Understanding Wait Time

Wait time measures how long tasks spend idle — not being actively worked on. Stride tracks two types:

• Backlog Wait: Time from task creation until an agent claims it
• Review Wait: Time from task completion until a reviewer approves it

From the metrics dashboard, click Wait Time to see the detailed view. You can also navigate directly from the board by going to Metrics → Wait Time.

The wait time tables show both backlog wait and review wait. Look for:

• High backlog wait: Tasks are created but not being picked up — you may need more agents or better prioritization
• High review wait: Completed work is stuck waiting for approval — reviewers may be a bottleneck
• Trends: Are wait times improving or getting worse over time?

To reduce backlog wait:

• Keep the backlog prioritized so agents always have clear next tasks
• Ensure tasks have complete descriptions so agents can start immediately
• Match task capabilities to available agents

• Set aside regular time for reviewing completed work
• Consider setting needs_review: false for low-risk tasks
• Use notifications to stay informed when tasks enter review