Button [#using-the-new-task-button]

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Workspace">
    Ensure you're in the workspace where you want the task
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click New Task">
    Click **New Task** or press `Cmd+N` / `Ctrl+N`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start Conversation">
    Type your first message to begin the task
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Automatic Task Creation [#automatic-task-creation]

A new task is automatically created when you:

* Submit a prompt in an empty workspace
* Click New Task in the interface

### What Happens When You Create a Task [#what-happens-when-you-create-a-task]

| Step             | Description                  |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------- |
| **Task Created** | New conversation initialized |
| **Context Set**  | Fresh AI context starts      |
| **Listed**       | Task appears in task list    |
| **Ready**        | You can begin interacting    |

***

## Switching Between Tasks [#switching-between-tasks]

### Using the Task List [#using-the-task-list]

The task list in the Left Panel shows all tasks in the current workspace:

| Element          | Description                    |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------ |
| **Task list**    | All tasks in current workspace |
| **Current task** | Highlighted                    |
| **Task preview** | First message or task name     |

### Switching Methods [#switching-methods]

| Method                 | How To                              |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| **Click in task list** | Click the task you want             |
| **New Task shortcut**  | Cmd+N / Ctrl+N creates and switches |

### State Preservation When Switching [#state-preservation-when-switching]

When you switch tasks:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="What's Preserved">
    * Full conversation history
    * AI context for the task
    * Model configuration
    * Where you left off
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="What's Shared">
    * File state (same workspace)
    * Uncommitted changes
    * Branch state
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Tip>
  Tasks in the same workspace share file state. If you need file isolation, use separate workspaces.
</Tip>

***

## Organizing Tasks [#organizing-tasks]

### Task Organization Tips [#task-organization-tips]

| Practice                          | Benefit                      |
| --------------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| **One topic per task**            | Clear, focused conversations |
| **Related tasks same workspace**  | Shared file access           |
| **Unrelated tasks new workspace** | Clean separation             |

***

## Task Workflows [#task-workflows]

### Plan → Implement → Review [#plan--implement--review]

Use multiple tasks for a complete workflow:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Planning Task">
    Task 1: Plan the feature in Plan Mode
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Implementation Task">
    Task 2: Implement based on the plan
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Review Task">
    Task 3: Review the implementation
  </Step>
</Steps>

All tasks share the same workspace, so they see the same files.

### Quick Question During Work [#quick-question-during-work]

When you need to ask a quick question without disrupting your main task:

1. Create a new task (Cmd+N / Ctrl+N)
2. Ask your question
3. Get the answer
4. Switch back to main task

Your main task's context is preserved.

### Iterative Development [#iterative-development]

**Recommended workflow pattern:**

| Task   | Purpose                |
| ------ | ---------------------- |
| Task 1 | Initial implementation |
| Task 2 | Refinements and fixes  |
| Task 3 | Final polish           |

Tasks share file state but have independent conversational context. You can return to any task later to review, refine, or continue work without its context being affected by other tasks.

***

## Task Context Management [#task-context-management]

### How Task Context Works [#how-task-context-works]

Each task maintains:

| Context Type      | Description                        |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| **Conversation**  | All messages in the task           |
| **AI Memory**     | What the AI knows about this task  |
| **Configuration** | Model selection and agent settings |
| **Progress**      | Where in the task you are          |

### Context Between Tasks [#context-between-tasks]

| Scope                    | Behavior                                 |
| ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------- |
| **Same workspace**       | Tasks share file state, not conversation |
| **Different workspaces** | Full isolation                           |

***

## Best Practices [#best-practices]

### When to Create New Tasks [#when-to-create-new-tasks]

<Accordion title="Good Reasons for New Task">
  * Starting a different topic
  * Asking a quick question
  * Different phase of work (plan → implement)
  * Clean slate for new approach
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="When to Continue Same Task">
  * Iterating on same feature
  * Follow-up questions
  * Continuing previous conversation
  * Building on established context
</Accordion>

### Task Hygiene [#task-hygiene]

| Practice                  | Why                            |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| **Keep tasks focused**    | Better AI context              |
| **Don't overload topics** | Too many topics confuse the AI |
| **Close completed tasks** | Keep workspace clean           |
| **Review old tasks**      | Remove tasks no longer needed  |

* Start tasks with clear first messages
* Group related work in same workspace
* Use workspaces for major separations

***

## Troubleshooting [#troubleshooting]

### Common Issues [#common-issues]

<Accordion title="Can't find my task">
  **Solutions:**

  * Check task list in the Left Panel
  * You may be in a different workspace
  * Switch workspaces to find the task
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Task lost context">
  **Possible causes:**

  * Very long conversation
  * Exceeded context limits

  **Solutions:**

  * Summarize key points for the AI
  * Start fresh task with summary
  * Reference specific files
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Tasks piling up">
  **Solutions:**

  * Close completed tasks
  * Consolidate related tasks
  * Use workspace organization
</Accordion>

***

## FAQs [#faqs]

<Accordion title="Do tasks share memory?">
  No. Each task has its own conversation context. They share file state if in the same workspace, but not conversation memory.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="What happens to tasks when I close Verdent?">
  Task history persists between sessions. You can resume tasks where you left off when you reopen Verdent.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Can I reference work from other tasks?">
  Tasks don't automatically know about other tasks. Reference files that were modified, summarize previous decisions, or use @-mentions to include specific files.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Can I use different models for different tasks?">
  Yes. Each task has its own agent configuration including model selection.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="How do I delete a task?">
  Hover over the task in the task list and click the Delete button.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Do tasks in parallel workspaces share anything?">
  No. Tasks in different workspaces are fully isolated with no shared files or context.
</Accordion>

***

## See Also [#see-also]

<CardGroup cols="2">
  <Card title="Multitasking" icon="list-check" href="/docs/verdent/core-features/multitasking">
    In-depth multitasking guide
  </Card>

  <Card title="Workspace Isolation" icon="shield-halved" href="/docs/verdent/core-features/workspace-isolation">
    When to use separate workspaces
  </Card>

  <Card title="Opening Projects" icon="folder-open" href="/docs/verdent/task-based-guides/opening-projects">
    Project management
  </Card>

  <Card title="Context Awareness" icon="brain" href="/docs/verdent/core-features/context-awareness">
    How context works
  </Card>
</CardGroup>