Pre-Task Checklist

Never guess. Never assume. Always verify.

The Problem

Agents forget things when:

• MEMORY.md has stale data (old IPs, wrong paths, expired tokens)
• Context window compaction loses recent details
• Multiple concurrent sub-agents fragment attention
• New tasks override previous context

Result: Wrong IPs, incorrect formats, missed rules, repeated mistakes.

The Solution

Mandatory pre-task checklist before ANY non-trivial task:

1. memory_search() for relevant patterns
2. Read reference files directly (don't assume)
3. Verify critical details in real-time
4. Check AGENTS.md / SOUL.md for rules

Quick Start

# Before starting a task
source ~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/pre-task-checklist/scripts/checklist.sh

# Verify a specific detail (IP, path, format)
verify "GPU server IP"
verify "MBD article format"

# Full checklist (interactive)
run_checklist

Checklist Items

1. Memory Search

# Search for relevant patterns
memory_search "GPU server IP address"
memory_search "MBD article format"
memory_search "folder naming convention"

What to look for:

• Previous examples of this task
• Correct IPs, paths, formats
• Rules or constraints
• Past mistakes to avoid

2. Read Reference Files

# Read actual examples, don't assume
cat /tmp/mbd-book-ideas/2026-03-11_懒人理财经_AI替你管钱躺赚不是梦/文章.md
cat ~/.openclaw/workspace/TOOLS.md
cat ~/.openclaw/workspace/AGENTS.md

What to verify:

• Format and structure
• Tone and style
• Technical requirements
• Examples to follow

3. Verify Critical Details

# Check live data, don't trust memory
ssh [email protected] "echo 'connected'"  # Verify IP works
ls -la /path/to/file                     # Verify path exists
cat ~/.openclaw/workspace/TOOLS.md       # Verify current value

What to verify:

• IPs and hostnames
• File paths and URLs
• API keys and tokens (check expiry)
• Configuration values

4. Check Rules

# Read rule files before acting
cat ~/.openclaw/workspace/AGENTS.md      # Check project rules
cat ~/.openclaw/workspace/SOUL.md        # Check identity/rules
cat ~/.openclaw/workspace/HEARTBEAT.md   # Check recurring tasks

What to check:

• "No pause" rule - execute immediately
• Repo ownership (clawinfra vs AlexChen31337)
• Publish gates (MbD needs explicit approval)
• Safety/security rules

Examples

Example 1: GPU Server Access

❌ Wrong (guessing):

ssh [email protected]  # WRONG IP from stale memory

✅ Right (verifying):

# Step 1: Search memory
memory_search "GPU server IP"
# → Returns: "10.0.0.44" (STALE!)

# Step 2: Verify in TOOLS.md
cat ~/.openclaw/workspace/TOOLS.md | grep "GPU Server"
# → Shows: "[email protected]" (CURRENT!)

# Step 3: Test connection
ssh [email protected] "hostname"
# → Works!

# Step 4: Update memory
# (Correct the stale data)