feat: command timeouts (#2898)

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -44,6 +44,13 @@
 - Added Nushell completions, available via `task --completion nu`. They complete
   task names and aliases, every flag with its description, and the values of
   `--completion`, `--output` and `--sort` (#2966 by @vmaerten).
+- :warning: Added a per-command `timeout` that terminates a command once it
+  exceeds the given duration (Go duration syntax). It covers shell commands,
+  task calls, deferred commands, `deps` and the `if` condition, obeys
+  `ignore_error`, and reports exit code `124`. Callers that join a `run: once`
+  or `when_changed` task already running now honor their own `timeout`, and
+  inherit that task's failure instead of being told it succeeded (#1569, #2898
+  by @vmaerten).
 
 ## v3.52.0 - 2026-07-02
 

errors/errors.go

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ const (
 	CodeTaskCancelled
 	CodeTaskMissingRequiredVars
 	CodeTaskNotAllowedVars
+	CodeTaskTimedOut
 )
 
 // TaskError extends the standard error interface with a Code method. This code will

errors/errors_task.go

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	"mvdan.cc/sh/v3/interp"
 )
@@ -51,6 +52,10 @@ func (err *TaskRunError) TaskExitCode() int {
 	if errors.As(err.Err, &exit) {
 		return int(exit)
 	}
+	var timeout *TaskTimeoutError
+	if errors.As(err.Err, &timeout) {
+		return TimeoutExitCode
+	}
 	return err.Code()
 }
 
@@ -58,6 +63,25 @@ func (err *TaskRunError) Unwrap() error {
 	return err.Err
 }
 
+// TimeoutExitCode is what a killed command reports in place of the exit status
+// it never got, following the convention of timeout(1).
+const TimeoutExitCode = 124
+
+// TaskTimeoutError is returned when a command exceeds the timeout it declared.
+// It must not unwrap to context.DeadlineExceeded, which --watch swallows.
+type TaskTimeoutError struct {
+	TaskName string
+	Timeout  time.Duration
+}
+
+func (err *TaskTimeoutError) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf(`task: [%s] command timeout exceeded (%s)`, err.TaskName, err.Timeout)
+}
+
+func (err *TaskTimeoutError) Code() int {
+	return CodeTaskTimedOut
+}
+
 // TaskInternalError when the user attempts to invoke a task that is internal.
 type TaskInternalError struct {
 	TaskName string

executor.go

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package task
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"sync"
@@ -80,7 +79,7 @@ type (
 		concurrencySemaphore chan struct{}
 		taskCallCount        map[string]*int32
 		mkdirMutexMap        map[string]*sync.Mutex
-		executionHashes      map[string]context.Context
+		executionHashes      map[string]*executionState
 		executionHashesMutex sync.Mutex
 		watchedDirs          *xsync.Map[string, bool]
 	}
@@ -108,7 +107,7 @@ func NewExecutor(opts ...ExecutorOption) *Executor {
 		concurrencySemaphore: nil,
 		taskCallCount:        map[string]*int32{},
 		mkdirMutexMap:        map[string]*sync.Mutex{},
-		executionHashes:      map[string]context.Context{},
+		executionHashes:      map[string]*executionState{},
 		executionHashesMutex: sync.Mutex{},
 	}
 	e.Options(opts...)

setup.go

@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ func (e *Executor) setupDefaults() {
 }
 
 func (e *Executor) setupConcurrencyState() {
-	e.executionHashes = make(map[string]context.Context)
+	e.executionHashes = make(map[string]*executionState)
 
 	e.taskCallCount = make(map[string]*int32, e.Taskfile.Tasks.Len())
 	e.mkdirMutexMap = make(map[string]*sync.Mutex, e.Taskfile.Tasks.Len())

task.go

@@ -266,14 +266,20 @@ func (e *Executor) RunTask(ctx context.Context, call *Call) error {
 					e.Logger.VerboseErrf(logger.Yellow, "task: error cleaning status on error: %v\n", err2)
 				}
 
-				var exitCode interp.ExitStatus
+				if t.IgnoreError && isCommandFailure(err) {
-				if errors.As(err, &exitCode) {
-					if t.IgnoreError {
 					e.Logger.VerboseErrf(logger.Yellow, "task: task error ignored: %v\n", err)
 					continue
 				}
+
 				e.Logger.VerboseErrf(logger.Red, "task: %q failed: %v\n", call.Task, err)
+
+				var exitCode interp.ExitStatus
+				var timeout *errors.TaskTimeoutError
+				switch {
+				case errors.As(err, &exitCode):
 					deferredExitCode = uint8(exitCode)
+				case errors.As(err, &timeout):
+					deferredExitCode = errors.TimeoutExitCode
 				}
 
