# AGENTS.md — Build guide for ClickUp ## Project scope Plan a small team's work in list and board views, add milestones and dependency warnings, and attach lightweight project notes. Implement one explicit status-triggered notification after core task editing is reliable. Catalogue verdict: kinda. The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For ClickUp, combine tasks, docs, goals, dashboards, and simple automations for a small team. The hard boundary is breadth, integrations, mobile apps, reporting, and a highly configurable workflow engine, plus collaboration, integrations, and organizational trust. Use the implementation prompt below to define the deliverable. Complete each phase's acceptance checks before extending the scope. ## Working agreement - Inspect the repository and its existing instructions before choosing paths, dependencies or commands. Keep one coherent stack and explain changes to the proposed architecture. - Plan a vertical slice that accepts a real input and produces the useful output described below. Persist only the state the prompt calls for; respect memory-only and upstream-managed workflows. Use fixtures only when they are clearly labelled. - After scaffolding, document the actual install, development, check and build commands in README and keep them synchronized with the package or project manifest. Do not report commands as successful unless they ran. - Work in small steps. At handoff, list implemented flows, checks actually performed, remaining blockers, and any credentials or provider setup the owner must supply. - Do not publish, spend money, contact customers, delete source data or run irreversible migrations without the project owner's authorization. ## Prerequisites - A supported Node release, PostgreSQL, HTTPS for a shared deployment, and a backup destination. Begin with one workspace and explicit owner/member permissions. - Implementation components: Next.js App Router and TypeScript for server-rendered pages and validated mutations. PostgreSQL with Drizzle migrations; Better Auth sessions for a small private workspace. - Scope boundary: breadth, integrations, mobile apps, reporting, and a highly configurable workflow engine; deep integrations ## Stack and architecture - Next.js App Router and TypeScript for server-rendered pages and validated mutations. - PostgreSQL with Drizzle migrations; Better Auth sessions for a small private workspace. - Domain model: spaces, folders, lists, tasks, subtasks, custom fields, dependencies and activity entries ## Security and data integrity - Authorize every record read and mutation on the server using its workspace membership; validate payloads, protect mutations against CSRF, and escape user-authored HTML. - Correctness boundary: Hierarchy moves preserve task IDs and comments; dependency cycles are rejected and concurrent edits cannot silently overwrite one another. - Commit related database changes in one transaction. Use version checks for competing edits and an outbox for external notifications; retry delivery independently of saving the record. - Export versioned JSON plus attachments and a readable CSV summary. Restore into a separate database and compare record IDs and attachment checksums before switching. ## Agent implementation rules - Project rule — data model: spaces, folders, lists, tasks, subtasks, custom fields, dependencies and activity entries - Project rule — preserve this invariant: Hierarchy moves preserve task IDs and comments; dependency cycles are rejected and concurrent edits cannot silently overwrite one another. - Project rule — acceptance evidence: Move a task between lists and retain its history; attempts to make two tasks depend on each other display a cycle error. ## Optional agent skills and references - Optional external skill: [vercel-react-best-practices](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/react-best-practices/SKILL.md) — Improve React and Next.js data fetching, rendering, bundle size and server performance. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. - Optional external skill: [supabase-postgres-best-practices](https://github.com/supabase/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/supabase-postgres-best-practices/SKILL.md) — Review PostgreSQL schemas, queries, indexes, pooling, concurrency and row-level security. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. - Optional external skill: [web-design-guidelines](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/web-design-guidelines/SKILL.md) — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Read the linked SKILL.md and its dependencies before adding a skill. Select only the skills matching this project's runtime and task; their documentation does not supply API access, credentials or approval to perform external actions. Pin the reviewed revision where the tool supports it. Follow the chosen agent's documented project-level installation mechanism. ## Distribution ideas These are optional planning notes. Obtain the owner's approval before publishing or contacting anyone. - Demonstrate the actual ClickUp-inspired workflow with owned or clearly labeled sample data: Plan a small team's work in list and board views, add milestones and dependency warnings, and attach lightweight project notes. Implement one explicit status-triggered notification after core task editing is reliable. - Publish a reproducible walkthrough with this observable result: Move a task between lists and retain its history; attempts to make two tasks depend on each other display a cycle error. - Explain who can operate this scoped tool, its setup and ongoing costs, and these remaining product gaps: breadth, integrations, mobile apps, reporting, and a highly configurable workflow engine; deep integrations Avoid guaranteed savings, performance scores or implied endorsement. ## Engineering roadmap 1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Plan a small team's work in list and board views, add milestones and dependency warnings, and attach lightweight project notes. Implement one explicit status-triggered notification after core task editing is reliable. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: breadth, integrations, mobile apps, reporting, and a highly configurable workflow engine; deep integrations 2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model spaces, folders, lists, tasks, subtasks, custom fields, dependencies and activity entries Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Hierarchy moves preserve task IDs and comments; dependency cycles are rejected and concurrent edits cannot silently overwrite one another. 