feat(config): support task command shorthands (#391)

## Summary

Closes #381.

Adds task command shorthands:

- `"build": "cmd"`
- `"build": ["cmd1", "cmd2", ...]`
- `{ "command": ["cmd1", "cmd2", ...] }`

Arrays reuse the existing `&&` planning path, so cache behavior,
`dependsOn`, and task options stay consistent. Empty arrays and
empty/whitespace-only entries are rejected.

---------

Co-authored-by: branchseer <dk4rest@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

Author: 3 people

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Changelog
 
+- **Added** task command shorthands for defining tasks as command strings or command string arrays ([#391](https://github.com/voidzero-dev/vite-task/pull/391))
 - **Changed** Cached logs are stored with colors intact (`FORCE_COLOR=1` is auto-injected into spawned tasks). Colors are then stripped at display time when the terminal does not support them. Other color-related env vars (`NO_COLOR`, `COLORTERM`, `TERM`, `TERM_PROGRAM`) are no longer passed through by default. Opt in via a task's `env`/`untrackedEnv` ([#378](https://github.com/voidzero-dev/vite-task/pull/378))
 - **Added** `output` field for cached tasks: archives matching files after a successful run and restores them on cache hit ([#375](https://github.com/voidzero-dev/vite-task/pull/375))
 - **Fixed** Windows cached tasks can now run package shims rewritten through PowerShell; default env passthrough now preserves `PATHEXT` ([#366](https://github.com/voidzero-dev/vite-task/pull/366))

crates/vite_task_graph/run-config.ts

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ export type AutoInput = {
  */
 auto: boolean, };
 
+export type Command = string | Array<string>;
+
 export type GlobWithBase = { 
 /**
  * The glob pattern (positive or negative starting with `!`)
@@ -20,9 +22,9 @@ export type InputBase = "package" | "workspace";
 
 export type Task = { 
 /**
- * The command to run for the task.
+ * Command to run, or an array of commands to run in order.
  */
-command: string, 
+command: Command, 
 /**
  * The working directory for the task, relative to the package root (not workspace root).
  */
@@ -68,6 +70,8 @@ output?: Array<string | GlobWithBase>, } | {
  */
 cache: false, });
 
+export type TaskDefinition = Task | Command;
+
 export type UserGlobalCacheConfig = boolean | { 
 /**
  * Enable caching for package.json scripts not defined in the `tasks` map.
@@ -98,9 +102,9 @@ export type RunConfig = {
  */
 cache?: UserGlobalCacheConfig, 
 /**
- * Task definitions
+ * Task definitions: full task objects, command strings, or command string arrays.
  */
-tasks?: { [key in string]: Task }, 
+tasks?: { [key in string]: TaskDefinition }, 
 /**
  * Whether to automatically run `preX`/`postX` package.json scripts as
  * lifecycle hooks when script `X` is executed.

crates/vite_task_graph/src/config/mod.rs

@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ use monostate::MustBe;
 use rustc_hash::FxHashSet;
 use serde::Serialize;
 pub use user::{
-    AutoInput, EnabledCacheConfig, GlobWithBase, InputBase, ResolvedGlobalCacheConfig,
+    AutoInput, Command, EnabledCacheConfig, GlobWithBase, InputBase, ResolvedGlobalCacheConfig,
     UserCacheConfig, UserGlobalCacheConfig, UserInputEntry, UserInputsConfig, UserOutputEntry,
-    UserRunConfig, UserTaskConfig,
+    UserRunConfig, UserTaskConfig, UserTaskDefinition,
 };
 use vite_path::AbsolutePath;
 use vite_str::Str;
@@ -28,10 +28,10 @@ use crate::config::user::UserTaskOptions;
 /// `depends_on` is not included here because it's represented by the edges of the task graph.
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
 pub struct ResolvedTaskConfig {
-    /// The command to run for this task, as a raw string.
+    /// The command or commands to run for this task.
     ///
-    /// The command may contain environment variables that need to be expanded later.
-    pub command: Str,
+    /// Commands may contain environment variables that need to be expanded later.
+    pub commands: Arc<[Str]>,
 
