TaskStart

TaskStart is a term used in task management and workflow systems to denote the moment a discrete task begins execution. It can refer to an event emitted by a workflow engine, a function call, or a state transition in a task object. The concept helps coordinate resources, dependencies, and timing across components that participate in a process.

In a typical workflow, TaskStart follows preconditions being satisfied and is followed by a state change to running, recording of the start time, and the initiation of configured triggers or sub-tasks. It may trigger logging, auditing, and metrics collection. Depending on the system, TaskStart may be explicit (an event with a task identifier) or implicit (the engine transitions to running).

Implementation considerations include idempotence, handling of concurrent starts, and ensuring that only a single active instance of a task exists. Start events may allocate resources and set deadlines, with error handling that supports retries or rollback if resources are not available. Observability through logs and metrics is commonly attached to TaskStart for performance tracking.

Applications span batch job systems, data processing pipelines, continuous integration environments, and manufacturing or robotics automation. In many orchestration tools, a downstream task starts when upstream tasks complete, creating a chain of TaskStart events that drive the workflow forward.

See also: TaskEnd, Task lifecycle, Workflow engine, Job scheduling.