# How the i‑have‑adhd Skill Numbers Multi‑Step Tasks

> Learn how the i-have-adhd skill numbers multi-step tasks using simple Arabic numerals for atomic actions. Improve your task management today.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-01

---

**The i‑have‑adhd skill enforces a strict numbering convention using plain Arabic numerals (1., 2., 3.) where each list item represents exactly one atomic, independently executable action.**

The *i‑have‑adhd* skill is an open-source framework designed to make AI-assisted workflows more accessible for users with ADHD. One of its core conventions is how it handles **multi-step task numbering** — a rule that breaks complex work into discrete, manageable chunks. According to the source code in `ayghri/i-have-adhd`, this numbering system appears in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) and is mirrored for the Cursor harness at `.cursor/skills/i‑have‑adhd/SKILL.md`.

## The Numbering Rules for Multi-Step Tasks

The skill's numbering convention follows four strict requirements defined in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) under section "### 2. Number multi‑step tasks" (lines 44‑57):

- **One step per line** — each numbered item must describe exactly one action that can be executed independently.
- **Minimal steps** — include only essential actions; trivial steps are folded into the preceding one.
- **No "and then" chaining** — a single step must not contain multiple sequential actions; keep each step atomic.
- **Use plain numbers** — format the list with Arabic numerals (`1.`, `2.`, `3.`, …), not letters or other schemes.

The documentation provides explicit "bad" vs. "good" examples to illustrate this format (lines 50‑57).

## Correct vs. Incorrect Numbering Examples

### Bad Example: Multiple Actions in One Step

```markdown
1. Open the file, find the function, replace it, then run the tests.

```

This violates the atomicity rule by chaining multiple actions with "and then" phrasing.

### Correct Example: Each Step Isolated

```markdown
1. Open `src/auth.ts`
2. Replace the `verifyToken` function (lines 42‑58) with the new implementation
3. Run `npm test -- auth.spec.ts`

```

Each step here is self-contained and executable without parsing multiple sub-actions.

## Integration with Task-or-Plan Tools

When the harness (such as Cursor or OpenAI's tool) supports a task-or-plan interface, the skill leverages this **checklist mechanism** to automatically restate the current step. As implemented in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) (lines 82‑83), this ensures the reader always knows which numbered item is active, reducing cognitive load and context-switching friction.

## Where the Numbering Rules Are Defined

| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
| [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) | Primary definition of the multi-step task numbering rule and examples |
| [`.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) | Mirror of the same rule for the Cursor harness (identical content) |
| [`README.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/README.md) (section "2. Number multi‑step tasks") | High-level reference to the rule in the repository overview (line 91) |

All three files maintain consistency in how **multi-step tasks are numbered**, ensuring the convention applies regardless of which harness executes the skill.

## Summary

- The i‑have‑adhd skill uses **plain Arabic numerals** (`1.`, `2.`, `3.`) for all multi-step tasks.
- Each numbered item must contain **exactly one atomic action** — no "and then" chaining allowed.
- Trivial actions are **folded into preceding steps** to keep the list minimal.
- The **task-or-plan tool integration** automatically highlights the current step when available.
- Core definitions reside in `skills/i‑have‑adhd/SKILL.md` and its Cursor mirror.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What number format does the i‑have‑adhd skill require for multi-step tasks?

The skill requires **Arabic numerals with periods**: `1.`, `2.`, `3.`, and so on. This format appears in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) lines 44‑57 and is enforced consistently across all skill implementations.

### Can a single step contain multiple related actions?

No. The i‑have‑adhd skill explicitly forbids "and then" chaining within a step. Each numbered item must describe **one independently executable action**. Multiple actions must be split into separate numbered items.

### How does the skill handle step tracking during execution?

When the harness supports it, the skill uses a **task-or-plan tool checklist** to automatically restate the current step (lines 82‑83 of [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md)). This keeps the user oriented without manual tracking.

### Where is the numbering rule documented in the repository?

The primary documentation is [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) under the "### 2. Number multi‑step tasks" section. An identical mirror exists at [`.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) for Cursor users, and the [`README.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/README.md) references the rule at line 91.