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Task Runner

The Fabriqa task runner lets you define and execute workspace tasks — build commands, test runners, dev servers — directly from the app without leaving your chat context. It reads the same tasks.json format used by VS Code, so existing project task configurations work immediately.

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Task File Locations

Fabriqa looks for task definitions in this priority order:
  1. .fabriqa/tasks.json — Fabriqa-specific task file (takes precedence).
  2. .vscode/tasks.json — VS Code task file (used if no Fabriqa file is found).
Both files use the same format. The .fabriqa/tasks.json file is useful when you want Fabriqa-specific tasks that shouldn’t appear in VS Code’s task runner. A custom path can also be set per workspace in Workspace Settings → Overview.

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Task File Format

Task files use the VS Code tasks.json format with "version": "2.0.0". The format supports JSONC (JSON with comments). 
{
  "version": "2.0.0",
  "tasks": [
    {
      "label": "Dev",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "npm run dev",
      "options": {
        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Build",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "npm run build",
      "options": {
        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
      }
    },
    {
      "label": "Test",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "npm test",
      "args": ["--coverage"],
      "options": {
        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
      }
    }
  ]
}
Each task requires at minimum a label and a command.

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Variable Resolution

Use VS Code-compatible variables in command, args, and options.cwd:
VariableResolved Value
${workspaceFolder}Absolute path to the workspace root
${workspaceFolderBasename}Folder name only (no path)
${cwd}Same as ${workspaceFolder}
${pathSeparator} or ${/}/ on macOS/Linux, \ on Windows
${env:VAR_NAME}Value of environment variable VAR_NAME
Example using variables: 
{
  "label": "Start Server",
  "type": "shell",
  "command": "node",
  "args": ["${workspaceFolder}/server.js"],
  "options": {
    "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}/packages/api"
  }
}

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Task Arguments

Pass arguments via the args array. Arguments are automatically shell-escaped: 
{
  "label": "Lint",
  "type": "shell",
  "command": "eslint",
  "args": ["src", "--ext", ".ts,.tsx", "--fix"]
}

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Platform-Specific Overrides

Override any task property for a specific platform using windows, osx, or linux keys: 
{
  "label": "Open Editor",
  "type": "shell",
  "command": "code .",
  "windows": {
    "command": "code.cmd ."
  },
  "linux": {
    "command": "code-insiders ."
  }
}
The platform override merges on top of the base task definition. Only the specified properties are overridden.

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Task Dependencies

Use dependsOn to chain tasks. Dependencies run before the task’s own command: 
{
  "label": "Build and Test",
  "type": "shell",
  "command": "echo 'All done'",
  "dependsOn": ["Build", "Test"]
}
dependsOn accepts a single task label (string) or an array of labels. Dependencies are resolved recursively and concatenated with && — if any dependency fails, the chain stops.
Circular dependencies are detected and skipped. A task that depends on itself (directly or transitively) will not cause an infinite loop — the cycle is broken and the circular portion is omitted.

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Running Tasks

Tasks appear in the Run button dropdown in the chat header toolbar:
  1. Click the Run button (▶) to open the actions menu.
  2. Select a task from the list to execute it.
  3. The task runs in the integrated terminal panel.

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Run Last Action

Cmd+R (macOS) / Ctrl+R (Windows / Linux) Reruns the most recently selected task without opening the menu. If no task has been run yet, Cmd+R opens the actions menu instead. The last selected task is persisted per workspace across restarts.

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Adding Tasks via the UI

If no task file exists yet, click Add action in the Run menu to open a task definition editor. Fabriqa creates a .fabriqa/tasks.json with a starter template and opens it for editing. You can also add tasks from Workspace Settings → Actions.

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Example: Monorepo Setup

{
  "version": "2.0.0",
  "tasks": [
    {
      "label": "Install",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "npm install",
      "options": { "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}" }
    },
    {
      "label": "Build All",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "npm run build --workspaces",
      "dependsOn": ["Install"],
      "options": { "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}" }
    },
    {
      "label": "Dev API",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "npm run dev",
      "options": { "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}/packages/api" }
    },
    {
      "label": "Dev Web",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "npm run dev",
      "options": { "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}/packages/web" }
    }
  ]
}