 				return err
@@ -316,11 +322,20 @@ func (e *Executor) runDeps(ctx context.Context, t *ast.Task) error {
 
 	for _, d := range t.Deps {
 		g.Go(func() error {
-			err := e.RunTask(ctx, &Call{Task: d.Task, Vars: d.Vars, Silent: d.Silent, Indirect: true})
+			depCtx := ctx
-			if err != nil {
+			var timeout *errors.TaskTimeoutError
-				return err
+			if d.Timeout > 0 {
+				timeout = &errors.TaskTimeoutError{TaskName: d.Task, Timeout: d.Timeout}
+				var cancel context.CancelFunc
+				depCtx, cancel = context.WithTimeoutCause(ctx, d.Timeout, timeout)
+				defer cancel()
 			}
-			return nil
+
+			err := e.RunTask(depCtx, &Call{Task: d.Task, Vars: d.Vars, Silent: d.Silent, Indirect: true})
+			if err != nil && timedOut(depCtx, timeout) {
+				return timeout
+			}
+			return err
 		})
 	}
 
@@ -354,6 +369,15 @@ func (e *Executor) runDeferred(t *ast.Task, call *Call, i int, vars *ast.Vars, d
 func (e *Executor) runCommand(ctx context.Context, t *ast.Task, call *Call, i int) error {
 	cmd := t.Cmds[i]
 
+	// In place before the if condition, which would otherwise run unbounded.
+	var timeout *errors.TaskTimeoutError
+	if cmd.Timeout > 0 {
+		timeout = &errors.TaskTimeoutError{TaskName: t.Name(), Timeout: cmd.Timeout}
+		var cancel context.CancelFunc
+		ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeoutCause(ctx, cmd.Timeout, timeout)
+		defer cancel()
+	}
+
 	// Check if condition for any command type
 	if strings.TrimSpace(cmd.If) != "" {
 		if err := execext.RunCommand(ctx, &execext.RunCommandOptions{
@@ -361,6 +385,9 @@ func (e *Executor) runCommand(ctx context.Context, t *ast.Task, call *Call, i in
 			Dir:     t.Dir,
 			Env:     env.Get(t),
 		}); err != nil {
+			if timedOut(ctx, timeout) {
+				return timeout
+			}
 			e.Logger.VerboseOutf(logger.Yellow, "task: [%s] if condition not met - skipped\n", t.Name())
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -372,8 +399,10 @@ func (e *Executor) runCommand(ctx context.Context, t *ast.Task, call *Call, i in
 		defer reacquire()
 
 		err := e.RunTask(ctx, &Call{Task: cmd.Task, Vars: cmd.Vars, Silent: cmd.Silent, Indirect: true})
-		var exitCode interp.ExitStatus
+		if err != nil && timedOut(ctx, timeout) {
-		if errors.As(err, &exitCode) && cmd.IgnoreError {
+			err = timeout
+		}
+		if cmd.IgnoreError && isCommandFailure(err) {
 			e.Logger.VerboseErrf(logger.Yellow, "task: [%s] task error ignored: %v\n", t.Name(), err)
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -416,8 +445,10 @@ func (e *Executor) runCommand(ctx context.Context, t *ast.Task, call *Call, i in
 		if closeErr := closer(err); closeErr != nil {
 			e.Logger.Errf(logger.Red, "task: unable to close writer: %v\n", closeErr)
 		}
-		var exitCode interp.ExitStatus
+		if err != nil && timedOut(ctx, timeout) {
-		if errors.As(err, &exitCode) && cmd.IgnoreError {
+			err = timeout
+		}
+		if cmd.IgnoreError && isCommandFailure(err) {
 			e.Logger.VerboseErrf(logger.Yellow, "task: [%s] command error ignored: %v\n", t.Name(), err)
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -427,6 +458,27 @@ func (e *Executor) runCommand(ctx context.Context, t *ast.Task, call *Call, i in
 	}
 }
 
+// isCommandFailure reports whether the command failed on its own terms - a
+// non-zero exit status or its timeout - rather than Task failing to run it.
+func isCommandFailure(err error) bool {
+	var exitCode interp.ExitStatus
+	var timeout *errors.TaskTimeoutError
+	return errors.As(err, &exitCode) || errors.As(err, &timeout)
+}
+
+// timedOut reports whether ctx was cancelled by the given timeout rather than by
+// an inherited deadline, which a derived context reports as its own.
+func timedOut(ctx context.Context, timeout *errors.TaskTimeoutError) bool {
+	return timeout != nil && errors.Is(context.Cause(ctx), timeout)
+}
+
+// executionState is the outcome of a task execution, shared with the callers
+// that join it. err is written before done is closed; read it only once closed.
+type executionState struct {
+	done chan struct{}
+	err  error
+}
+
 func (e *Executor) startExecution(ctx context.Context, t *ast.Task, execute func(ctx context.Context) error) error {
 	h, err := e.GetHash(t)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -439,7 +491,7 @@ func (e *Executor) startExecution(ctx context.Context, t *ast.Task, execute func
 
 	e.executionHashesMutex.Lock()
 
