diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 704fa6c..17300b5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -84,10 +84,11 @@ async fn main() {
 
     // Add source tasks with no dependencies
     let x = dag.add_task(Value(2));
-    let y = dag.add_task(Value(3));
+    let y: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(Value(3)).into();
 
-    // Add task that depends on both x and y
-    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&x, &y));
+    // Add task that depends on both x and y.
+    // Here, y could be reused as a dependency for other tasks, while x could not.
+    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((x, &y));
 
     // Execute with true parallelism
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await.unwrap();
diff --git a/benches/basic/execution.rs b/benches/basic/execution.rs
index 15ff351..9296422 100644
--- a/benches/basic/execution.rs
+++ b/benches/basic/execution.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ pub fn bench_dag_execution(c: &mut Criterion) {
                 let t0 = dag.add_task(Value(0));
                 let t1 = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
-                    .depends_on(&t0);
+                    .depends_on(t0);
                 let t2 = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
                     .depends_on(t1);
diff --git a/benches/comparisons/deep_chain.rs b/benches/comparisons/deep_chain.rs
index a5993ab..0cf5b69 100644
--- a/benches/comparisons/deep_chain.rs
+++ b/benches/comparisons/deep_chain.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 //! Long sequential chain: 100 tasks in sequence
 
 use criterion::Criterion;
+use dagx::TaskHandle;
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 pub fn bench_deep_chain(c: &mut Criterion) {
@@ -17,10 +18,10 @@ pub fn bench_deep_chain(c: &mut Criterion) {
 
                 let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-                let first = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 0 }));
+                let first: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 0 })).into();
                 let mut prev = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
-                    .depends_on(&first);
+                    .depends_on(first);
 
                 for i in 2..100 {
                     prev = dag
diff --git a/benches/comparisons/diamond_pattern.rs b/benches/comparisons/diamond_pattern.rs
index c7c2e52..a0a8ebb 100644
--- a/benches/comparisons/diamond_pattern.rs
+++ b/benches/comparisons/diamond_pattern.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 //! Classic diamond: A → B,C → D
 
 use criterion::Criterion;
+use dagx::TaskHandle;
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 pub fn bench_diamond_pattern(c: &mut Criterion) {
@@ -17,13 +18,13 @@ pub fn bench_diamond_pattern(c: &mut Criterion) {
 
                 let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-                let a = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 }));
+                let a: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 })).into();
                 let b = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-                    .depends_on(&a);
+                    .depends_on(a);
                 let c = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 5 }))
-                    .depends_on(&a);
+                    .depends_on(a);
                 let d = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|(x, y): (i32, i32)| async move { x + y }))
                     .depends_on((&b, &c));
diff --git a/benches/comparisons/etl_pipeline.rs b/benches/comparisons/etl_pipeline.rs
index 73bcf5e..50a7be6 100644
--- a/benches/comparisons/etl_pipeline.rs
+++ b/benches/comparisons/etl_pipeline.rs
@@ -27,19 +27,19 @@ pub fn bench_etl_pipeline(c: &mut Criterion) {
                     .add_task(task_fn(|data: Vec<i32>| async move {
                         data.into_iter().map(|x| x * 2).collect::<Vec<_>>()
                     }))
-                    .depends_on(&source1);
+                    .depends_on(source1);
 
                 let transform2 = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|data: Vec<i32>| async move {
                         data.into_iter().map(|x| x * 2).collect::<Vec<_>>()
                     }))
-                    .depends_on(&source2);
+                    .depends_on(source2);
 
                 let transform3 = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|data: Vec<i32>| async move {
                         data.into_iter().map(|x| x * 2).collect::<Vec<_>>()
                     }))
-                    .depends_on(&source3);
+                    .depends_on(source3);
 
                 // Merge all transformed data
                 let merge = dag
diff --git a/benches/comparisons/linear_pipeline.rs b/benches/comparisons/linear_pipeline.rs
index 9df20c5..3b1402c 100644
--- a/benches/comparisons/linear_pipeline.rs
+++ b/benches/comparisons/linear_pipeline.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ pub fn bench_linear_pipeline(c: &mut Criterion) {
                 let a = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 }));
                 let b = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
-                    .depends_on(&a);
+                    .depends_on(a);
                 let c = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
                     .depends_on(b);
diff --git a/benches/comparisons/wide_fanout.rs b/benches/comparisons/wide_fanout.rs
index c80f063..25b0079 100644
--- a/benches/comparisons/wide_fanout.rs
+++ b/benches/comparisons/wide_fanout.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 //! One source task feeding 100 dependent tasks
 
 use criterion::Criterion;
+use dagx::TaskHandle;
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 pub fn bench_wide_fanout(c: &mut Criterion) {
@@ -16,12 +17,12 @@ pub fn bench_wide_fanout(c: &mut Criterion) {
                 use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner};
 
                 let dag = DagRunner::new();
-                let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 }));
+                let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 })).into();
 
