emperor-queue · diff

v0.4.3 to v0.4.23

2 added, 2 removed. Audit A to A.

---

name: emperor-queue

description: >-

Pick or record work. Use when the user says find work, next, backlog,

issues, Linear, what should I do, or hands a repo with no task. Not

Claude-specific. Writes .emperor/queue.md. Wraps Dowsing, does not replace it.

license: MIT

metadata:

- version: 0.4.3

+ version: 0.4.23

part-of: emperor-time

---

# Emperor Queue — pick the next piece of software

**WIP=1** — one active task at a time. Do not start a second item while `[~]`

exists; finish or `queue done` first.

## Local Kanban statuses

| Mark | Meaning |

|------|---------|

| `[ ]` | ready |

| `[~]` | active (at most one) |

| `[x]` | done |

| `[!]` | blocked (optional; listed, never auto-picked) |

- `queue list` shows ready / active / blocked (skips empty placeholders). `queue next` returns the existing

+ Python core: `scripts/lib/queue.py` (thin `scripts/queue.sh` / `queue.ps1`). `queue list` shows ready / active / blocked (skips empty placeholders). `queue next` returns the existing

`[~]` if present (WIP refuse); otherwise promotes the first real ready `[ ]` → `[~]`.

Empty queue = comment-only / no checkbox lines — `(empty…)` and parentheses-only titles are never promoted.

`queue done <substring>` checks off `[ ]` / `[~]` / `[!]`.

Optional cycle time: record `started` / `finished` ISO timestamps on the task

ledger or DONE template when cheap — not required for the script.

1. If the client already named a task, do not hunt. Quote it into the ledger.

2. Else run `scripts/emperor queue next` and quote the tail.

3. Source order (first hit wins): `EMPEROR_QUEUE_SOURCE` → `gh issue list` →

Linear (`LINEAR_API_KEY` set by client) → `.emperor/queue.md`.

4. One item (WIP=1). Write G0/G1. Out of scope: the rest of the backlog.

5. After G5 + forge, run `scripts/emperor queue next` again unless the client

said rest.

6. If no tracker exists and the client wants one, propose the thinnest adapter

(usually `gh`). Build it only with consent. Do not invent Linear when a

markdown queue works.

Never open a public issue or mutate the tracker without consent.