-	if otherExecutionCtx, ok := e.executionHashes[h]; ok {
+	if other, ok := e.executionHashes[h]; ok {
 		e.executionHashesMutex.Unlock()
 		e.Logger.VerboseErrf(logger.Magenta, "task: skipping execution of task: %s\n", h)
 
@@ -447,17 +499,33 @@ func (e *Executor) startExecution(ctx context.Context, t *ast.Task, execute func
 		reacquire := e.releaseConcurrencyLimit()
 		defer reacquire()
 
-		<-otherExecutionCtx.Done()
+		// A finished execution wins even if our context is done: there is
-		return nil
+		// nothing left to wait for, and select would otherwise pick at random.
+		select {
+		case <-other.done:
+			return other.err
+		default:
 		}
 
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
+		select {
-	defer cancel()
+		case <-other.done:
+			// Its outcome is ours. Returning nil would hide an execution that
+			// failed, or that another caller's timeout killed.
+			return other.err
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			// We did not start it, so we can only stop waiting. Report the cause
+			// so that our own timeout surfaces as one.
+			return context.Cause(ctx)
+		}
+	}
 
-	e.executionHashes[h] = ctx
+	state := &executionState{done: make(chan struct{})}
+	e.executionHashes[h] = state
 	e.executionHashesMutex.Unlock()
 
-	return execute(ctx)
+	defer close(state.done)
+	state.err = execute(ctx)
+	return state.err
 }
 
 // FindMatchingTasks returns a list of tasks that match the given call. A task

task_test.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package task_test
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"io/fs"
@@ -1034,6 +1035,44 @@ func TestTaskIgnoreErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Error(t, e.Run(t.Context(), &task.Call{Task: "cmd-should-fail"}))
 }
 
+func TestIgnoreErrorsOnTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const dir = "testdata/ignore_errors"
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		task        string
+		expectError bool
+	}{
+		{name: "ignored at task level", task: "task-timeout-should-pass"},
+		{name: "ignored at command level", task: "cmd-timeout-should-pass"},
+		{name: "not ignored", task: "cmd-timeout-should-fail", expectError: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			var buff bytes.Buffer
+			e := task.NewExecutor(
+				task.WithDir(dir),
+				task.WithStdout(&buff),
+				task.WithStderr(&buff),
+			)
+			require.NoError(t, e.Setup())
+
+			err := e.Run(t.Context(), &task.Call{Task: test.task})
+			if test.expectError {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				assert.NotContains(t, buff.String(), "reached the end")
+				return
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Contains(t, buff.String(), "reached the end")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestExpand(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
@@ -2342,6 +2381,54 @@ func TestRunOnceSharedDeps(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Contains(t, buff.String(), `task: [service-b:build] echo "build b"`)
 }
 
+func TestRunOnceSharedFailurePropagates(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const dir = "testdata/run_once_failure"
+
+	var buff bytes.Buffer
+	e := task.NewExecutor(
+		task.WithDir(dir),
+		task.WithStdout(&buff),
+		task.WithStderr(&buff),
+	)
+	require.NoError(t, e.Setup())
+
+	err := e.Run(t.Context(), &task.Call{Task: "default"})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), `Failed to run task "shared"`)
+	assert.NotContains(t, buff.String(), "should not be reached")
+	// The shared task still ran only once, which is the point of run: once.
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, strings.Count(buff.String(), "shared ran"))
+}
+
+func TestRunOnceJoinerHonorsItsOwnTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const dir = "testdata/run_once_timeout"
+
+	// The two deps run concurrently, so they need a buffer they can share.
+	var buff SyncBuffer
+	e := task.NewExecutor(
+		task.WithDir(dir),
+		task.WithStdout(&buff),
+		task.WithStderr(&buff),
+	)
+	require.NoError(t, e.Setup())
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	err := e.Run(t.Context(), &task.Call{Task: "default"})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	// The joiner used to wait on the shared execution alone, ignoring its own
+	// timeout for as long as that execution took.
+	assert.Less(t, time.Since(start), 5*time.Second)
+
+	var timeoutErr *errors.TaskTimeoutError
+	require.ErrorAs(t, err, &timeoutErr)
+	assert.Equal(t, "joiner", timeoutErr.TaskName)
+	assert.NotContains(t, buff.buf.String(), "should not be reached")
+}
+
 func TestRunWhenChanged(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
@@ -2395,6 +2482,27 @@ task-1 ran successfully
 	assert.Contains(t, buff.String(), "child task deferred value-from-parent")
 }
 
