Task Dependencies
Task dependencies let you say a task can't start until another task is finished. ACOS surfaces this as a Blocked by list on the task, with a lock icon on the board so blocked work is visible at a glance.
How Blocking Works
Each task has a Blocked by list of other tasks it depends on. A task is considered blocked as long as at least one dependency has a status other than Done or Cancelled. Once every dependency reaches Done or Cancelled, the task is no longer blocked.
- A lock icon appears next to Blocked by while any dependency is still open.
- Completing or cancelling a dependency automatically clears the block — no manual step required.
- Blocking is advisory: ACOS does not prevent you from moving a blocked task to In Progress or Done. The lock icon is a signal, not a hard gate.
Adding a Dependency
Open the task and find Blocked by
In the Task Detail sheet, the Blocked by section sits near the top.
Click Add
A search box appears listing other tasks in the same project.
Search and select a task
Type to filter, then click a task to add it as a dependency.
Dependencies are scoped to a single project — you can only depend on another task within the same project, not across projects.
Circular Dependency Prevention
Before saving a new dependency, ACOS runs a graph check across every existing dependency relationship in the project. If adding the dependency would create a cycle — Task A depends on Task B, which depends on Task A, directly or through a longer chain — the request is rejected.
If you get an error when adding a dependency, it usually means the two tasks are already connected somewhere else in the dependency graph. Check the other task's Blocked by list before assuming it's a bug.
Removing a Dependency
Hover any item in the Blocked by list and click the X that appears. This removes the dependency immediately — it does not change the status of either task.
Status Reference
| Dependency status | Counts as blocking? |
|---|---|
| Todo | Yes |
| In Progress | Yes |
| In Review | Yes |
| Done | No |
| Cancelled | No |
FAQ
Can a task depend on tasks from another project?
No. The task picker only shows other tasks in the same project.
Does ACOS stop me from completing a blocked task?
No — the lock icon is a visual warning, not an enforced rule. You can still move a blocked task through the board if you choose to.
Can one task block multiple other tasks?
Yes. A single task can appear in the Blocked by list of any number of other tasks in the same project.
What happens to dependencies if I delete a task?
Deleting a task removes it from any Blocked by list it appeared in. The dependent task is re-evaluated immediately and unblocks if that was its last open dependency.