hackathon-task-planner

Goal

Decompose the MVP scope into a sequenced, time-boxed task list with assigned roles and clear dependencies for execution during the hackathon.

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Trigger Conditions

Use this skill when:

• MVP features with time budgets are available from hackathon-scope-cutter
• The team needs a structured task list before coding begins
• Roles and parallel workstreams need to be defined
• The critical path must be identified to protect the demo timeline
• Invoked once per project during Phase 4; re-invoke if scope is cut during implementation

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Inputs

Input	Type	Required	Description
mvp_features	object[]	Yes	MVP features with time budgets from hackathon-scope-cutter
tech_stack	string[]	Yes	Technologies being used
team_size	integer	Yes	Number of team members
team_roles	string[]	No	Role labels (e.g., frontend, backend, ML, design)
hackathon_duration_hours	integer	Yes	Total hours available
start_offset_hours	integer	No	Hours already elapsed since hackathon start (default: 0)

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Outputs

Output	Description
tasks	Full task list with estimates, roles, and dependencies
critical_path	Ordered sequence of tasks that gate project completion
milestones	Key checkpoints with target hour marks
parallel_tracks	Task groups that can be worked simultaneously
buffer_hours	Hours reserved for integration, polish, and debugging
recommended_skills	Suggested next skills to invoke

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Rules

1. Decompose every MVP feature into tasks of 30 minutes to 3 hours each.
2. Include setup, integration, and deployment tasks explicitly.
3. Assign each task to exactly one role from team_roles (or "any" if unspecified).
4. Identify the critical path as the longest dependency chain.
5. Reserve buffer_hours = 15% of remaining hackathon time minimum.
6. Order milestones at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% of remaining time.
7. Flag any task without a clear owner as [UNASSIGNED].

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Output Format

tasks:
  - id: "T-<number>"
    title: "<task title>"
    feature: "<parent feature>"
    role: "<role|[UNASSIGNED]>"
    estimated_hours: <number>
    depends_on:
      - "T-<number>"

critical_path:
  - "T-<number>"

milestones:
  - name: "<milestone name>"
    target_hour: <number>
    deliverable: "<what must exist>"

parallel_tracks:
  - track: "<track name>"
    tasks:
      - "T-<number>"

buffer_hours: <number>

recommended_skills:
  - "<skill-name>"

---

Example

Input:

mvp_features:
  - feature: "GPT-4 check-in conversation"
    estimated_hours: 4
  - feature: "Session memory (Redis)"
    estimated_hours: 5
  - feature: "Crisis escalation (mocked)"
    estimated_hours: 1
tech_stack: ["Python", "FastAPI", "React", "OpenAI API", "Redis"]
team_size: 3
team_roles: ["backend", "frontend", "fullstack"]
hackathon_duration_hours: 24
start_offset_hours: 2

Output:

tasks:
  - id: "T-01"
    title: "Set up FastAPI project and Redis"
    feature: "Session memory"
    role: "backend"
    estimated_hours: 1
    depends_on: []
  - id: "T-02"
    title: "Implement OpenAI chat endpoint"
    feature: "GPT-4 check-in conversation"
    role: "backend"
    estimated_hours: 2
    depends_on: ["T-01"]
  - id: "T-03"
    title: "Implement session memory read/write"
    feature: "Session memory"
    role: "backend"
    estimated_hours: 3
    depends_on: ["T-01"]
  - id: "T-04"
    title: "Build chat UI component"
    feature: "GPT-4 check-in conversation"
    role: "frontend"
    estimated_hours: 3
    depends_on: []
  - id: "T-05"
    title: "Wire frontend to chat API"
    feature: "GPT-4 check-in conversation"
    role: "fullstack"
    estimated_hours: 1
    depends_on: ["T-02", "T-04"]
  - id: "T-06"
    title: "Add crisis card component (mocked)"
    feature: "Crisis escalation"
    role: "frontend"
    estimated_hours: 1
    depends_on: ["T-04"]

critical_path:
  - "T-01"
  - "T-02"
  - "T-05"

milestones:
  - name: "Backend skeleton live"
    target_hour: 7
    deliverable: "FastAPI + Redis running; chat endpoint returns GPT-4 response"
  - name: "Frontend connected"
    target_hour: 11
    deliverable: "Chat UI communicates with backend end-to-end"
  - name: "Memory working"
    target_hour: 16
    deliverable: "AI recalls previous session context in demo flow"
  - name: "Demo-ready"
    target_hour: 19
    deliverable: "Full demo flow runs cleanly 3× in a row"

parallel_tracks:
  - track: "Backend"
    tasks: ["T-01", "T-02", "T-03"]
  - track: "Frontend"
    tasks: ["T-04", "T-06"]

buffer_hours: 3.3

recommended_skills:
  - "hackathon-code-implementer"

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Context Files

Knowledge Base

• knowledge/hackathon-mvp-strategy.md
• knowledge/hackathon-reference-architecture.md
• knowledge/hackathon-common-failures.md
• knowledge/hackathon-tools.md

Playbooks

• playbooks/hackathon-workflow.md
• playbooks/24h-hackathon-playbook.md
• playbooks/36h-hackathon-playbook.md
• playbooks/48h-hackathon-playbook.md