+func TestDeferredTaskTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const dir = "testdata/deferred"
+	var buff bytes.Buffer
+	e := task.NewExecutor(
+		task.WithDir(dir),
+		task.WithStdout(&buff),
+		task.WithStderr(&buff),
+		task.WithVerbose(true),
+	)
+	require.NoError(t, e.Setup())
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	require.NoError(t, e.Run(t.Context(), &task.Call{Task: "parent-with-timeout"}))
+	assert.Less(t, time.Since(start), 500*time.Millisecond)
+	assert.Contains(t, buff.String(), "parent completed")
+	assert.NotContains(t, buff.String(), "\ncleanup completed\n")
+	assert.Contains(t, buff.String(), "ignored error in deferred cmd")
+}
+
 func TestExitCodeZero(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
@@ -2427,6 +2535,27 @@ func TestExitCodeOne(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "FOO=bar - DYNAMIC_FOO=bar - EXIT_CODE=1", strings.TrimSpace(buff.String()))
 }
 
+func TestExitCodeTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const dir = "testdata/exit_code"
+	var buff bytes.Buffer
+	e := task.NewExecutor(
+		task.WithDir(dir),
+		task.WithStdout(&buff),
+		task.WithStderr(&buff),
+	)
+	require.NoError(t, e.Setup())
+
+	err := e.Run(t.Context(), &task.Call{Task: "exit-timeout"})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "EXIT_CODE=124", strings.TrimSpace(buff.String()))
+
+	var runErr *errors.TaskRunError
+	require.ErrorAs(t, err, &runErr)
+	assert.Equal(t, errors.TimeoutExitCode, runErr.TaskExitCode())
+}
+
 func TestIgnoreNilElements(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
@@ -2631,6 +2760,175 @@ func TestErrorCode(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestCommandTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const dir = "testdata/timeout"
+	tests := []struct {
+		name          string
+		task          string
+		expectError   bool
+		errorContains string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:          "timeout exceeded",
+			task:          "timeout-exceeded",
+			expectError:   true,
+			errorContains: "timeout exceeded",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "timeout not exceeded",
+			task:        "timeout-not-exceeded",
+			expectError: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "no timeout",
+			task:        "no-timeout",
+			expectError: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "multiple commands with timeout",
+			task:          "multiple-cmds-timeout",
+			expectError:   true,
+			errorContains: "timeout exceeded",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			var buff bytes.Buffer
+			e := task.NewExecutor(
+				task.WithDir(dir),
+				task.WithStdout(&buff),
+				task.WithStderr(&buff),
+			)
+			require.NoError(t, e.Setup())
+
+			err := e.Run(t.Context(), &task.Call{Task: test.task})
+			if test.expectError {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), test.errorContains)
+			} else {
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDepTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const dir = "testdata/dep_timeout"
+
+	t.Run("timeout exceeded", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		var buff SyncBuffer
+		e := task.NewExecutor(
+			task.WithDir(dir),
+			task.WithStdout(&buff),
+			task.WithStderr(&buff),
+		)
+		require.NoError(t, e.Setup())
+
+		start := time.Now()
+		err := e.Run(t.Context(), &task.Call{Task: "timeout-exceeded"})
+		require.Error(t, err)
+		assert.Less(t, time.Since(start), 5*time.Second)
+
+		var timeoutErr *errors.TaskTimeoutError
+		require.ErrorAs(t, err, &timeoutErr)
+		assert.Equal(t, "slow", timeoutErr.TaskName)
+		assert.NotContains(t, buff.buf.String(), "should not be reached")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("timeout not exceeded", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		var buff SyncBuffer
+		e := task.NewExecutor(
+			task.WithDir(dir),
+			task.WithStdout(&buff),
+			task.WithStderr(&buff),
+		)
+		require.NoError(t, e.Setup())
+
+		require.NoError(t, e.Run(t.Context(), &task.Call{Task: "timeout-not-exceeded"}))
+		assert.Contains(t, buff.buf.String(), "reached the end")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestCommandTimeoutBoundsIfCondition(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	var buff bytes.Buffer
+	e := task.NewExecutor(
+		task.WithDir("testdata/timeout"),
+		task.WithStdout(&buff),
+		task.WithStderr(&buff),
+	)
+	require.NoError(t, e.Setup())
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	err := e.Run(t.Context(), &task.Call{Task: "slow-if-condition"})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Less(t, time.Since(start), 5*time.Second)
+
+	var timeoutErr *errors.TaskTimeoutError
+	require.ErrorAs(t, err, &timeoutErr)
+	// A condition that times out fails the command, it does not skip it.
+	assert.NotContains(t, buff.String(), "condition was met")
+}
+
+func TestCommandTimeoutAttribution(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const dir = "testdata/timeout"
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		task        string
+		notContains string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:        "a command declaring no timeout is not blamed for one",
+			task:        "inherited-timeout",
+			notContains: "(0s)",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "a command is not blamed for a timeout it never reached",
+			task:        "larger-child-timeout",
+			notContains: "10m",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			e := task.NewExecutor(
+				task.WithDir(dir),
+				task.WithStdout(io.Discard),
+				task.WithStderr(io.Discard),
+			)
+			require.NoError(t, e.Setup())
+
+			err := e.Run(t.Context(), &task.Call{Task: test.task})
+			require.Error(t, err)
+			assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "command timeout exceeded (500ms)")
+			assert.NotContains(t, err.Error(), test.notContains)
+
+			var timeoutErr *errors.TaskTimeoutError
+			require.ErrorAs(t, err, &timeoutErr)
+			assert.Equal(t, test.task, timeoutErr.TaskName)
+
+			// --watch swallows context errors; a timeout must not look like one.
+			assert.False(t, errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded))
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestEvaluateSymlinksInPaths(t *testing.T) { // nolint:paralleltest // cannot run in parallel
 	const dir = "testdata/evaluate_symlinks_in_paths"
 	var buff bytes.Buffer