                 // Create 100 tasks that all depend on source
                 for i in 0..100 {
                     dag.add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x + i }))
-                        .depends_on(&source);
+                        .depends_on(source);
                 }
 
                 dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
diff --git a/benches/patterns/diamond.rs b/benches/patterns/diamond.rs
index f129cc1..cf012b9 100644
--- a/benches/patterns/diamond.rs
+++ b/benches/patterns/diamond.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Diamond pattern benchmarks (fan-out then fan-in)
 
 use criterion::Criterion;
-use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 pub fn bench_diamond(c: &mut Criterion) {
@@ -13,14 +13,15 @@ pub fn bench_diamond(c: &mut Criterion) {
                 let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
                 for i in 0..50 {
-                    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i }));
+                    let source: TaskHandle<_> =
+                        dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })).into();
 
                     let left = dag
                         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-                        .depends_on(&source);
+                        .depends_on(source);
                     let right = dag
                         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 3 }))
-                        .depends_on(&source);
+                        .depends_on(source);
 
                     dag.add_task(task_fn(|(l, r): (i32, i32)| async move { l + r }))
                         .depends_on((&left, &right));
diff --git a/benches/patterns/fanout.rs b/benches/patterns/fanout.rs
index 7a06f4e..71ee6b9 100644
--- a/benches/patterns/fanout.rs
+++ b/benches/patterns/fanout.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Fan-out pattern benchmarks (1 → N dependencies)
 
 use criterion::Criterion;
-use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 pub fn bench_fanout(c: &mut Criterion) {
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@ pub fn bench_fanout(c: &mut Criterion) {
         b.iter(|| {
             rt.block_on(async {
                 let dag = DagRunner::new();
-                let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 }));
+                let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 })).into();
 
                 for i in 0..100 {
                     dag.add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x + i }))
-                        .depends_on(&source);
+                        .depends_on(source);
                 }
 
                 dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
@@ -31,17 +31,19 @@ pub fn bench_fanout(c: &mut Criterion) {
         b.iter(|| {
             rt.block_on(async {
                 let dag = DagRunner::new();
-                let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
-                    // Create 1000 strings - framework wraps in Arc automatically
-                    (0..1000).map(|i| format!("Item {}", i)).collect::<Vec<_>>()
-                }));
+                let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+                    .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
+                        // Create 1000 strings - framework wraps in Arc automatically
+                        (0..1000).map(|i| format!("Item {}", i)).collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                    }))
+                    .into();
 
                 for i in 0..100 {
                     dag.add_task(task_fn(move |data: Vec<String>| async move {
                         // Each consumer gets data extracted from Arc
                         data.iter().filter(|s| s.contains(&i.to_string())).count()
                     }))
-                    .depends_on(&source);
+                    .depends_on(source);
                 }
 
                 dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
@@ -61,12 +63,12 @@ pub fn bench_fanout(c: &mut Criterion) {
 
                 // Source produces a simple Copy type (usize)
                 // Framework wraps in Arc<usize> internally
-                let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42usize }));
+                let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42usize })).into();
 
                 // 100 dependents - Arc overhead visible on Copy types
                 for i in 0..100 {
                     dag.add_task(task_fn(move |x: usize| async move { x + i }))
-                        .depends_on(&source);
+                        .depends_on(source);
                 }
 
                 dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
diff --git a/benches/realistic/config_broadcast.rs b/benches/realistic/config_broadcast.rs
index 2bce80f..0be4802 100644
--- a/benches/realistic/config_broadcast.rs
+++ b/benches/realistic/config_broadcast.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Configuration broadcast pattern benchmark - one config shared across many workers
 
 use criterion::{BenchmarkId, Criterion};
-use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::hint::black_box;
@@ -20,18 +20,20 @@ pub fn bench_config_broadcast(c: &mut Criterion) {
                         let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
                         // Configuration source - framework wraps HashMap in Arc automatically
-                        let config = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
-                            HashMap::from([
-                                ("max_connections".to_string(), "100".to_string()),
-                                ("timeout_ms".to_string(), "5000".to_string()),
-                                ("batch_size".to_string(), "50".to_string()),
-                                ("retry_count".to_string(), "3".to_string()),
-                                ("worker_threads".to_string(), "4".to_string()),
-                                ("buffer_size".to_string(), "8192".to_string()),
-                                ("compression".to_string(), "true".to_string()),
-                                ("log_level".to_string(), "info".to_string()),
-                            ])
-                        }));
+                        let config: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+                            .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
+                                HashMap::from([
+                                    ("max_connections".to_string(), "100".to_string()),
+                                    ("timeout_ms".to_string(), "5000".to_string()),
+                                    ("batch_size".to_string(), "50".to_string()),
+                                    ("retry_count".to_string(), "3".to_string()),
+                                    ("worker_threads".to_string(), "4".to_string()),
+                                    ("buffer_size".to_string(), "8192".to_string()),
+                                    ("compression".to_string(), "true".to_string()),
+                                    ("log_level".to_string(), "info".to_string()),
+                                ])
+                            }))
+                            .into();
 
                         // Workers receive and process based on shared config
                         for worker_id in 0..workers {
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@ pub fn bench_config_broadcast(c: &mut Criterion) {
                                 // Simulate some computation
                                 black_box(worker_id * batch_size + timeout / 100)
                             }))
-                            .depends_on(&config);
+                            .depends_on(config);
                         }
 