     pub resolved_options: ResolvedTaskOptions,
 }
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ impl ResolvedTaskConfig {
         workspace_root: &AbsolutePath,
     ) -> Result<Self, ResolveTaskConfigError> {
         Ok(Self {
-            command: package_json_script.into(),
+            commands: vec![package_json_script.into()].into(),
             resolved_options: ResolvedTaskOptions::resolve(
                 UserTaskOptions::default(),
                 package_dir,
@@ -379,13 +379,14 @@ impl ResolvedTaskConfig {
         package_dir: &Arc<AbsolutePath>,
         workspace_root: &AbsolutePath,
     ) -> Result<Self, ResolveTaskConfigError> {
+        let UserTaskConfig { command, options } = user_config;
+        let commands = match command {
+            Command::Single(command) => Arc::from([command]),
+            Command::Array(commands) => commands,
+        };
         Ok(Self {
-            command: Str::from(user_config.command.as_ref()),
-            resolved_options: ResolvedTaskOptions::resolve(
-                user_config.options,
-                package_dir,
-                workspace_root,
-            )?,
+            commands,
+            resolved_options: ResolvedTaskOptions::resolve(options, package_dir, workspace_root)?,
         })
     }
 }

crates/vite_task_graph/src/config/user.rs

@@ -192,21 +192,44 @@ impl Default for UserTaskOptions {
         }
     }
 }
+/// The command to run for a task: a single string or a sequence of strings.
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq)]
+// TS derive macro generates code using std types that clippy disallows; skip derive during linting
+#[cfg_attr(all(test, not(clippy)), derive(TS))]
+#[serde(untagged)]
+pub enum Command {
+    /// A single command string.
+    Single(Str),
+    /// A sequence of command strings, run in order.
+    Array(Arc<[Str]>),
+}
 
 /// Full user-defined task configuration in `vite.config.*`, including the command and options.
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq)]
 // TS derive macro generates code using std types that clippy disallows; skip derive during linting
 #[cfg_attr(all(test, not(clippy)), derive(TS), ts(optional_fields, rename = "Task"))]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct UserTaskConfig {
-    /// The command to run for the task.
-    pub command: Box<str>,
+    /// Command to run, or an array of commands to run in order.
+    pub command: Command,
 
-    /// Fields other than the command
+    /// Fields other than the command.
     #[serde(flatten)]
     pub options: UserTaskOptions,
 }
 
+/// User-defined task configuration or command-only shorthand in `vite.config.*`.
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq)]
+// TS derive macro generates code using std types that clippy disallows; skip derive during linting
+#[cfg_attr(all(test, not(clippy)), derive(TS), ts(rename = "TaskDefinition"))]
+#[serde(untagged)]
+pub enum UserTaskDefinition {
+    /// Full task object form.
+    Object(UserTaskConfig),
+    /// Command-only shorthand form using default task options.
+    CommandShorthand(Command),
+}
+
 /// Root-level cache configuration.
 ///
 /// Controls caching behavior for the entire workspace.
@@ -281,8 +304,8 @@ pub struct UserRunConfig {
     /// Setting it in a package's config will result in an error.
     pub cache: Option<UserGlobalCacheConfig>,
 
-    /// Task definitions
-    pub tasks: Option<FxHashMap<Str, UserTaskConfig>>,
+    /// Task definitions: full task objects, command strings, or command string arrays.
+    pub tasks: Option<FxHashMap<Str, UserTaskDefinition>>,
 
     /// Whether to automatically run `preX`/`postX` package.json scripts as
     /// lifecycle hooks when script `X` is executed.
@@ -413,10 +436,97 @@ mod tests {
         let user_config: UserTaskConfig = serde_json::from_value(user_config_json).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(
             user_config,
-            UserTaskConfig { command: "echo hello".into(), options: UserTaskOptions::default() }
+            UserTaskConfig {
+                command: Command::Single("echo hello".into()),
+                options: UserTaskOptions::default()
+            }
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_command_array() {
+        let user_config_json = json!({
+            "command": ["echo one", "echo two", "echo three"]
+        });
+        let user_config: UserTaskConfig = serde_json::from_value(user_config_json).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            user_config.command,
+            Command::Array(Arc::from(["echo one".into(), "echo two".into(), "echo three".into()]))
+        );
+        assert_eq!(user_config.options, UserTaskOptions::default());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_task_string_shorthand() {
+        let user_config_json = json!({
+            "tasks": {
+                "build": "echo build"
+            }
+        });
+        let mut user_config: UserRunConfig = serde_json::from_value(user_config_json).unwrap();
+        let task = user_config.tasks.as_mut().unwrap().remove("build").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            task,
+            UserTaskDefinition::CommandShorthand(Command::Single("echo build".into()))
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_task_array_shorthand() {
+        let user_config_json = json!({
+            "tasks": {
+                "build": ["echo one", "echo two", "echo three"]
+            }
+        });
+        let mut user_config: UserRunConfig = serde_json::from_value(user_config_json).unwrap();
+        let task = user_config.tasks.as_mut().unwrap().remove("build").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            task,
+            UserTaskDefinition::CommandShorthand(Command::Array(Arc::from([
+                "echo one".into(),
+                "echo two".into(),
+                "echo three".into()
+            ])))
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_command_array_with_options() {
+        let user_config_json = json!({
+            "command": ["echo one", "echo two"],
+            "cwd": "src",
+            "dependsOn": ["build"],
+            "cache": false
+        });
+        let user_config: UserTaskConfig = serde_json::from_value(user_config_json).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            user_config.command,
+            Command::Array(Arc::from(["echo one".into(), "echo two".into()]))
+        );
+        let options = user_config.options;
+        assert_eq!(options.cwd_relative_to_package.as_ref().unwrap().as_str(), "src");
+        assert_eq!(options.depends_on.as_ref().unwrap().as_ref(), [Str::from("build")]);
+        assert_eq!(options.cache_config, UserCacheConfig::Disabled { cache: MustBe!(false) });
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_task_invalid_shorthand_error() {
+        let user_config_json = json!({
+            "tasks": {
+                "build": 123
+            }
+        });
+        assert!(serde_json::from_value::<UserRunConfig>(user_config_json).is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_command_array_invalid_item_error() {
+        let user_config_json = json!({
+            "command": ["echo one", 123]
+        });
+        assert!(serde_json::from_value::<UserTaskConfig>(user_config_json).is_err());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_cwd_rename() {
         let user_config_json = json!({