taskfile/ast/cmd.go

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package ast
 
 import (
+	"time"
+
 	"go.yaml.in/yaml/v3"
 
 	"github.com/go-task/task/v3/errors"
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ type Cmd struct {
 	IgnoreError bool
 	Defer       bool
 	Platforms   []*Platform
+	Timeout     time.Duration
 }
 
 func (c *Cmd) DeepCopy() *Cmd {
@@ -40,6 +43,7 @@ func (c *Cmd) DeepCopy() *Cmd {
 		IgnoreError: c.IgnoreError,
 		Defer:       c.Defer,
 		Platforms:   deepcopy.Slice(c.Platforms),
+		Timeout:     c.Timeout,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -67,11 +71,26 @@ func (c *Cmd) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
 			IgnoreError bool `yaml:"ignore_error"`
 			Defer       *Defer
 			Platforms   []*Platform
+			Timeout     string
 		}
 		if err := node.Decode(&cmdStruct); err != nil {
 			return errors.NewTaskfileDecodeError(err, node)
 		}
+
+		if cmdStruct.Timeout != "" {
+			timeout, err := parseTimeout(cmdStruct.Timeout, node)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			c.Timeout = timeout
+		}
+
 		if cmdStruct.Defer != nil {
+			// Rejected rather than dropped: without the field, yaml would
+			// swallow the key without a word.
+			if cmdStruct.Defer.Timeout != "" {
+				return errors.NewTaskfileDecodeError(nil, node).WithMessage("timeout must be set next to defer, not inside it")
+			}
 
 			// A deferred command
 			if cmdStruct.Defer.Cmd != "" {
@@ -121,3 +140,16 @@ func (c *Cmd) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
 
 	return errors.NewTaskfileDecodeError(nil, node).WithTypeMessage("command")
 }
+
+// parseTimeout rejects non-positive durations, which would otherwise read as no
+// timeout at all - the unbounded run the key exists to prevent.
+func parseTimeout(s string, node *yaml.Node) (time.Duration, error) {
+	timeout, err := time.ParseDuration(s)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, errors.NewTaskfileDecodeError(err, node).WithMessage("invalid timeout format")
+	}
+	if timeout <= 0 {
+		return 0, errors.NewTaskfileDecodeError(nil, node).WithMessage("timeout must be greater than zero")
+	}
+	return timeout, nil
+}

taskfile/ast/defer.go

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ type Defer struct {
 	Task    string
 	Vars    *Vars
 	Silent  bool
+	Timeout string
 }
 
 func (d *Defer) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ func (d *Defer) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
 			Task    string
 			Vars    *Vars
 			Silent  bool
+			Timeout string
 		}
 		if err := node.Decode(&deferStruct); err != nil {
 			return errors.NewTaskfileDecodeError(err, node)
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ func (d *Defer) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
 		d.Task = deferStruct.Task
 		d.Vars = deferStruct.Vars
 		d.Silent = deferStruct.Silent
+		d.Timeout = deferStruct.Timeout
 		return nil
 	}
 

taskfile/ast/dep.go

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package ast
 
 import (
+	"time"
+
 	"go.yaml.in/yaml/v3"
 