3. Phase 3 — Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Commit related database changes in one transaction. Use version checks for competing edits and an outbox for external notifications; retry delivery independently of saving the record. 4. Phase 4 — Permissions and integration failure. Authorize every record read and mutation on the server using its workspace membership; validate payloads, protect mutations against CSRF, and escape user-authored HTML. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results. 5. Phase 5 — Portable handoff. Export versioned JSON plus attachments and a readable CSV summary. Restore into a separate database and compare record IDs and attachment checksums before switching. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README. 6. Phase 6 — Acceptance scenarios. Move a task between lists and retain its history; attempts to make two tasks depend on each other display a cycle error. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder. ## Paid-product capabilities outside this build - breadth, integrations, mobile apps, reporting, and a highly configurable workflow engine - deep integrations - enterprise permissions - large-scale reporting - battle-tested notifications and mobile apps ## Implementation prompt WORKING SLICE Plan a small team's work in list and board views, add milestones and dependency warnings, and attach lightweight project notes. Implement one explicit status-triggered notification after core task editing is reliable. Build this scoped ClickUp-inspired workflow with a documented data model and visible failure states. Architecture - Next.js App Router and TypeScript for server-rendered pages and validated mutations. - PostgreSQL with Drizzle migrations; Better Auth sessions for a small private workspace. Prerequisites and limits A supported Node release, PostgreSQL, HTTPS for a shared deployment, and a backup destination. Begin with one workspace and explicit owner/member permissions. Outside this release: breadth, integrations, mobile apps, reporting, and a highly configurable workflow engine; deep integrations Data model and correctness spaces, folders, lists, tasks, subtasks, custom fields, dependencies and activity entries Invariant: Hierarchy moves preserve task IDs and comments; dependency cycles are rejected and concurrent edits cannot silently overwrite one another. Commit related database changes in one transaction. Use version checks for competing edits and an outbox for external notifications; retry delivery independently of saving the record. Security and privacy Authorize every record read and mutation on the server using its workspace membership; validate payloads, protect mutations against CSRF, and escape user-authored HTML. Recovery and export Export versioned JSON plus attachments and a readable CSV summary. Restore into a separate database and compare record IDs and attachment checksums before switching. Implementation order 1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Plan a small team's work in list and board views, add milestones and dependency warnings, and attach lightweight project notes. Implement one explicit status-triggered notification after core task editing is reliable. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: breadth, integrations, mobile apps, reporting, and a highly configurable workflow engine; deep integrations 2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model spaces, folders, lists, tasks, subtasks, custom fields, dependencies and activity entries Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Hierarchy moves preserve task IDs and comments; dependency cycles are rejected and concurrent edits cannot silently overwrite one another. 3. Phase 3 — Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Commit related database changes in one transaction. Use version checks for competing edits and an outbox for external notifications; retry delivery independently of saving the record. 4. Phase 4 — Permissions and integration failure. Authorize every record read and mutation on the server using its workspace membership; validate payloads, protect mutations against CSRF, and escape user-authored HTML. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results. 5. Phase 5 — Portable handoff. Export versioned JSON plus attachments and a readable CSV summary. Restore into a separate database and compare record IDs and attachment checksums before switching. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README. 6. Phase 6 — Acceptance scenarios. Move a task between lists and retain its history; attempts to make two tasks depend on each other display a cycle error. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder. Acceptance Move a task between lists and retain its history; attempts to make two tasks depend on each other display a cycle error. Use real source data or clearly labeled fixtures. Explain unsupported input and provider failures; do not fabricate analytics, delivery receipts, accuracy claims or security guarantees. Optional agent guidance Optional external skill: [vercel-react-best-practices](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/react-best-practices/SKILL.md) — Improve React and Next.js data fetching, rendering, bundle size and server performance. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Optional external skill: [supabase-postgres-best-practices](https://github.com/supabase/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/supabase-postgres-best-practices/SKILL.md) — Review PostgreSQL schemas, queries, indexes, pooling, concurrency and row-level security. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Optional external skill: [web-design-guidelines](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/web-design-guidelines/SKILL.md) — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Project rule — data model: spaces, folders, lists, tasks, subtasks, custom fields, dependencies and activity entries Project rule — preserve this invariant: Hierarchy moves preserve task IDs and comments; dependency cycles are rejected and concurrent edits cannot silently overwrite one another. Project rule — acceptance evidence: Move a task between lists and retain its history; attempts to make two tasks depend on each other display a cycle error. ## Completion evidence Demonstrate the prompt's acceptance scenarios against the scoped workflow. Include setup from a clean checkout and failure recovery. Check persistence across restart and export/restore only for the state the prompt says to store; for memory-only tools, confirm that temporary content is discarded as specified. Record actual results and remaining limitations. A detailed plan alone does not establish a working replacement.