Task Tool (`task`)

This document describes the task tool for Qwen Code.

Description

Use task to launch a specialized subagent to handle complex, multi-step tasks autonomously. The Task tool delegates work to specialized agents that can work independently with access to their own set of tools, allowing for parallel task execution and specialized expertise.

Arguments

task takes the following arguments:

description (string, required): A short (3-5 word) description of the task for user visibility and tracking purposes.
prompt (string, required): The detailed task prompt for the subagent to execute. Should contain comprehensive instructions for autonomous execution.
subagent_type (string, required): The type of specialized agent to use for this task. Must match one of the available configured subagents.

How to use `task` with Qwen Code

The Task tool dynamically loads available subagents from your configuration and delegates tasks to them. Each subagent runs independently and can use its own set of tools, allowing for specialized expertise and parallel execution.

When you use the Task tool, the subagent will:

Receive the task prompt with full autonomy
Execute the task using its available tools
Return a final result message
Terminate (subagents are stateless and single-use)

Usage:


task(description="Brief task description", prompt="Detailed task instructions for the subagent", subagent_type="agent_name")

Available Subagents

The available subagents depend on your configuration. Common subagent types might include:

general-purpose: For complex multi-step tasks requiring various tools
code-reviewer: For reviewing and analyzing code quality
test-runner: For running tests and analyzing results
documentation-writer: For creating and updating documentation

You can view available subagents by using the /agents command in Qwen Code.

Task Tool Features

Real-time Progress Updates

The Task tool provides live updates showing:

Subagent execution status
Individual tool calls being made by the subagent
Tool call results and any errors
Overall task progress and completion status

Parallel Execution

You can launch multiple subagents concurrently by calling the Task tool multiple times in a single message, allowing for parallel task execution and improved efficiency.

Specialized Expertise

Each subagent can be configured with:

Specific tool access permissions
Specialized system prompts and instructions
Custom model configurations
Domain-specific knowledge and capabilities

`task` examples

Delegating to a general-purpose agent


task(
  description="Code refactoring",
  prompt="Please refactor the authentication module in src/auth/ to use modern async/await patterns instead of callbacks. Ensure all tests still pass and update any related documentation.",
  subagent_type="general-purpose"
)

Running parallel tasks


# Launch code review and test execution in parallel
task(
  description="Code review",
  prompt="Review the recent changes in the user management module for code quality, security issues, and best practices compliance.",
  subagent_type="code-reviewer"
)

task(
  description="Run tests",
  prompt="Execute the full test suite and analyze any failures. Provide a summary of test coverage and recommendations for improvement.",
  subagent_type="test-runner"
)

Documentation generation


task(
  description="Update docs",
  prompt="Generate comprehensive API documentation for the newly implemented REST endpoints in the orders module. Include request/response examples and error codes.",
  subagent_type="documentation-writer"
)

When to Use the Task Tool

Use the Task tool when:

Complex multi-step tasks - Tasks requiring multiple operations that can be handled autonomously
Specialized expertise - Tasks that benefit from domain-specific knowledge or tools
Parallel execution - When you have multiple independent tasks that can run simultaneously
Delegation needs - When you want to hand off a complete task rather than micromanaging steps
Resource-intensive operations - Tasks that might take significant time or computational resources

When NOT to Use the Task Tool

Don’t use the Task tool for:

Simple, single-step operations - Use direct tools like Read, Edit, etc.
Interactive tasks - Tasks requiring back-and-forth communication
Specific file reads - Use Read tool directly for better performance
Simple searches - Use Grep or Glob tools directly

Important Notes

Stateless execution: Each subagent invocation is independent with no memory of previous executions
Single communication: Subagents provide one final result message - no ongoing communication
Comprehensive prompts: Your prompt should contain all necessary context and instructions for autonomous execution
Tool access: Subagents only have access to tools configured in their specific configuration
Parallel capability: Multiple subagents can run simultaneously for improved efficiency
Configuration dependent: Available subagent types depend on your system configuration

Configuration

Subagents are configured through Qwen Code’s agent configuration system. Use the /agents command to:

View available subagents
Create new subagent configurations
Modify existing subagent settings
Set tool permissions and capabilities

For more information on configuring subagents, refer to the subagents documentation.

Task Tool (task)