version: "1.0.0" name: goals description: Create, list, update, and complete goals, milestones, and tasks with hierarchical tracking user-invocable: true triggers: [goal, goals, milestone, objective, target] scripts: run: "scripts/run.ts" inputSchema: type: object properties: action: type: string enum: [create, list, show, activate, complete, reopen, update, delete] description: "Action to perform on goals" type: type: string enum: [goal, milestone, task] description: "Item type (for create/list)" title: type: string description: "Title/description (for create/update)" parent_id: type: string description: "Parent ID (goal for milestone, milestone for task)" id: type: string description: "Item ID (for show/activate/complete/reopen/update/delete)" status: type: string enum: [backlog, active, completed] description: "Filter by status (for list) or set status (for update)" scope: type: string enum: [current, all] description: "List scope. Defaults to naturally active work; use all for a complete durable inventory." query: type: string description: "Natural topic/name from the user's request. Lets a relevant older goal return without dumping unrelated history." due: type: string description: "Due date (e.g., 'next week', '2024-03-15', 'in 30 days')" checkin: type: string enum: [daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly, none] description: "Proactive check-in frequency (for goals)" tags: type: array items: type: string description: "Tags for organization" required: [action] metadata: openclaw: emoji: "🎯" safety: localWrite: true requires: bins: []

Goals Skill

Manage hierarchical goals with a simple kanban workflow (backlog -> active -> completed).

Structure

Goals are organized hierarchically:

• Goals - High-level objectives (e.g., "Learn Spanish")
• Milestones - Major checkpoints within a goal (e.g., "Complete Duolingo basics")
• Tasks - Specific action items within a milestone (e.g., "Finish lesson 5")

When to Use

Use the goals skill for:

• Creating goals: "I want to learn Python this year"
• Breaking down goals: Add milestones and tasks to goals
• Tracking progress: View current status and progress percentages
• Status updates: Mark items as active or completed
• Proactive check-ins: Set up periodic reminders for goal progress

Input Format

The skill accepts JSON arguments via the SKILL_ARGS environment variable:

Create a goal

{
  "action": "create",
  "type": "goal",
  "title": "Learn Spanish",
  "checkin": "weekly",
  "due": "2024-12-31"
}

Create a milestone

{
  "action": "create",
  "type": "milestone",
  "title": "Complete Duolingo basics",
  "parent_id": "goal_abc123"
}

Create a task

{
  "action": "create",
  "type": "task",
  "title": "Finish lessons 1-5",
  "parent_id": "milestone_def456"
}

List goals

{
  "action": "list",
  "type": "goal",
  "status": "active"
}

list defaults to naturally active items. Age, due date, lifecycle, and genuine topic relevance determine activation. Pass the user's topic/name as query so a relevant older goal can return naturally; unrelated old goals remain quiet. scope: "all" is only the complete durable inventory and does not affect storage.

Show goal hierarchy

{
  "action": "show",
  "id": "goal_abc123"
}

Complete an item

{
  "action": "complete",
  "id": "task_xyz789"
}

Activate an item

{
  "action": "activate",
  "id": "goal_abc123"
}

Reopen a completed item

{
  "action": "reopen",
  "id": "task_xyz789"
}

Update an item

{
  "action": "update",
  "id": "goal_abc123",
  "title": "Master Spanish",
  "due": "2025-06-30"
}

Delete an item

{
  "action": "delete",
  "id": "goal_abc123"
}

Parameters

Output Format

{
  "success": true,
  "output": "Goal created: Learn Spanish (ID: abc123)",
  "exitCode": 0
}

Examples

Set up a learning goal

1. Create the main goal:

{"action": "create", "type": "goal", "title": "Learn Spanish", "checkin": "weekly"}

1. Add milestones:

{"action": "create", "type": "milestone", "title": "Complete Duolingo basics", "parent_id": "abc123"}

1. Add tasks:

{"action": "create", "type": "task", "title": "Finish lesson 5", "parent_id": "def456"}

1. Activate the goal:

{"action": "activate", "id": "abc123"}

1. Complete tasks as you progress:

{"action": "complete", "id": "task789"}

1. View progress:

{"action": "show", "id": "abc123"}