Discovering Task Master - Finding a New Turning Point in AI Development
Hey there, I’m LISA! 🙂
Today I want to share the story of discovering Task Master, a tool that became a real turning point in my AI development journey. Looking back, I don’t think I could have properly built TipSmart without this tool.
AI Development Back Then - Something Was Missing
This was around May 2025. Back then, Cursor was pretty much all I knew for AI development tools. I had just discovered Claude Code and was having some exciting experiences with it.
But there was a problem.
Inconsistent Development
When developing with Cursor or Claude Code:
- I ended up focusing only on solving immediate problems
- I couldn’t see the big picture
- Code styles were all over the place, architecture lacked consistency…
For example, if I said “build a login feature,” it would build one, but when I later said “build a signup feature too,” it would create it in a completely different style. Each piece worked individually, but when put together, it felt… awkward?
Limitations Grew with Project Scale
Simple features one by one were fine, but when I tried to work on complex, large projects, the limitations became obvious.
- “What should I do next?”
- “Oh, I forgot about this part”
- “The style changed from what I made before?”
I felt like I needed systematic management.
Accidental Discovery - Task Master
While searching the internet, I accidentally discovered Task Master.
When I first saw the GitHub page, my honest feeling was… “Oh, this looks pretty good?” Back then it didn’t have 9.7k stars like now - it was really early days.
First Impression: “This is what I was looking for!”
When I read the README:
- AI-powered task management system
- Parses PRD (Product Requirements Document) to generate tasks
- Integrates with Cursor, VS Code, etc.
“Huh? This seems like it could solve the problems I’ve been having?”
What particularly interested me was automatically converting PRD to tasks. Until then, I’d been making impromptu requests like “do this, do that,” but this would let me plan ahead and proceed systematically.
Reasons I Hesitated to Adopt
But I didn’t start right away. There were some obstacles.
1. Lack of PRD Writing Experience
I’d heard of requirements management as a concept, but I’d never actually written a PRD myself.
“I know what a PRD is, but how do I actually write one?” “I know clearly what I want to make, but how do I organize it into a document?”
It felt overwhelming.
2. Claude API Cost Concerns
This was an even bigger obstacle. Task Master required a Claude API key.
Even though I was already subscribing to Claude Pro, using pay-per-use pricing felt different.
“I don’t know how much it’ll cost…” “I’m already paying for Pro subscription, and now API too?” “What if I get a huge bill?”
Looking back now, this was completely unnecessary worry. 😅
Taking the Leap
But curiosity won out. “Let’s just try it!”
I got an API key and tested it with a few simple projects. Then I realized.
The Cost Was Really Cheap
I charged $5 and I’m still using it. Even after working on multiple projects. It really was just the cost of a couple cups of coffee.
“Why did I worry so much?” I thought.
PRD Writing Wasn’t That Hard Either
This part was also thanks to AI tools. Writing PRDs with Claude’s help was easier than I thought.
“If I’m clear about what I want to make, AI can help with PRD writing!”
First Usage Experience - “This Really Works!”
From May to July, I tested Task Master with various small projects.
Amazing Detail
Even with simple requirements, it created really detailed tasks.
“Wow, it even thought of this?” “These steps are similar to actual development!”
Since it generated tasks similar to actual development processes, I was confident that “this could systematically manage big projects too.”
Consistent Workflow
What I liked most was consistency.
- With clearly defined tasks
- I could ask Claude Code to “just do this task”
- Overall architecture and style stayed consistent
“This is it! This is the approach I was looking for!”
And Then… TipSmart
After various tests, when I was confident that “this tool is reliable”, I started developing TipSmart in July.
Since it was now a proven tool, I used Task Master as my main tool without hesitation.
The result was… as you know, successful App Store launch! 🎉
Looking Back Now…
Looking at Task Master’s GitHub now, it has grown to 9.7k stars, 1k forks. When I discovered it in May, I didn’t know it would become this popular…
It feels like I discovered a good tool early. 😊
Why Task Master is Needed
From my experience, it seems really useful for these people:
✅ People using AI dev tools but struggling with consistency
✅ Those wanting to systematically manage large projects
✅ People who want to develop while seeing the “big picture”
✅ Those wanting systematic development processes based on PRDs
Next Article Preview
In the next article, I’ll share the detailed process of how to actually write PRDs and execute Task Master to generate tasks!
- Tips for writing PRDs with Claude
- Setting up and running Task Master
- Viewing generated task results
- Process of applying it to actual TipSmart development
I’ve prepared content you can apply directly to real work. Please look forward to it!
📱 Try TipSmart
Aren’t you curious about TipSmart, which was made through this systematic process? It’s the first app made by planning with Task Master and collaborating with AI.
Download TipSmart from App Store 📱
If this article was helpful, please share it on social media! If you share your Task Master experiences in the comments too, I’d really appreciate it!