                         dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
diff --git a/benches/realistic/etl.rs b/benches/realistic/etl.rs
index d0a39b8..6810787 100644
--- a/benches/realistic/etl.rs
+++ b/benches/realistic/etl.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipeline benchmark
 
 use criterion::{BenchmarkId, Criterion};
-use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 pub fn bench_etl_pipeline(c: &mut Criterion) {
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ pub fn bench_etl_pipeline(c: &mut Criterion) {
                         let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
                         // Extract: Load JSON-like data (framework wraps in Arc automatically)
-                        let extract = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move {
+                        let extract: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move {
                             (0..count)
                                 .map(|i| {
                                     format!(
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ pub fn bench_etl_pipeline(c: &mut Criterion) {
                                     )
                                 })
                                 .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-                        }));
+                        })).into();
 
                         // Transform: Three parallel transformations
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ pub fn bench_etl_pipeline(c: &mut Criterion) {
                                     })
                                     .count()
                             }))
-                            .depends_on(&extract);
+                            .depends_on(extract);
 
                         // T2: Extract scores
                         let scores = dag
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ pub fn bench_etl_pipeline(c: &mut Criterion) {
                                     })
                                     .collect::<Vec<_>>()
                             }))
-                            .depends_on(&extract);
+                            .depends_on(extract);
 
                         // T3: Extract names
                         let names = dag
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ pub fn bench_etl_pipeline(c: &mut Criterion) {
                                     })
                                     .collect::<Vec<_>>()
                             }))
-                            .depends_on(&extract);
+                            .depends_on(extract);
 
                         // Load: Aggregate all transformations
                         dag.add_task(task_fn(
diff --git a/benches/realistic/memory_efficiency.rs b/benches/realistic/memory_efficiency.rs
index 1d6a548..8670ab6 100644
--- a/benches/realistic/memory_efficiency.rs
+++ b/benches/realistic/memory_efficiency.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Memory efficiency benchmark with large data structures
 
 use criterion::{BenchmarkId, Criterion};
-use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::hint::black_box;
 
@@ -19,10 +19,12 @@ pub fn bench_memory_efficiency(c: &mut Criterion) {
                     rt.block_on(async {
                         let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-                        let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move {
-                            // Create MB of data - framework wraps in Arc automatically
-                            vec![0u8; mb * 1024 * 1024]
-                        }));
+                        let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+                            .add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move {
+                                // Create MB of data - framework wraps in Arc automatically
+                                vec![0u8; mb * 1024 * 1024]
+                            }))
+                            .into();
 
                         // 20 consumers share the data via automatic Arc wrapping
                         for i in 0..20 {
@@ -36,7 +38,7 @@ pub fn bench_memory_efficiency(c: &mut Criterion) {
                                     .sum();
                                 black_box(sample_sum)
                             }))
-                            .depends_on(&source);
+                            .depends_on(source);
                         }
 
                         dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
diff --git a/benches/realistic/mixed.rs b/benches/realistic/mixed.rs
index c1110c1..445eb41 100644
--- a/benches/realistic/mixed.rs
+++ b/benches/realistic/mixed.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Mixed realistic patterns - fan-out, fan-in, and processing
 
 use criterion::Criterion;
-use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{task_fn, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 pub fn bench_mixed_patterns(c: &mut Criterion) {
@@ -13,28 +13,30 @@ pub fn bench_mixed_patterns(c: &mut Criterion) {
                 let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
                 // Stage 1: Load data (framework wraps in Arc automatically)
-                let data = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
-                    (0..1000)
-                        .map(|i| format!("Record-{:04}", i))
-                        .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-                }));
+                let data: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+                    .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
+                        (0..1000)
+                            .map(|i| format!("Record-{:04}", i))
+                            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                    }))
+                    .into();
 
                 // Stage 2: Fan-out for parallel analysis
                 let analysis1 = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|d: Vec<String>| async move {
                         d.iter().filter(|s| s.contains("00")).count()
                     }))
-                    .depends_on(&data);
+                    .depends_on(data);
 
                 let analysis2 = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|d: Vec<String>| async move {
                         d.iter().map(|s| s.len()).sum::<usize>()
                     }))
-                    .depends_on(&data);
+                    .depends_on(data);
 
                 let analysis3 = dag
                     .add_task(task_fn(|d: Vec<String>| async move { d.len() }))
-                    .depends_on(&data);
+                    .depends_on(data);
 
                 // Stage 3: Fan-in to aggregate
                 let summary = dag
diff --git a/docs/COMPARISONS.md b/docs/COMPARISONS.md
index 0386632..dd7ed7a 100644
--- a/docs/COMPARISONS.md
+++ b/docs/COMPARISONS.md
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ impl Add { async fn run(a: &i32, b: &i32) -> i32 { a + b } }
 let dag = DagRunner::new();
 let x = dag.add_task(Value(2));
 let y = dag.add_task(Value(3));
-let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&x, &y));
+let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((x, y));
 dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 ```
 
diff --git a/examples/01_basic.rs b/examples/01_basic.rs
index 4034700..6065b42 100644
--- a/examples/01_basic.rs
+++ b/examples/01_basic.rs
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ async fn main() {
     // Step 4: Add source tasks (tasks with no dependencies)
     //
     // add_task() returns a TaskHandle<T> where T is the task's output type
-    let x = dag.add_task(Value::new(2)); // TaskHandle<i32>
-    let y = dag.add_task(Value::new(3)); // TaskHandle<i32>
+    let x = dag.add_task(Value::new(2)).into(); // TaskHandle<i32>
+    let y = dag.add_task(Value::new(3)).into(); // TaskHandle<i32>
 
