Deferring Task Execution

Delays agent work until a user-specified time using a background timer script, then proceeds with the deferred task.

Script Location

~/.claude/skills/deferred-task-execution/scripts/wait-until.sh

Supported Input Formats

The script accepts one argument in either format:

Duration - relative delay from now:

• 30s , 5m , 1h , 90m , 2h30m , 1h15m30s

Clock time - specific time of day:

• 14:30 , 9:00 , 3pm , 3:30pm

• If the time has already passed today, it waits until that time tomorrow

Workflow

Step 1: Confirm the user's intent

Confirm what task to perform and when. Parse their natural language into a wait-until argument:

User says Argument

"in 30 minutes" 30m

"in an hour" 1h

"in 2 and a half hours" 2h30m

"at 3pm" 3pm

"at 14:30" 14:30

"at half past 9" 9:30am

Tell the user exactly what will happen and when the timer will fire. Ask them to confirm before starting.

Step 2: Launch the timer in background

Run the wait script using Bash with run_in_background: true :

~/.claude/skills/deferred-task-execution/scripts/wait-until.sh <argument>

Note the task ID from the response -- you need it for the next step.

Step 3: Wait for the timer

Use the TaskOutput tool to block until the timer completes:

• Set block: true

• Set timeout: 600000 (maximum: 10 minutes / 600000ms)

• Use the task ID from Step 2

If the wait exceeds 10 minutes: TaskOutput will return before the timer completes because the maximum timeout is 600000ms. Check the output -- if it does not contain "Timer complete", call TaskOutput again with the same task ID and block: true . Repeat until the timer finishes.

Step 4: Execute the deferred task

Once TaskOutput returns output containing "Timer complete. Proceed with deferred task.", carry out whatever work the user requested.

Important Notes

• The agent session must remain open for the timer to work. If the user closes the session, the deferred task will not execute. Warn the user about this.

• For very long waits (multiple hours), remind the user that the session needs to stay active.

• If the user asks to cancel, use TaskStop with the background task ID.

• Always tell the user the calculated wake time so they know when to expect the action.