crates/vite_task_graph/src/display.rs

@@ -50,9 +50,26 @@ impl IndexedTaskGraph {
                 let node = &self.task_graph()[idx];
                 TaskListEntry {
                     task_display: node.task_display.clone(),
-                    command: node.resolved_config.command.clone(),
+                    command: format_command_for_task_list(&node.resolved_config.commands),
                 }
             })
             .collect()
     }
 }
+
+// Display-only formatting for task list/selector descriptions. Execution planning keeps
+// command arrays structured and must not depend on this joined string.
+fn format_command_for_task_list(commands: &Arc<[Str]>) -> Str {
+    if commands.len() == 1 {
+        commands[0].clone()
+    } else {
+        let mut display = Str::default();
+        for (index, command) in commands.iter().enumerate() {
+            if index > 0 {
+                display.push_str(" && ");
+            }
+            display.push_str(command.as_str());
+        }
+        display
+    }
+}

crates/vite_task_graph/src/lib.rs

@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ mod specifier;
 
 use std::{convert::Infallible, sync::Arc};
 
-use config::{ResolvedGlobalCacheConfig, ResolvedTaskConfig, UserRunConfig};
+use config::{
+    ResolvedGlobalCacheConfig, ResolvedTaskConfig, UserRunConfig, UserTaskConfig,
+    UserTaskDefinition,
+};
 use petgraph::graph::{DefaultIx, DiGraph, EdgeIndex, IndexType, NodeIndex};
 use rustc_hash::{FxBuildHasher, FxHashMap};
 use serde::Serialize;
@@ -15,7 +18,7 @@ use vite_path::AbsolutePath;
 use vite_str::Str;
 use vite_workspace::{PackageNodeIndex, WorkspaceRoot, package_graph::IndexedPackageGraph};
 
-use crate::display::TaskDisplay;
+use crate::{config::user::UserTaskOptions, display::TaskDisplay};
 
 /// The type of a task dependency edge in the task graph.
 ///
@@ -303,6 +306,12 @@ impl IndexedTaskGraph {
 
                 let task_id = TaskId { task_name: task_name.clone(), package_index };
 
+                let task_user_config = match task_user_config {
+                    UserTaskDefinition::Object(config) => config,
+                    UserTaskDefinition::CommandShorthand(command) => {
+                        UserTaskConfig { command, options: UserTaskOptions::default() }
+                    }
+                };
                 let dependency_specifiers = task_user_config.options.depends_on.clone();
 
                 // Resolve the task configuration from the user config

crates/vite_task_plan/src/cache_metadata.rs

@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ pub enum ExecutionCacheKey {
     UserTask {
         /// The name of the user-defined task.
         task_name: Str,
-        /// The index of the execution item in the task's command split by `&&`.
+        /// The index of the command item in the task's command array.
+        command_item_index: usize,
+        /// The index of the execution item within the command item split by `&&`.
         /// This is to distinguish multiple execution items from the same task.
         and_item_index: usize,
         /// Extra args provided when invoking the user-defined task (`vp [task_name] [extra_args...]`).