     // Step 5: Add a task with dependencies
     //
diff --git a/examples/02_fan_out.rs b/examples/02_fan_out.rs
index 2fb6aad..d4f4723 100644
--- a/examples/02_fan_out.rs
+++ b/examples/02_fan_out.rs
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 //!   Squared: 100
 //! ```
 
-use dagx::{task, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{task, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 // Source task with a value field
@@ -131,13 +131,13 @@ async fn main() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Single source task - constructed with ::new()
-    let source = dag.add_task(Source::new(10));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(Source::new(10)).into();
 
     // Multiple downstream tasks consuming the same value
     // Each constructed differently to show flexibility
-    let plus_one = dag.add_task(AddOffset::new(1)).depends_on(&source);
-    let times_two = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(&source);
-    let squared = dag.add_task(Power { exponent: 2 }).depends_on(&source);
+    let plus_one = dag.add_task(AddOffset::new(1)).depends_on(source);
+    let times_two = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(source);
+    let squared = dag.add_task(Power { exponent: 2 }).depends_on(source);
 
     // Run the DAG
     println!("Running fan-out DAG...\n");
diff --git a/examples/03_fan_in.rs b/examples/03_fan_in.rs
index d5fe8f4..b0ae2cf 100644
--- a/examples/03_fan_in.rs
+++ b/examples/03_fan_in.rs
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ async fn main() {
     // Single downstream task consuming all values
     let profile = dag
         .add_task(BuildProfile)
-        .depends_on((&name, &age, &city, &active));
+        .depends_on((name, age, city, active));
 
     // Run the DAG
     println!("Running fan-in DAG...\n");
diff --git a/examples/04_parallel_computation.rs b/examples/04_parallel_computation.rs
index 7329591..abbca1f 100644
--- a/examples/04_parallel_computation.rs
+++ b/examples/04_parallel_computation.rs
@@ -123,9 +123,7 @@ async fn main() -> DagResult<()> {
         let sum3 = dag.add_task(ComputeSum::new(501, 751, WORK_DELAY));
         let sum4 = dag.add_task(ComputeSum::new(751, 1001, WORK_DELAY));
 
-        let total = dag
-            .add_task(Aggregate)
-            .depends_on((&sum1, &sum2, &sum3, &sum4));
+        let total = dag.add_task(Aggregate).depends_on((sum1, sum2, sum3, sum4));
 
         dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
diff --git a/examples/circuit_breaker.rs b/examples/circuit_breaker.rs
index 52fcecf..b2c5f4c 100644
--- a/examples/circuit_breaker.rs
+++ b/examples/circuit_breaker.rs
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ async fn main() {
 
         let fallback5 = dag
             .add_task(FallbackService::new("ServiceCall-5"))
-            .depends_on(&call5);
+            .depends_on(call5);
 
         dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
             .await
diff --git a/examples/complex_dag.rs b/examples/complex_dag.rs
index 12b071c..50810ec 100644
--- a/examples/complex_dag.rs
+++ b/examples/complex_dag.rs
@@ -184,8 +184,8 @@ async fn main() -> DagResult<()> {
     let source_b = dag.add_task(LoadData::new("B"));
 
     // Transform: Process each source (parallel)
-    let transform_a = dag.add_task(Transform::new(2)).depends_on(&source_a);
-    let transform_b = dag.add_task(Transform::new(3)).depends_on(&source_b);
+    let transform_a = dag.add_task(Transform::new(2)).depends_on(source_a);
+    let transform_b = dag.add_task(Transform::new(3)).depends_on(source_b);
 
     // Combine: Merge the transformed datasets
     let combined = dag
diff --git a/examples/conditional_workflow.rs b/examples/conditional_workflow.rs
index c87151f..f9aacfe 100644
--- a/examples/conditional_workflow.rs
+++ b/examples/conditional_workflow.rs
@@ -128,9 +128,9 @@ async fn main() -> DagResult<()> {
     let processed3 = dag.add_task(ValidateAndDouble::new(20)); // Valid: 40
 
     // Categorize each result (also parallel, threshold = 25)
-    let cat1 = dag.add_task(Categorize::new(25)).depends_on(&processed1); // 20 < 25 = "low"
-    let cat2 = dag.add_task(Categorize::new(25)).depends_on(&processed2); // 0 = "invalid"
-    let cat3 = dag.add_task(Categorize::new(25)).depends_on(&processed3); // 40 >= 25 = "high"
+    let cat1 = dag.add_task(Categorize::new(25)).depends_on(processed1); // 20 < 25 = "low"
+    let cat2 = dag.add_task(Categorize::new(25)).depends_on(processed2); // 0 = "invalid"
+    let cat3 = dag.add_task(Categorize::new(25)).depends_on(processed3); // 40 >= 25 = "high"
 
     // Combine results
     let summary = dag
diff --git a/examples/custom_types.rs b/examples/custom_types.rs
index e8ff188..60f8198 100644
--- a/examples/custom_types.rs
+++ b/examples/custom_types.rs
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 //! Validation: Alice is valid (age 30 >= 18)
 //! ```
 
