backstage/.changeset/ninety-radios-protect.md

@backstage/backend-tasks

@backstage/backend-tasks
patch

Fixed the initialDelay parameter of tasks to properly make task workers always wait before the first invocations on startup, not just the very first time that the task is ever created. This behavior is more in line with expectations. Callers to not need to update their code.

Also clarified in the doc comment for the field that this wait applies only on an individual worker level. That is, if you have a cluster of workers then each individual machine may postpone its first task invocation by the given amount of time to leave room for the service to settle, but other workers may still continue to invoke the task on the regular cadence in the meantime.