 	"github.com/go-task/task/v3/errors"
@@ -12,6 +14,7 @@ type Dep struct {
 	For     *For
 	Vars    *Vars
 	Silent  bool
+	Timeout time.Duration
 }
 
 func (d *Dep) DeepCopy() *Dep {
@@ -23,6 +26,7 @@ func (d *Dep) DeepCopy() *Dep {
 		For:     d.For.DeepCopy(),
 		Vars:    d.Vars.DeepCopy(),
 		Silent:  d.Silent,
+		Timeout: d.Timeout,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -43,10 +47,18 @@ func (d *Dep) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
 			For     *For
 			Vars    *Vars
 			Silent  bool
+			Timeout string
 		}
 		if err := node.Decode(&taskCall); err != nil {
 			return errors.NewTaskfileDecodeError(err, node)
 		}
+		if taskCall.Timeout != "" {
+			timeout, err := parseTimeout(taskCall.Timeout, node)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			d.Timeout = timeout
+		}
 		d.Task = taskCall.Task
 		d.For = taskCall.For
 		d.Vars = taskCall.Vars

taskfile/ast/taskfile_test.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package ast_test
 
 import (
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -23,7 +24,9 @@ vars:
   PARAM2: VALUE2
 `
 		yamlDeferredCall            = `defer: { task: some_task, vars: { PARAM1: "var" } }`
+		yamlDeferredCallWithTimeout = `{ defer: { task: some_task }, timeout: 1s }`
 		yamlDeferredCmd             = `defer: echo 'test'`
+		yamlDeferredCmdWithTimeout  = `{ defer: echo 'test', timeout: 1s }`
 	)
 	tests := []struct {
 		content  string
@@ -77,6 +80,16 @@ vars:
 				Defer: true,
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			yamlDeferredCallWithTimeout,
+			&ast.Cmd{},
+			&ast.Cmd{Task: "some_task", Defer: true, Timeout: time.Second},
+		},
+		{
+			yamlDeferredCmdWithTimeout,
+			&ast.Cmd{},
+			&ast.Cmd{Cmd: `echo 'test'`, Defer: true, Timeout: time.Second},
+		},
 		{
 			yamlDep,
 			&ast.Dep{},
@@ -110,3 +123,55 @@ vars:
 		assert.Equal(t, test.expected, test.v)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestTimeoutParseError(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		content string
+		message string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "unparsable duration",
+			content: `{cmd: echo, timeout: invalid}`,
+			message: "invalid timeout format",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "zero duration",
+			content: `{cmd: echo, timeout: 0s}`,
+			message: "timeout must be greater than zero",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "negative duration",
+			content: `{cmd: echo, timeout: -1s}`,
+			message: "timeout must be greater than zero",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "negative duration on a deferred task",
+			content: `{defer: {task: some_task}, timeout: -5m}`,
+			message: "timeout must be greater than zero",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "unparsable duration on a deferred task",
+			content: `{defer: {task: some_task}, timeout: invalid}`,
+			message: "invalid timeout format",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "timeout nested inside defer",
+			content: `{defer: {task: some_task, timeout: 1s}}`,
+			message: "timeout must be set next to defer, not inside it",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			var cmd ast.Cmd
+			err := yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(test.content), &cmd)
+			require.Error(t, err)
+			assert.ErrorContains(t, err, test.message)
+		})
+	}
+}

testdata/deferred/Taskfile.yml

@@ -27,3 +27,15 @@ tasks:
   child:
     cmds:
     - cmd: echo "child {{.VAR1}}"
+
+  parent-with-timeout:
+    cmds:
+      - defer:
+          task: slow-cleanup
+          silent: true
+        timeout: 100ms
+      - echo 'parent completed'
+
+  slow-cleanup:
+    cmds:
+      - sleep 1 && echo 'cleanup completed'

testdata/dep_timeout/Taskfile.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+version: '3'
+
+silent: true
+
+tasks:
+  timeout-exceeded:
+    deps:
+      - task: slow
+        timeout: 300ms
+    cmds:
+      - echo "should not be reached"
+
+  timeout-not-exceeded:
+    deps:
+      - task: quick
+        timeout: 5s
+    cmds:
+      - echo "reached the end"
+
+  slow:
+    cmds:
+      - sleep 10
+
+  quick:
+    cmds:
+      - echo "quick"

testdata/exit_code/Taskfile.yml

@@ -23,3 +23,9 @@ tasks:
     cmds:
       - defer: echo FOO={{.FOO}} - DYNAMIC_FOO={{.DYNAMIC_FOO}} - {{.PREFIX}}{{.EXIT_CODE}}
       - exit 1
+
+  exit-timeout:
+    cmds:
+      - defer: echo {{.PREFIX}}{{.EXIT_CODE}}
+      - cmd: sleep 10
+        timeout: 200ms