-use dagx::{task, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{task, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 // Custom type - just derive Clone!
@@ -97,15 +97,17 @@ async fn main() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Create a task that produces a custom User type
-    let user_task = dag.add_task(CreateUser {
-        name: "Alice".to_string(),
-        age: 30,
-    });
+    let user_task: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+        .add_task(CreateUser {
+            name: "Alice".to_string(),
+            age: 30,
+        })
+        .into();
 
     // Two different tasks consume the same custom User type
     // dagx automatically handles Arc wrapping, so both tasks get &User
-    let greeting = dag.add_task(GreetUser).depends_on(&user_task);
-    let validation = dag.add_task(ValidateUser).depends_on(&user_task);
+    let greeting = dag.add_task(GreetUser).depends_on(user_task);
+    let validation = dag.add_task(ValidateUser).depends_on(user_task);
 
     // Execute the DAG
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
diff --git a/examples/data_pipeline.rs b/examples/data_pipeline.rs
index afc6187..75b7d9d 100644
--- a/examples/data_pipeline.rs
+++ b/examples/data_pipeline.rs
@@ -191,15 +191,15 @@ async fn main() {
     // Stage 2: Data transformation (with stateful tasks)
     let transformed_1 = dag
         .add_task(DataTransformer::new(1.5))
-        .depends_on(&raw_value_1);
+        .depends_on(raw_value_1);
 
     let transformed_2 = dag
         .add_task(DataTransformer::new(2.0))
-        .depends_on(&raw_value_2);
+        .depends_on(raw_value_2);
 
     let transformed_3 = dag
         .add_task(DataTransformer::new(0.5))
-        .depends_on(&raw_value_3);
+        .depends_on(raw_value_3);
 
     // Stage 3: Statistical analysis (parallel operations on transformed data)
     let sum = dag
diff --git a/examples/debug_tracing.rs b/examples/debug_tracing.rs
index cf9a416..9525f5c 100644
--- a/examples/debug_tracing.rs
+++ b/examples/debug_tracing.rs
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ async fn main() {
         // Aggregate traces
         let summary = dag
             .add_task(TraceAggregator::new(correlation_id))
-            .depends_on((&inventory, &payment, &shipping));
+            .depends_on((inventory, payment, shipping));
 
         // Run the DAG
         dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
diff --git a/examples/error_handling.rs b/examples/error_handling.rs
index 766c511..c6aa7ab 100644
--- a/examples/error_handling.rs
+++ b/examples/error_handling.rs
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ async fn main() {
 
         let input = dag.add_task(StringSource("42"));
 
-        let parsed = dag.add_task(ParseInt).depends_on(&input);
+        let parsed = dag.add_task(ParseInt).depends_on(input);
 
         let validated = dag
             .add_task(ValidateRange { min: 0, max: 100 })
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ async fn main() {
 
         let input = dag.add_task(StringSource("not a number"));
 
-        let parsed = dag.add_task(ParseInt).depends_on(&input);
+        let parsed = dag.add_task(ParseInt).depends_on(input);
 
         let validated = dag
             .add_task(ValidateRange { min: 0, max: 100 })
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ async fn main() {
 
         let input = dag.add_task(StringSource("150"));
 
-        let parsed = dag.add_task(ParseInt).depends_on(&input);
+        let parsed = dag.add_task(ParseInt).depends_on(input);
 
         let validated = dag
             .add_task(ValidateRange { min: 0, max: 100 })
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ async fn main() {
 
         let input = dag.add_task(StringSource("invalid"));
 
-        let parsed = dag.add_task(ParseInt).depends_on(&input);
+        let parsed = dag.add_task(ParseInt).depends_on(input);
 
         let with_fallback = dag
             .add_task(WithFallback { fallback: 0 })
diff --git a/examples/large_dag.rs b/examples/large_dag.rs
index 069caba..d8478cc 100644
--- a/examples/large_dag.rs
+++ b/examples/large_dag.rs
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ async fn main() {
 
         // Verify a few results
         let sum: i32 = tasks
-            .iter()
+            .into_iter()
             .take(10)
             .map(|t| dag.get(t).unwrap())
             .fold(0i32, |acc, x| acc.wrapping_add(x));
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ async fn main() {
 
         // Create a deep chain by combining adjacent task pairs
         let tasks: Vec<_> = (0..100)
-            .map(|i| dag.add_task(Compute { value: i }))
+            .map(|i| dag.add_task(Compute { value: i }).into())
             .collect();
         let mut chain_tasks = vec![];
         for i in 0..99 {
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ async fn main() {
         // Process all levels reducing by combining pairs
         let mut level = 0;
         let mut layer: Vec<dagx::TaskHandle<i32>> =
-            current_level.iter().map(|b| b.into()).collect();
+            current_level.into_iter().map(|b| b.into()).collect();
 
         while layer.len() > 1 {
             level += 1;
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ async fn main() {
 
         // Layer 1: 50 source tasks
         let sources: Vec<_> = (0..50)
-            .map(|i| dag.add_task(Compute { value: i }))
+            .map(|i| dag.add_task(Compute { value: i }).into())
             .collect();
 
