Focus Chain

Focus Chain represents a task management enhancement capability within Sypha that delivers automatic todo list administration with real-time progress monitoring throughout your tasks.

Focus Chain todo list management with real-time progress tracking

This capability enables Sypha to handle long-horizon tasks, seamlessly administering the context transmitted to LLMs, and maintaining Sypha's focus across numerous context window resets.

Focus Chain operates particularly effectively with Sypha's Deep Planning slash command, delivering seamless progress monitoring for implementation tasks generated through the planning process.

Key Features

Automatic Todo List Generation

Sypha evaluates your task and automatically generates a comprehensive todo list featuring:

Explicit, actionable items in markdown checklist format
Logical decomposition of complex tasks into manageable steps
Real-time modifications as work advances

User-Editable Todo Lists

Todo lists are maintained as editable markdown files:

Direct modification through your preferred markdown editor
Automatic identification of changes you implement
Seamless reintegration into Sypha's workflow
Quick access through the edit button in the task header

Visual Progress Tracking

The task header presents clear progress indicators:

Step counters displaying current progress (e.g., "3/8")
Completed items distinctly marked with checkmarks
Current work highlighted with indicators
Expandable view to display the full todo list

Smart Reminder System

Configurable reminders guarantee todo lists remain current:

Default reminder every 6 messages (customizable 1-100)
Automatic prompts when transitioning from Plan Mode to Act Mode
User-triggered updates when todo lists are manually modified

Getting Started

Select the gear icon in the Sypha sidebar
Navigate to the "Features" section

Activate "Enable Focus Chain"
Optionally adjust "Remind Sypha Interval" (default: 6 messages)

Initiate a new task
Sypha will automatically begin creating and managing todo lists

Setting	Default	Range	Description
Enable Focus Chain	Disabled	On/Off	Activates enhanced task progress tracking
Remind Sypha Interval	6	1-100 messages	Frequency at which Sypha updates the todo list

Usage Examples

1. Task Initiation

When you initiate a new task with Focus Chain activated:

User: "Create a user authentication system for my React app"

Sypha: [Evaluates request and creates todo list]

2. Todo List Created

Sypha generates a comprehensive plan for the task, maintained in a markdown file:

- [ ] Set up project structure
- [ ] Install authentication dependencies
- [ ] Create user registration component
- [ ] Implement login functionality
- [ ] Add password validation
- [ ] Set up user database schema
- [ ] Write authentication tests
- [ ] Deploy to staging environment

3. Progress Tracking

As Sypha operates, the task header displays real-time progress:

[3/8] Implement login functionality     ⌄

Select to expand and view the complete list:

✓ Set up project structure
✓ Install authentication dependencies
✓ Create user registration component
○ Implement login functionality  ← Currently working
○ Add password validation
○ Set up user database schema
○ Write authentication tests
○ Deploy to staging environment

4. User Editing

Need to adjust the todo list? No problem.

Select the edit button in the expanded todo view

A markdown file opens in your editor:

# Focus Chain Todo List for Task abc123

<!-- Edit this markdown file to update your focus chain todo list -->
<!-- Use - [ ] for incomplete items and - [x] for completed items -->

- [x] Set up project structure
- [x] Install authentication dependencies (e.g., Firebase Auth)
- [x] Create user registration component
- [ ] Implement login functionality
- [ ] Add password reset feature
- [ ] Set up protected routes
- [ ] Implement logout functionality
- [ ] Add user profile page
- [ ] Write authentication tests
- [ ] Deploy to staging environment

<!-- Save this file to update the task's todo list -->

Add, remove, or reorder items as required

Sypha automatically detects and utilizes your updates

File Structure

Todo List Storage

Todo lists are maintained as markdown files in your task directory:

<VSCode Global Storage>/
  tasks/
    <taskId>/
      focus_chain_taskid_<taskId>.md
      ... other task files

Markdown Format

Todo files utilize standard markdown checklist syntax:

# Focus Chain Todo List for Task abc123

<!-- Edit this markdown file to update your focus chain todo list -->
<!-- Use the format: - [ ] for incomplete items and - [x] for completed items -->

- [x] Set up project structure
- [x] Install authentication dependencies
- [ ] Create user registration component
- [ ] Implement login functionality
- [ ] Add password validation
- [ ] Set up user database schema
- [ ] Write authentication tests
- [ ] Deploy to staging environment

<!-- Save this file and the todo list will be updated in the task -->