testdata/ignore_errors/Taskfile.yml

@@ -18,3 +18,23 @@ tasks:
   cmd-should-fail:
     cmds:
       - cmd: exit 1
+
+  task-timeout-should-pass:
+    cmds:
+      - cmd: sleep 10
+        timeout: 200ms
+      - echo "reached the end"
+    ignore_error: true
+
+  cmd-timeout-should-pass:
+    cmds:
+      - cmd: sleep 10
+        timeout: 200ms
+        ignore_error: true
+      - echo "reached the end"
+
+  cmd-timeout-should-fail:
+    cmds:
+      - cmd: sleep 10
+        timeout: 200ms
+      - echo "reached the end"

testdata/run_once_failure/Taskfile.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+version: '3'
+
+silent: true
+
+tasks:
+  default:
+    cmds:
+      - task: shared
+        ignore_error: true
+      # Joins the finished execution, and must inherit its error.
+      - task: shared
+      - echo "should not be reached"
+
+  shared:
+    run: once
+    cmds:
+      - echo "shared ran"
+      - exit 1

testdata/run_once_timeout/Taskfile.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+version: '3'
+
+silent: true
+
+tasks:
+  default:
+    # Without failfast the run waits for `owner` anyway, hiding what is tested.
+    failfast: true
+    deps: [owner, joiner]
+
+  # Holds the shared task far longer than `joiner` waits, so `joiner` reaches
+  # the deduplication path while it is still running.
+  owner:
+    cmds:
+      - task: shared
+
+  joiner:
+    cmds:
+      - sleep 0.2
+      - task: shared
+        timeout: 500ms
+      - echo "should not be reached"
+
+  shared:
+    run: once
+    cmds:
+      - sleep 10

testdata/timeout/Taskfile.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+version: '3'
+
+tasks:
+  timeout-exceeded:
+    desc: Command that should timeout
+    cmds:
+      - cmd: sleep 10
+        timeout: 1s
+
+  timeout-not-exceeded:
+    desc: Command that completes within timeout
+    cmds:
+      - cmd: echo "quick command"
+        timeout: 5s
+
+  no-timeout:
+    desc: Command with no timeout specified
+    cmds:
+      - echo "no timeout"
+
+  multiple-cmds-timeout:
+    desc: Multiple commands where one exceeds its timeout
+    cmds:
+      - cmd: echo "first"
+        timeout: 1s
+      - cmd: sleep 10
+        timeout: 1s
+      - cmd: echo "third"
+        timeout: 1s
+
+  slow-if-condition:
+    desc: Condition that hangs must be bounded by the command timeout
+    cmds:
+      - cmd: echo "condition was met"
+        if: sleep 10
+        timeout: 500ms
+
+  inherited-timeout:
+    desc: Calls a task whose command declares no timeout of its own
+    cmds:
+      - task: slow-without-timeout
+        timeout: 500ms
+
+  slow-without-timeout:
+    cmds:
+      - sleep 10
+
+  larger-child-timeout:
+    desc: Calls a task whose command declares a timeout it never reaches
+    cmds:
+      - task: slow-with-larger-timeout
+        timeout: 500ms
+
+  slow-with-larger-timeout:
+    cmds:
+      - cmd: sleep 10
+        timeout: 10m

website/src/docs/reference/schema.md

@@ -847,6 +847,7 @@ tasks:
         platforms: [linux, darwin]
         set: [errexit]
         shopt: [globstar]
+        timeout: 5m
 ```
 
 ### Task References
@@ -963,6 +964,58 @@ tasks:
         if: '[ "{{.ITEM}}" != "b" ]'
 ```
 
+### Command Timeouts
+
+Use `timeout` to limit how long a command may run. The value uses Go duration
+syntax (e.g. `30s`, `5m`, `1h30m`) and must be greater than zero.
+
+```yaml
+tasks:
+  deploy:
+    cmds:
+      - cmd: npm run build
+        timeout: 5m
+      - cmd: ./deploy.sh
+        timeout: 30m
+```
+
+When a command exceeds its timeout, it is terminated and the task fails with an
+error, preventing commands from hanging indefinitely in a pipeline. The timeout
+bounds the whole step, so an [`if`](#command) condition that hangs is cut short
+too, and [`ignore_error`](#command) covers a timeout like any other failure. A
+timed-out command reports [`EXIT_CODE`](/docs/reference/templating#exit_code)
+`124`, following the convention of `timeout(1)`.
+
+A dependency takes the same key:
+
+```yaml
+tasks:
+  build:
+    deps:
+      - task: fetch-assets
+        timeout: 2m
+```
+
+The key goes next to the command whatever form it takes, including a `defer`:
+
+```yaml
+tasks:
+  deploy:
+    cmds:
+      - defer:
+          task: cleanup
+        timeout: 30s
+      - defer: ./cleanup.sh
+        timeout: 30s
+```
+
+A timed-out deferred command is logged and ignored, like other deferred errors.
+
+Calling a task that is already running under [`run: once`](#task) or
+[`run: when_changed`](#task) joins that execution instead of starting a second
+one. A `timeout` on such a call bounds how long you wait for it, not the shared
+execution itself, which only the caller that started it can bound.
+
 ## Shell Options
 