         // Layer 2: 50 tasks, each depends on all sources
@@ -361,11 +361,11 @@ async fn main() {
 
         // Verify results are accessible
         let i32_sum: i32 = small_tasks
-            .iter()
+            .into_iter()
             .map(|t| dag.get(t).unwrap())
             .fold(0i32, |acc, x| acc.wrapping_add(x));
         let string_count = string_tasks
-            .iter()
+            .into_iter()
             .map(|t| dag.get(t).unwrap().len())
             .sum::<usize>();
 
diff --git a/examples/parallelism_proof.rs b/examples/parallelism_proof.rs
index a9d5ba7..97e7964 100644
--- a/examples/parallelism_proof.rs
+++ b/examples/parallelism_proof.rs
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ async fn main() {
     let elapsed = start.elapsed();
 
     // Verify all tasks completed correctly
-    for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(task).unwrap(), i as u32);
     }
 
diff --git a/examples/timeout.rs b/examples/timeout.rs
index 78f8198..6e9f9d5 100644
--- a/examples/timeout.rs
+++ b/examples/timeout.rs
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
 //! === Timeout Example Complete ===
 //! ```
 
-use dagx::{task, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{task, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use tokio::time::{sleep, timeout, Duration};
 
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ async fn main() {
             timeout_ms: 200,
         });
 
-        let processed = dag.add_task(ProcessResult).depends_on(&timed);
+        let processed = dag.add_task(ProcessResult).depends_on(timed);
 
         dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
             .await
@@ -241,13 +241,15 @@ async fn main() {
     {
         let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-        let source = dag.add_task(TaskWithTimeout {
-            work_duration_ms: 500,
-            timeout_ms: 100,
-        });
+        let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+            .add_task(TaskWithTimeout {
+                work_duration_ms: 500,
+                timeout_ms: 100,
+            })
+            .into();
 
-        let processed1 = dag.add_task(ProcessResult).depends_on(&source);
-        let processed2 = dag.add_task(ProcessResult).depends_on(&source);
+        let processed1 = dag.add_task(ProcessResult).depends_on(source);
+        let processed2 = dag.add_task(ProcessResult).depends_on(source);
 
         dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
             .await
diff --git a/examples/tracing_example.rs b/examples/tracing_example.rs
index 6eaec33..96cb5b1 100644
--- a/examples/tracing_example.rs
+++ b/examples/tracing_example.rs
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ async fn main() {
         let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
         // Layer 0: Source
-        let source = dag.add_task(Value(10));
+        let source = dag.add_task(Value(10)).into();
 
         // Layer 1: Two parallel computations
         let left = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&source, &source));
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ async fn main() {
 
         // Create a linear chain - each layer has only one task
         // This should trigger inline execution optimization
-        let a = dag.add_task(Value(1));
+        let a = dag.add_task(Value(1)).into();
         let b = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&a, &a));
         let c = dag.add_task(Multiply).depends_on((&b, &b));
         let d = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&c, &c));
@@ -132,10 +132,10 @@ async fn main() {
         let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
         // Layer 0: Multiple sources
-        let v1 = dag.add_task(Value(1));
-        let v2 = dag.add_task(Value(2));
-        let v3 = dag.add_task(Value(3));
-        let v4 = dag.add_task(Value(4));
+        let v1 = dag.add_task(Value(1)).into();
+        let v2 = dag.add_task(Value(2)).into();
+        let v3 = dag.add_task(Value(3)).into();
+        let v4 = dag.add_task(Value(4)).into();
 
         // Layer 1: Multiple parallel computations
         let sum12 = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&v1, &v2));
diff --git a/src/builder.rs b/src/builder.rs
index 8818db3..ab339ec 100644
--- a/src/builder.rs
+++ b/src/builder.rs
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ impl IsUnitType for () {}
 /// let b = dag.add_task(Multiplier::new(2));
 /// // b is TaskBuilder<_, Pending> until we call depends_on()
 ///
-/// let b = b.depends_on(&a);
+/// let b = b.depends_on(a);
 /// // Now b is a TaskHandle<i32>
 ///
 /// dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await.unwrap();
-/// assert_eq!(dag.get(&b).unwrap(), 20);
+/// assert_eq!(dag.get(b).unwrap(), 20);
 /// # };
 /// ```
 pub struct TaskBuilder<'a, Tk: Task, Deps> {
@@ -118,14 +118,14 @@ impl<'a, Tk: Task, Deps> TaskBuilder<'a, Tk, Deps> {
     /// # async {
     /// let dag = DagRunner::new();
     ///
-    /// let x = dag.add_task(Value(2));
+    /// let x = dag.add_task(Value(2)).into();
     /// let y = dag.add_task(Value(3));
     ///
     /// // Single dependency
     /// let double = dag.add_task(Scale(2)).depends_on(&x);
     ///
     /// // Multiple dependencies: tuple form
-    /// let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&x, &y));
+    /// let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&x, y));
     ///
     /// dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await.unwrap();
     /// # };
@@ -169,7 +169,3 @@ impl<'a, Tk: Task, Deps> TaskBuilder<'a, Tk, Deps> {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
-
-// Note: We cannot safely implement AsRef<TaskHandle<Tk::Output>> for TaskBuilder<Tk, Deps>
-// because Handle is Copy and returning a reference to a temporary would be unsound.
-// Instead, users should use From/Into conversions or call .into() explicitly.
diff --git a/src/builder/tests.rs b/src/builder/tests.rs
index 7aef57f..c9aca0d 100644
--- a/src/builder/tests.rs
+++ b/src/builder/tests.rs
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ fn test_task_builder_depends_on_returns_handle() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let source = dag.add_task(TestTask { value: 10 });
-    let dependent = dag.add_task(TestTaskWithInput).depends_on(&source);
+    let dependent = dag.add_task(TestTaskWithInput).depends_on(source);
 
