Creating and Managing Tasks in Bytebot
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about creating tasks that Bytebot can execute effectively, and managing them through their lifecycle.Understanding Tasks
A task is any job you want Bytebot to complete. Tasks can be:- Simple: “Log in to GitHub” or “Visit example.com” (uses one program)
- Complex: “Download invoices from email and save them to a folder” (uses multiple programs)
- File-based: “Read the uploaded PDF and extract all email addresses” (processes uploaded files)
- Collaborative: “Process invoices, ask me to handle special approvals”
Working with Files
Bytebot has powerful file handling capabilities that make it perfect for document processing and data analysis tasks.Uploading Files with Tasks
When creating a task, you can upload files that will be automatically saved to the desktop instance. This is incredibly useful for:- Document Processing: Upload PDFs, spreadsheets, or documents for Bytebot to analyze
- Data Analysis: Provide CSV files or datasets for processing
- Template Filling: Upload forms or templates that need to be completed
- Batch Operations: Upload multiple files for bulk processing
Game Changer: Bytebot can read entire files, including PDFs, directly into the LLM context. This means it can process large amounts of data quickly and understand complex documents without manual extraction.
File Upload Examples
- Web UI
- API
- Click the attachment button when creating a task
- Select files to upload (PDFs, CSVs, images, etc.)
- Files are automatically saved to the desktop
- Reference them in your task description:
File Processing Capabilities
PDF Analysis
- Extract text from PDFs
- Read entire PDFs into context
- Parse forms and contracts
- Extract tables and data
Spreadsheet Processing
- Read Excel/CSV files
- Analyze data patterns
- Generate reports
- Cross-reference multiple sheets
Document Understanding
- Summarize long documents
- Extract key information
- Compare multiple files
- Answer questions about content
Batch Operations
- Process multiple files
- Apply same analysis to each
- Consolidate results
- Generate unified reports
Creating Your First Task
Using the Web UI
1
Open Bytebot UI
Navigate to
http://localhost:9992
2
Enter Your Task
In the input field on the left side, type what you want done. For example:
3
Start Task
Press the arrow button or hit Enter. Bytebot will start loading and begin working on your task.
Using the API
Writing Effective Task Descriptions
The Golden Rules
Be Specific
❌ “Do some research”
✅ “Research top 5 CRM tools for small businesses”
Include Context
❌ “Fill out the form”
✅ “Fill out the contact form on example.com with test data”
Define Success
❌ “Organize files”
✅ “Organize files in Downloads folder by type into subfolders”
One Goal Per Task
❌ “Do multiple unrelated things”
✅ “Focus on a single objective with clear steps”
Task Description Templates
Enterprise Process Automation
Multi-Application Workflow
Compliance & Audit Task
Managing Active Tasks
Task States

- Created → Task is defined but not started
- Queued → Waiting for agent availability
- Running → Actively being worked on
- Needs Help → Requires human input
- Completed → Successfully finished
- Failed → Could not be completed
Monitoring Progress
Real-time Updates
Watch Bytebot work through the task detail viewer:- Green dot: Task is actively running
- Status messages: Current step being executed
- Desktop view: See what Bytebot sees in real-time
Chat Messages
Bytebot provides updates like:Interacting with Running Tasks
Providing Additional Information
Clarifying Instructions
Modifying Tasks
Advanced Task Management
Task Dependencies
Chain tasks that depend on each other:Best Practices
Do’s ✅
- Start Simple: Test with basic tasks before complex ones
- Provide Examples: “Format it like the report from last week”
- Include Credentials Safely: Use takeover mode for passwords
- Set Realistic Expectations: Complex tasks take time
- Review Results: Always verify important outputs
Don’ts ❌
- Overload Single Tasks: Break complex workflows into steps
- Assume Knowledge: Explain custom applications
- Skip Context: Always provide necessary background
- Ignore Errors: Address issues promptly
- Rush Critical Tasks: Allow time for careful execution
Task Examples by Category
📄 Document Processing & Analysis
🏦 Enterprise Automation (RPA-Style Workflows)
📊 Financial Operations & Data Analysis
🔄 Multi-System Integration
📈 Compliance & Reporting
🤝 Development & QA Integration
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Task stuck in 'Running' state
Task stuck in 'Running' state
Possible causes:
- Waiting for slow page/app to load
- Encountered unexpected popup
- Unclear next step
- Check desktop viewer for current state
- Provide clarification via chat
- Use takeover mode to help
- Cancel and restart with clearer instructions
Task completed but wrong result
Task completed but wrong result
Possible causes:
- Ambiguous instructions
- Website/app changed
- Misunderstood context
- Review task description for clarity
- Provide specific examples
- Break into smaller subtasks
- Use takeover mode to demonstrate
Task failed immediately
Task failed immediately
Possible causes:
- Invalid URL or application
- Missing prerequisites
- System resource issues
- Verify URLs and application names
- Ensure required files/data exist
- Check system resources
- Review error messages in chat
Task Management Tips
Organizing Multiple Tasks
- Use Clear Naming: Include date, category, or project
- Group Related Tasks: Process similar tasks together
- Priority Management: Reserve ‘Urgent’ for true emergencies
- Regular Reviews: Check completed tasks for quality
Performance Optimization
- Batch Similar Tasks: Group web research, data entry, etc.
- Prepare Resources: Have files/data ready before starting
- Clear Desktop: Minimize distractions and popups
- Stable Environment: Ensure good internet and system resources
Learning from Tasks
After each task:- Review the approach Bytebot took
- Note any inefficiencies
- Refine future task descriptions
- Build a library of effective prompts
Next Steps
Pro Tip: Start with simple tasks to understand Bytebot’s capabilities, then gradually increase complexity as you learn what works best.