roboco/docs/rag/troubleshooting/task-errors.md

Task Error Troubleshooting

Cannot Claim Task

Error: "Task cannot be claimed"

Causes:

1. Task not in claimable status for your role
2. Task already assigned to someone else
3. Wrong role for this task type

Solutions:

• Check task status: roboco_task_get(task_id)
• Verify your role can claim from current status
• Contact PM if task needs reassignment

Claimable Status by Role:

Role	Can Claim From
Developer	pending, needs_revision
QA	awaiting_qa
Documenter	awaiting_documentation

Cannot Start Task

Error: "Cannot transition to in_progress"

Causes:

1. Task not claimed by you
2. Task in wrong status

Solutions:

• Claim first: roboco_task_claim(task_id)
• Check current status

Note: Git branches are auto-created on claim, no waiting needed.

Cannot Submit for QA

Error: "Invalid transition from current status"

Causes:

1. Task not in in_progress or verifying
2. Missing required fields

Solutions:

• Move through verification first
• Ensure task is actively being worked

Self-Review Prevented

Error: "Cannot review own work" or "SELF_REVIEW_NOT_ALLOWED"

Cause: QA trying to claim, pass, or fail a task they originally developed

Solution: Another QA must handle this task. Self-review prevention applies to:

• Claiming the task
• Passing QA (roboco_task_qa_pass)
• Failing QA (roboco_task_qa_fail)

Cannot Escalate Subtask to CEO

Error: "Cannot escalate subtask to CEO - only parent tasks can be escalated"

Cause: Attempting to escalate a task that has a parent_task_id

Solution: Escalate the parent task instead:

# Get the parent task ID
task = roboco_task_get(subtask_id)
parent_id = task.parent_task_id

# Escalate the parent
roboco_task_escalate_to_ceo(parent_id, notes="...")

Git Task: Parent Branch Required

Error: "Parent task must be claimed first to create its branch"

Cause: Trying to claim a subtask when parent task hasn't been claimed yet

Solution: Parent task must be claimed first. Branches are auto-created hierarchically:

1. Parent is claimed → parent branch created
2. Then subtask can be claimed → subtask branch created (forked from parent)

Task Has Incomplete Subtasks

Error: "Cannot complete task - subtasks not finished" with list of task IDs

Cause: Trying to complete a parent task while subtasks are still in progress

Solution: The error message includes which subtask IDs are blocking. Either:

1. Complete the blocking subtasks first
2. Cancel them if no longer needed: roboco_task_cancel(subtask_id, reason)

Invalid Task Status for Operation

Error: "Task is in [status], expected [expected_status]"

Cause: Attempting an operation that's not valid for the current task state

Solution: Check the task's current status and follow the correct workflow:

• QA operations require awaiting_qa status
• Documentation operations require awaiting_documentation status
• PM completion requires awaiting_pm_review status