     // depends_on should return a TaskHandle
     let _handle: TaskHandle<i32> = dependent;
@@ -87,12 +87,12 @@ fn test_task_builder_chain() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Test chaining multiple tasks
-    let t1 = dag.add_task(TestTask { value: 1 });
-    let t2 = dag.add_task(TestTaskWithInput).depends_on(&t1);
+    let t1 = dag.add_task(TestTask { value: 1 }).into();
+    let t2 = dag.add_task(TestTaskWithInput).depends_on(t1);
     let t3 = dag.add_task(TestTaskWithInput).depends_on(t2);
 
     // All should return TaskHandles
-    let _: TaskHandle<i32> = t1.into();
+    let _: TaskHandle<i32> = t1;
     let _: TaskHandle<i32> = t2;
     let _: TaskHandle<i32> = t3;
 }
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ fn test_multiple_dependencies() {
     let b = dag.add_task(TestTask { value: 20 });
 
     // Test multiple dependencies
-    let sum = dag.add_task(AddTask).depends_on((&a, &b));
+    let sum = dag.add_task(AddTask).depends_on((a, b));
 
     // Should return a TaskHandle
     let _: TaskHandle<i32> = sum;
diff --git a/src/deps.rs b/src/deps.rs
index d2497ce..5d70b36 100644
--- a/src/deps.rs
+++ b/src/deps.rs
@@ -11,52 +11,60 @@ use crate::builder::TaskBuilder;
 use crate::task::Task;
 use crate::types::{NodeId, TaskHandle};
 
+trait IntoNodeRef {
+    type Output;
+    fn into_node_ref(self) -> NodeId;
+}
+
+impl<T> IntoNodeRef for &TaskHandle<T> {
+    type Output = T;
+    fn into_node_ref(self) -> NodeId {
+        self.id
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> IntoNodeRef for TaskHandle<T> {
+    type Output = T;
+    fn into_node_ref(self) -> NodeId {
+        self.id
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'runner, Tk: Task, Deps> IntoNodeRef for TaskBuilder<'runner, Tk, Deps> {
+    type Output = Tk::Output;
+
+    fn into_node_ref(self) -> NodeId {
+        self.id
+    }
+}
+
 pub(crate) trait DepsTuple<Input> {
-    fn to_node_ids(&self) -> Vec<NodeId>;
+    fn to_node_ids(self) -> Vec<NodeId>;
 }
 
 // Implementation for unit (no dependencies)
 impl DepsTuple<()> for () {
-    fn to_node_ids(&self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
+    fn to_node_ids(self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
         Vec::new()
     }
 }
 
 // Implementation for single dependency (all forms)
-impl<T> DepsTuple<T> for &TaskHandle<T> {
-    fn to_node_ids(&self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
-        vec![self.id]
+impl<T> DepsTuple<T::Output> for T
+where
+    T: IntoNodeRef,
+{
+    fn to_node_ids(self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
+        vec![self.into_node_ref()]
     }
 }
 
-impl<T> DepsTuple<T> for TaskHandle<T> {
-    fn to_node_ids(&self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
-        vec![self.id]
-    }
-}
-
-impl<T> DepsTuple<T> for (&TaskHandle<T>,) {
-    fn to_node_ids(&self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
-        vec![self.0.id]
-    }
-}
-
-impl<T> DepsTuple<T> for (TaskHandle<T>,) {
-    fn to_node_ids(&self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
-        vec![self.0.id]
-    }
-}
-
-// Support for &TaskBuilder
-impl<'a, Tk: Task, Deps> DepsTuple<Tk::Output> for &TaskBuilder<'a, Tk, Deps> {
-    fn to_node_ids(&self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
-        vec![self.id]
-    }
-}
-
-impl<'a, Tk: Task, Deps> DepsTuple<Tk::Output> for (&TaskBuilder<'a, Tk, Deps>,) {
-    fn to_node_ids(&self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
-        vec![self.0.id]
+impl<T> DepsTuple<T::Output> for (T,)
+where
+    T: IntoNodeRef,
+{
+    fn to_node_ids(self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
+        vec![self.0.into_node_ref()]
     }
 }
 