 ### Set Options

website/src/docs/reference/templating.md

@@ -334,7 +334,8 @@ tasks:
 
 - **Type**: `int`
 - **Description**: Failed command exit code (only in `defer`, only when
-  non-zero)
+  non-zero). A command killed by its [`timeout`](/docs/reference/schema#command)
+  is reported as `124`, following the convention of `timeout(1)`.
 
 ```yaml
 tasks:

website/src/public/schema.json

@@ -356,6 +356,10 @@
         "if": {
           "description": "A shell command to evaluate. If the exit code is non-zero, the command is skipped.",
           "type": "string"
+        },
+        "timeout": {
+          "description": "Maximum duration the command is allowed to run before being terminated. Supports Go duration syntax (e.g., '5m', '30s', '1h').",
+          "type": "string"
         }
       },
       "additionalProperties": false,
@@ -397,11 +401,38 @@
         "if": {
           "description": "A shell command to evaluate. If the exit code is non-zero, the command is skipped.",
           "type": "string"
+        },
+        "timeout": {
+          "description": "Maximum duration the command is allowed to run before being terminated. Supports Go duration syntax (e.g., '5m', '30s', '1h').",
+          "type": "string"
         }
       },
       "additionalProperties": false,
       "required": ["cmd"]
     },
+    "deferred_task_call": {
+      "type": "object",
+      "properties": {
+        "task": {
+          "description": "Name of the task to run",
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "vars": {
+          "description": "Values passed to the task called",
+          "$ref": "#/definitions/vars"
+        },
+        "silent": {
+          "description": "Hides task name and command from output. The command's output will still be redirected to `STDOUT` and `STDERR`.",
+          "type": "boolean"
+        },
+        "if": {
+          "description": "A shell command to evaluate. If the exit code is non-zero, the command is skipped.",
+          "type": "string"
+        }
+      },
+      "additionalProperties": false,
+      "required": ["task"]
+    },
     "defer_task_call": {
       "type": "object",
       "properties": {
@@ -409,9 +440,13 @@
           "description": "Run a command when the task completes. This command will run even when the task fails",
           "anyOf": [
             {
-              "$ref": "#/definitions/task_call"
+              "$ref": "#/definitions/deferred_task_call"
             }
           ]
+        },
+        "timeout": {
+          "description": "Maximum duration the command is allowed to run before being terminated. Supports Go duration syntax (e.g., '5m', '30s', '1h').",
+          "type": "string"
         }
       },
       "additionalProperties": false,
@@ -427,6 +462,10 @@
         "silent": {
           "description": "Hides task name and command from output. The command's output will still be redirected to `STDOUT` and `STDERR`.",
           "type": "boolean"
+        },
+        "timeout": {
+          "description": "Maximum duration the command is allowed to run before being terminated. Supports Go duration syntax (e.g., '5m', '30s', '1h').",
+          "type": "string"
         }
       },
       "additionalProperties": false,
@@ -471,6 +510,10 @@
         "if": {
           "description": "A shell command to evaluate. If the exit code is non-zero, the command is skipped.",
           "type": "string"
+        },
+        "timeout": {
+          "description": "Maximum duration the command is allowed to run before being terminated. Supports Go duration syntax (e.g., '5m', '30s', '1h').",
+          "type": "string"
         }
       },
       "additionalProperties": false,
@@ -505,6 +548,10 @@
         "if": {
           "description": "A shell command to evaluate. If the exit code is non-zero, the command is skipped.",
           "type": "string"
+        },
+        "timeout": {
+          "description": "Maximum duration the command is allowed to run before being terminated. Supports Go duration syntax (e.g., '5m', '30s', '1h').",
+          "type": "string"
         }
       },
       "additionalProperties": false,
@@ -527,6 +574,10 @@
         "vars": {
           "description": "Values passed to the task called",
           "$ref": "#/definitions/vars"
+        },
+        "timeout": {
+          "description": "Maximum duration the command is allowed to run before being terminated. Supports Go duration syntax (e.g., '5m', '30s', '1h').",
+          "type": "string"
         }
       },
       "additionalProperties": false,