Long-Running Task Management

State file: ~/.openclaw/skill-state/long-running-task-management/state.yaml

When to Use

• Task estimated at more than 30 minutes
• Task will span multiple sessions
• Task modifies many files across multiple directories

Starting a Task

1. Write initial state to the state file:
   • task_id: short kebab-case name
   • status: in_progress
   • description: one-sentence goal
   • stages: ordered list with status: pending for each
   • started_at: current timestamp
2. Begin the first stage

At Each Checkpoint

1. Complete the stage
2. Run tests/verification
3. Update state file: mark stage status: complete, write checkpoint (what's stable now), write next_action (first thing to do on resume), update last_updated
4. Commit progress to git if applicable

Resume After Interruption

1. Read the state file
2. Check status and next_action
3. Continue from the next pending stage — do NOT start over

Completion

1. Update state: status: complete, final checkpoint
2. Run full verification

Cron Wakeup Behavior

On each 15-minute wakeup:

• Read state file
• If status: in_progress and last_updated is stale (>30 min ago): log a checkpoint update to daily memory
• If status: complete or no active task: skip