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🐞 Bug: Since the update my taskmaster is not working #316

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@thisoceanfox

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@thisoceanfox

Had great success before the most recent update.

Error message

Are you sure you wish to continue? (y/N): y
Parsing PRD file: scripts/thisoceanfox-upgrades-mermaidlens-prd.txt
Generating 10 tasks...
[INFO] Parsing PRD file: scripts/thisoceanfox-upgrades-mermaidlens-prd.txt
[INFO] Calling Claude...
[ERROR] Error: Error communicating with Claude: 401 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"authentication_error","message":"invalid x-api-key"}}
Error communicating with Claude: 401 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"authentication_error","message":"invalid x-api-key"}}
[ERROR] Error communicating with Claude: Error communicating with Claude: 401 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"authentication_error","message":"invalid x-api-key"}}
Error communicating with Claude: Error communicating with Claude: 401 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"authentication_error","message":"invalid x-api-key"}}
[ERROR] Error parsing PRD: Error communicating with Claude: Error communicating with Claude: 401 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"authentication_error","message":"invalid x-api-key"}}
Error: Error communicating with Claude: Error communicating with Claude: 401 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"authentication_error","message":"invalid x-api-key"}}

🐞 Bug Report

1. Summary/Title

Authentication failure in Task Master CLI & MCP despite valid API key and environment setup

2. Description

Task Master fails to authenticate against Anthropic API when run from both the CLI and the MCP environment. This issue persists even after multiple key resets and reconfigurations.

Steps to Reproduce:

  1. Generate a new API key from the Anthropic console.
  2. Replace the existing key in the .env file:
    ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-api03-your-key-here
    (No quotes, no spaces, no trailing newline)
  3. Reinstall taskmaster globally:
    npm uninstall -g taskmaster && npm install -g taskmaster
  4. Attempt to run Task Master from CLI or Cursor's MCP.
  5. Observe: Authentication error is returned.

Troubleshooting performed:

  • Key replaced twice; verified to work via direct Claude API call.
  • Verified key is loaded correctly with this test:
    node -e "require('dotenv').config(); console.log(process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY)"
  • Checked .env formatting: no quotes, no newlines, correct prefix.
  • Confirmed key is active in the Anthropic console.
  • Verified file access for PRD file.
  • Task Master version is up-to-date.

3. Expected Results

Task Master should authenticate successfully and proceed to process the PRD file using the Anthropic API.

4. Actual Results

Authentication fails consistently. Logs indicate key is sent but rejected, with no error suggesting misformatting or network issues.

5. Environment

  • Device: MacBook Pro (14-inch, Nov 2024)
  • Chip: Apple M4 Pro
  • Memory: 24 GB
  • OS: macOS Sequoia 15.3.1
  • Startup Disk: Macintosh HD
  • Cursor Version: 0.49.4 (Universal)
  • VSCode Base: 1.96.2
  • Node.js: v18.x
  • NPM: v9.x
  • Task Master: v0.12.1
  • Execution Contexts: CLI, Cursor MCP

Originally posted by @thisoceanfox in #294

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