Stages

Stages define the workflow steps your tasks move through. Each stage represents a phase in your development process — from backlog to done.

Stages are configured in Settings → Stages and stored in .neova/stages.json.

Configuring Stages

Go to Settings → Stages to:

• Add, rename, or delete stages
• Reorder stages by dragging
• Assign colors for visual distinction
• Set a default stage for new tasks
• Assign activities to each stage

Stage Fields

Field	Description
id	Unique identifier for the stage.
name	Display name shown on the board and in dropdowns.
color	Visual styling for the stage.
order	Position in the workflow (0 = first).
isDefault	If true, new tasks are created in this stage.
activities	Array of activities assigned to this stage.

Default Stage

One stage can be marked as the default. When you create a new task, it automatically appears in the default stage.

Activities

Each stage can have multiple activities assigned. Activities are prompt templates that appear as action buttons on tasks when they’re in that stage.

Assigning Activities

1. Go to Settings → Stages
2. Select a stage
3. Click Add Activity
4. Choose an activity template

Activities can be assigned to multiple stages. For example, a “Discuss” activity might be useful in both Prepare and Verify stages.

Example Workflow

A typical development workflow might include:

Stage	Purpose	Example Activities
Backlog	Ideas and upcoming work	Research, Brainstorm
Prepare	Design and specification	Debug, Design, Write Specs
Implement	Active development	Implement
Verify	Testing and review	Test & Tweak, Commit
Done	Completed work	Summarize

File Format

Stages are stored in .neova/stages.json:

{
  "stages": [
    {
      "id": "backlog",
      "name": "Backlog",
      "color": "bg-gray-100 text-gray-700",
      "order": 0,
      "isDefault": true,
      "activities": []
    },
    {
      "id": "stage-789",
      "name": "Implement",
      "color": "bg-indigo-100 text-indigo-700",
      "order": 1,
      "isDefault": false,
      "activities": []
    }
  ],
  "version": "1.1.0",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-02-13T19:47:23.313Z"
}