What is a PRD File in Task Master? (Complete Guide + Examples)

Categories ProgrammingPosted on
TASKMASTER AI PRD

 

What is a PRD File in Task Master? (Complete Guide + Examples)

A PRD (Product Requirements Document) file is a simple text file that Task Master uses to automatically generate development tasks for your project. By creating this single document with your project requirements, Task Master can break everything down into prioritized, dependency-linked tasks that both you and AI assistants can work with.

Here’s a quick example of what goes in a PRD file:

# Technical Architecture
- Backend: Node.js with Express
- Frontend: React with Tailwind CSS
- Database: MongoDB
- Authentication: JWT-based

# Development Roadmap
- MVP: User authentication, basic CRUD operations
- Future: Advanced search, notifications, analytics

# Logical Dependency Chain
- First: Database schema and user management
- Second: API endpoints
- Third: Frontend components

Task Master will analyze this document and generate a structured tasks.json file containing detailed implementation tasks that follow your requirements.

Ready to create your own PRD? Skip to the Quick Start Guide below.

Task Master as an MCP (Model Control Protocol) Server

Task Master isn’t just a standalone tool – it’s designed to work as an MCP server, making it perfect for “vibe coding” with AI assistants like Claude in editors such as Cursor, Lovable, Windsurf, and Roo.

What does this mean? When you set up Task Master as an MCP, your AI assistant gains direct access to your task management system right within your editor. The AI can read and manipulate tasks, understand dependencies, and execute commands without you having to switch contexts.

This is the recommended approach in the official documentation because it creates a seamless workflow where you can simply chat with your AI assistant about what needs to be done next, and the assistant can directly interact with your task structure.

To set up Task Master as an MCP server, you’ll add configuration like this to your editor:

{
 "mcpServers": {
   "taskmaster-ai": {
     "command": "npx",
     "args": [
       "-y", 
       "--package=task-master-ai", 
       "task-master-ai"
     ],
     "env": {
       "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY_HERE",
       "MODEL": "claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219",
       "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_PERPLEXITY_API_KEY_HERE",
       "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar-pro",
       "MAX_TOKENS": "64000",
       "TEMPERATURE": "0.2",
       "DEFAULT_SUBTASKS": "5",
       "DEFAULT_PRIORITY": "medium"
     }
   }
 }
}

Once configured, you can simply ask your AI assistant to help with tasks by saying things like:

  • “Can you parse my PRD at scripts/prd.txt?”
  • “What’s the next task I should work on?”
  • “Can you help me implement task 3?”
  • “Can you help me expand task 4?”

Quick Start Guide

  1. Install Task Master in your project: 
    npm install task-master-ai
  2. Create a PRD file in your project’s /scripts directory (e.g., scripts/my-project-prd.txt)
  3. Use this template for your PRD: 
    <context>
# Overview
[Describe what your product does and who it's for]

# Core Features
[List the main features and their importance]

# User Experience
[Describe how users will interact with your product]
</context>

<PRD>
# Technical Architecture
[List system components, data models, APIs, infrastructure]

# Development Roadmap
[Break down development into phases: MVP, future enhancements]

# Logical Dependency Chain
[Define which features need to be built first and the order]

# Risks and Mitigations
[Identify challenges and how to address them]

# Appendix
[Any additional technical specifications]
</PRD>
  4. Parse your PRD to generate tasks: 
    npx task-master-ai parse-prd scripts/my-project-prd.txt

    Or with MCP in Cursor, just ask:

    Can you please parse my PRD at scripts/my-project-prd.txt?
  5. View your tasks: 
    npx task-master-ai list

    Or with MCP in Cursor, just ask:

    What tasks do we have in our project?

Where to Find PRD Examples in the Task Master Repository

If you’re looking for real-world examples of PRD files, the Task Master repository has several:

  1. scripts/example_prd.txt – The simplest template example
  2. scripts/prd.txt – A more detailed example
  3. scripts/sample-prd.txt – Another variation with different features

These examples can be found in the scripts directory of the Task Master repository and provide valuable templates for creating your own PRD files.

Detailed Breakdown: Anatomy of a PRD File

The PRD file format in Task Master typically has two main sections wrapped in XML-like tags:

1. <context> Section (Optional)

This section provides background information that helps understand the product but doesn’t directly contribute to task generation:

<context>
# Overview
[Description of what your product does and who it's for]

# Core Features
[Main features and their importance]

# User Experience
[How users will interact with your product]
</context>

2. <PRD> Section (Required)

This section contains the information that Task Master will analyze to generate tasks:

<PRD>
# Technical Architecture
[System components, data models, APIs, infrastructure]

# Development Roadmap
[Development phases: MVP, future enhancements]

# Logical Dependency Chain
[Which features need to be built first and the order]

# Risks and Mitigations
[Challenges and how to address them]

# Appendix
[Additional technical specifications]
</PRD>

The headings in the PRD section serve specific purposes:

  • Technical Architecture: Defines the components and technologies to use
  • Development Roadmap: Creates a phased approach to implementation
  • Logical Dependency Chain: Establishes the order of development
  • Risks and Mitigations: Identifies potential issues
  • Appendix: Contains additional details

How Task Master Processes PRD Files

When you run the parse-prd command, Task Master:

