Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Create Google Tasks List agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The Create Google Tasks List skill (recipe-create-task-list) is a short set of instructions that lets an AI agent build a new Google Tasks list and fill it with starter tasks, such as a Q2 goals list. It is aimed at people who already use Google Tasks and want the agent to do the setup, and at developers who want a working example of the gws command-line tool creating Tasks data. By the end of this guide you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for it, and what to check before letting it write to your account.
Create Google Tasks Listgoogleworkspace/cli · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Confirm gws is ready. Make sure the gws command-line tool is installed and authenticated with your Google account, and that Google Tasks access is granted.
- 2Install the skill. Unzip the downloaded package and place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ or the project's .claude/skills/, or upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- 3Make sure gws-tasks is available. The recipe requires the gws-tasks skill, which supplies the Tasks commands it uses.
- 4Describe the list you want. Ask in plain language for a new Google Tasks list with a name and starter tasks.
- 5Review the commands. Check the list title and task text the agent plans to use, since the commands create real data.
- 6Check the result. Ask for the tasks to be shown in a table and confirm they match what you asked for.
What is an agent skill and what does this one do?
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file that gives an AI agent step-by-step instructions for a specific task. The agent reads the instructions when a request matches them and then runs the commands they describe.
This skill gives the agent a recipe for setting up a new Google Tasks list with initial tasks. It uses the gws command-line tool to create the list, add tasks with titles, notes and due dates, and then display the tasks in a table. It depends on the gws-tasks skill, which provides the underlying Tasks commands.
- Creates a new task list (the example uses the title "Q2 Goals").
- Adds a task with a title, notes and a due date.
- Adds a second task with only a title.
- Lists the tasks of that list in table format.
What you need before installing
The recipe cannot run without the gws command-line tool installed and authenticated with a Google account. Google Tasks access must also be granted to the gws tool. The gws-tasks skill must be loaded as a prerequisite; the recipe names it explicitly.
The skill's metadata lists gws as a required binary and gws-tasks as a required skill.
- gws command-line tool installed and authenticated with a Google account
- Google Tasks access granted to the gws tool
- gws-tasks skill available alongside this one
How do you install the skill?
Download the ZIP file from this page and unzip it. The package contains SKILL.md. Then place the folder in one of these locations:
For a personal install across projects, put it in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, put it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder.
In the Claude apps, you can instead upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills → upload the ZIP
How do you trigger the skill with a natural request?
You do not need a special command. Describe what you want in plain language that matches the skill's purpose: setting up a new Google Tasks list with initial tasks. The agent should recognise the request and follow the recipe.
Be specific about the list name and the tasks you want, because the recipe creates a list with a title and then adds tasks with titles, and optionally notes and due dates.
- "Create a Google Tasks list called Q2 Goals with two starter tasks."
- "Set up a new task list for my planning with the first task Review Q1 metrics, due 1 April 2024."
- "Make a Tasks list for Q2 goals and show me the tasks in a table."
What commands does the recipe run?
The recipe uses four gws commands. Replace TASKLIST_ID with the ID returned when the list is created. The agent is expected to handle that substitution as it works through the steps.
These commands create real data in your Google account, so review them before the agent runs them if the list matters to you.
gws tasks tasklists insert --json '{"title": "Q2 Goals"}'
gws tasks tasks insert --params '{"tasklist": "TASKLIST_ID"}' --json '{"title": "Review Q1 metrics", "notes": "Pull data from analytics dashboard", "due": "2024-04-01T00:00:00Z"}'
gws tasks tasks insert --params '{"tasklist": "TASKLIST_ID"}' --json '{"title": "Draft Q2 OKRs"}'
gws tasks tasks list --params '{"tasklist": "TASKLIST_ID"}' --format tableSafety notes: scripts and network access
This skill runs scripts and uses the network. Its commands call the gws tool, which works with your Google account, so the agent will create and read real Google Tasks data. The recipe is not limited to a test account.
The recipe does not cover reminders, recurring schedules or sharing. Do not rely on it for those.
- It runs commands that create lists and tasks in your live Google account.
- Check the list name and task text before the agent runs the commands.
- Avoid letting the agent write without review when the data is important.
Tips for getting good results
Give the list name and task titles in your request so the agent does not have to guess. If you want notes or a due date, say so, and give the date in a clear format.
- Name the list and every starter task you want.
- Include notes and due dates only when you need them.
- Ask the agent to show the tasks in a table at the end to confirm the result.
What people use it for
- Starting a quarterly goals list with a few first items, such as Q2 Goals.
- Creating a planning list with a review task and a drafting task, each with notes or a due date.
- Giving a developer a working example of creating Tasks lists and tasks with the gws CLI.
- Setting up a consistent starter structure for a team's planning list.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the recreate-task-list agent skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it to get SKILL.md. Put the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What do I need to run this skill?
You need the gws command-line tool installed and authenticated with a Google account, Google Tasks access granted to gws, and the gws-tasks skill loaded. Without gws the recipe cannot run.
Is this skill free?
The source does not state pricing or licence terms beyond the Apache-2.0 licence listed for the googleworkspace/cli repository. Check that licence for the terms that apply.
Can the skill set reminders or share the list?
No. The recipe covers creating a list and adding tasks with titles, notes and due dates. It does not cover reminders, recurring schedules or sharing.
Does the skill make changes to my real Google account?
Yes. The commands create real lists and tasks in your Google account, so review the titles and text before the agent runs them.
What is the alternative if I do not use the gws tool?
This skill needs gws, so it will not run without it. The source does not describe other tools, so you would need to use Google Tasks directly or another method.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you keep to-do lists in Google Tasks, already use the gws CLI, or want a reusable example of creating Tasks lists and tasks. Pick something else if you do not have a Google account or gws installed, or if you need reminders, recurring tasks or sharing, which this recipe does not cover.
Download the skill