  1. Analyzes the PRD content using Claude AI
  2. Extracts key requirements and features
  3. Creates a task dependency structure based on logical order
  4. Generates detailed implementation tasks with descriptions
  5. Produces a tasks.json file that structures the entire development plan

The AI analysis is particularly powerful, as it can:

  • Understand both explicit and implicit dependencies
  • Create reasonable task priorities based on context
  • Break down complex features into manageable subtasks
  • Suggest implementation approaches based on the technologies mentioned

Creating an Effective PRD File: Best Practices

1. Be Specific About Technologies

Instead of:

# Technical Architecture
- Backend: A server framework
- Database: A database solution

Use:

# Technical Architecture
- Backend: Node.js with Express 4.x
- Database: PostgreSQL with Sequelize ORM

2. Define Clear Development Phases

Instead of:

# Development Roadmap
- Build everything over time

Use:

# Development Roadmap
- Phase 1 (MVP): User authentication, basic CRUD operations
- Phase 2: Advanced search functionality, filters
- Phase 3: Reporting features, dashboard analytics

3. Establish Explicit Dependencies

Instead of:

# Logical Dependency Chain
- Build things in a sensible order

Use:

# Logical Dependency Chain
- First: Database schema and models
- Second: API endpoints for user management
- Third: Authentication middleware
- Fourth: Frontend login and registration components

4. Be Realistic About Risks

Instead of:

# Risks and Mitigations
- This project will have challenges

Use:

# Risks and Mitigations
- Risk: OAuth integration complexity
 Mitigation: Allocate extra time, use established libraries
- Risk: Performance bottlenecks with large datasets
 Mitigation: Implement pagination, caching strategies

Advanced PRD Techniques

1. Including Code Snippets

You can include code snippets or pseudocode to better illustrate implementation approaches:

# Technical Architecture
- API Structure:
/api/users - User management
/api/products - Product catalog
/api/orders - Order processing

2. Defining Data Models

Describe your data models in detail:

# Technical Architecture
- Data Models:
User {
  id: UUID
  email: String
  passwordHash: String
  role: Enum['user', 'admin']
}

Product {
  id: UUID
  name: String
  price: Decimal
  inventory: Integer
}

3. Specifying UI/UX Requirements

Detail UI components and user flows:

# User Experience
- Authentication Flow:
1. User arrives at landing page
2. User clicks "Sign In" button
3. User enters credentials
4. System validates credentials
5. User is redirected to dashboard

Vibe Coding with Task Master

Task Master is particularly well-suited for “vibe coding” – the modern workflow where you collaborate with AI assistants like Claude in editors like Cursor, Lovable, or Windsurf. Here’s how to make the most of it:

1. Set Up the MCP Integration

Follow the MCP setup instructions in your editor of choice, whether it’s Cursor, Lovable, Windsurf, or Roo. This creates a direct communication channel between your AI assistant and the Task Master system.

2. Use Natural Language for Task Management

With the MCP integration, you can use natural language to manage your tasks:

  • “Can you show me my current tasks?”
  • “What should I work on next?”
  • “Mark task 3 as complete”
  • “I need to delay task 5, can you mark it as deferred?”

3. Collaborative Implementation

Use the AI assistant to help you implement specific tasks:

I need to implement task 4, which is about setting up the authentication middleware. Can you help me design this?

Because the AI has context about your tasks through the MCP integration, it can provide more tailored assistance.

4. Evolving your PRD

As your project evolves, you can update your PRD and ask the AI to regenerate tasks:

I've updated my PRD at scripts/prd.txt to use Firebase instead of MongoDB. Can you reparse it and update our tasks?

Troubleshooting PRD Parsing Issues

If Task Master doesn’t parse your PRD as expected:

  1. Check PRD Structure: Ensure you have the proper <PRD> tags and headings
  2. Review Format: Make sure the format follows the examples in the repository
  3. Be More Explicit: Add more details about implementation and dependencies
  4. Check for Balance: Ensure you have content in each major section

Using PRDs with AI Assistant Workflows

PRD files are especially powerful when using AI assistants like Claude:

  1. Parse your PRD to generate the task structure
  2. Ask your AI assistant to help implement specific tasks: 
    I've parsed my PRD and Task 4 is about implementing user authentication. 
Here's what the task says: [paste task details]
Can you help me implement this?
  3. Update tasks as you progress: 
    npx task-master-ai set-status --id=4 --status=done

    Or with MCP:

    I've finished the authentication system. Can you mark task 4 as complete?
  4. Use the next command to find the next logical task: 
    npx task-master-ai next

    Or with MCP:

    What should I work on next?

Conclusion

PRD files are the foundation of effective project management with Task Master. By creating a well-structured PRD, you give both yourself and your AI assistants a clear roadmap for implementation. The examples in the Task Master repository provide excellent starting points for your own projects.

When combined with MCP integration in AI-enhanced editors like Cursor, Task Master creates a seamless vibe coding workflow where you can naturally discuss and manage your project with your AI assistant. This approach significantly reduces context switching and makes development more efficient.

Remember that the PRD is a living document – as your project evolves, you can update it and regenerate tasks to reflect your current understanding and priorities.

Start with a simple PRD, parse it to see the generated tasks, and iterate from there. The combination of structured documentation and AI-assisted task generation makes development more efficient and predictable.