@@ -65,10 +73,6 @@ impl<'a, Tk: Task, Deps> DepsTuple<Tk::Output> for (&TaskBuilder<'a, Tk, Deps>,)
 /// This macro exists because Rust lacks variadic generics - we need separate implementations
 /// for each tuple size.
 ///
-/// For each tuple size, generates two implementations:
-/// - `(&TaskHandle<A>, &TaskHandle<B>, ...)` → `DepsTuple<(A, B, ...)>`
-/// - `(&TaskBuilder<TkA, _>, &TaskBuilder<TkB, _>, ...)` → `DepsTuple<(TkA::Output, TkB::Output, ...)>`
-///
 /// This allows flexible dependency specification:
 /// ```ignore
 /// // Using handles
@@ -78,37 +82,27 @@ impl<'a, Tk: Task, Deps> DepsTuple<Tk::Output> for (&TaskBuilder<'a, Tk, Deps>,)
 /// task.depends_on((&dag.add_task(TaskA), &dag.add_task(TaskB)))
 /// ```
 macro_rules! impl_deps_tuple {
-    ($($T:ident : $Tk:ident : $D:ident),+) => {
-        // For &TaskHandle tuples
-        impl<$($T),+> DepsTuple<($($T,)+)> for ($(&TaskHandle<$T>,)+) {
+    ($($T:ident),+) => {
+        // For tuples of any combination of &TaskHandle, TaskHandle, and TaskBuilder
+        impl<$($T: IntoNodeRef),+> DepsTuple<($($T::Output,)+)> for ($($T,)+) {
             #[allow(non_snake_case)]
-            fn to_node_ids(&self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
+            fn to_node_ids(self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
                 let ($($T,)+) = self;
-                vec![$($T.id,)+]
-            }
-        }
-
-        // For &TaskBuilder tuples
-        impl<'a, $($Tk: Task, $D),+> DepsTuple<($($Tk::Output,)+)> for ($(&TaskBuilder<'a, $Tk, $D>,)+) {
-            #[allow(non_snake_case)]
-            fn to_node_ids(&self) -> Vec<NodeId> {
-                let ($($T,)+) = self;
-                vec![$($T.id,)+]
+                vec![$($T.into_node_ref(),)+]
             }
         }
     };
 }
 
 // Generate DepsTuple implementations for tuples of size 2-8.
-// Each invocation generates 2 implementations (TaskHandle refs and TaskBuilder refs).
 // Supporting up to 8 elements covers the vast majority of use cases.
-impl_deps_tuple!(A:TkA:DA, B:TkB:DB);
-impl_deps_tuple!(A:TkA:DA, B:TkB:DB, C:TkC:DC);
-impl_deps_tuple!(A:TkA:DA, B:TkB:DB, C:TkC:DC, D:TkD:DD);
-impl_deps_tuple!(A:TkA:DA, B:TkB:DB, C:TkC:DC, D:TkD:DD, E:TkE:DE);
-impl_deps_tuple!(A:TkA:DA, B:TkB:DB, C:TkC:DC, D:TkD:DD, E:TkE:DE, F:TkF:DF);
-impl_deps_tuple!(A:TkA:DA, B:TkB:DB, C:TkC:DC, D:TkD:DD, E:TkE:DE, F:TkF:DF, G:TkG:DG);
-impl_deps_tuple!(A:TkA:DA, B:TkB:DB, C:TkC:DC, D:TkD:DD, E:TkE:DE, F:TkF:DF, G:TkG:DG, H:TkH:DH);
+impl_deps_tuple!(T1, T2);
+impl_deps_tuple!(T1, T2, T3);
+impl_deps_tuple!(T1, T2, T3, T4);
+impl_deps_tuple!(T1, T2, T3, T4, T5);
+impl_deps_tuple!(T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6);
+impl_deps_tuple!(T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7);
+impl_deps_tuple!(T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8);
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
diff --git a/src/deps/tests.rs b/src/deps/tests.rs
index 60ae5d0..a22e328 100644
--- a/src/deps/tests.rs
+++ b/src/deps/tests.rs
@@ -91,12 +91,13 @@ fn test_deps_tuple_task_builder_ref() {
     // Test lines 51-55 in deps.rs - &TaskBuilder
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
     let builder = dag.add_task(TestTask { value: 42 });
+    let builder_id = builder.id;
 
     // We need to test the DepsTuple implementation directly
     // The builder has an id field we can check
-    let node_ids = (&builder).to_node_ids();
+    let node_ids = builder.to_node_ids();
     assert_eq!(node_ids.len(), 1);
-    assert_eq!(node_ids[0], builder.id);
+    assert_eq!(node_ids[0], builder_id);
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -104,10 +105,11 @@ fn test_deps_tuple_task_builder_tuple() {
     // Test lines 57-61 in deps.rs - (&TaskBuilder,)
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
     let builder = dag.add_task(TestTask { value: 100 });
+    let builder_id = builder.id;
 
-    let node_ids = (&builder,).to_node_ids();
+    let node_ids = (builder,).to_node_ids();
     assert_eq!(node_ids.len(), 1);
-    assert_eq!(node_ids[0], builder.id);
+    assert_eq!(node_ids[0], builder_id);
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -145,21 +147,18 @@ fn test_deps_tuple_multiple_builders() {
     // Test macro-generated implementations for multiple builders
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
     let builder1 = dag.add_task(TestTask { value: 10 });
+    let builder1_id = builder1.id;
     let builder2 = dag.add_task(TestTask { value: 20 });
+    let builder2_id = builder2.id;
     let builder3 = dag.add_task(TestTask { value: 30 });
-
-    // Test 2-tuple of builders
-    let node_ids = (&builder1, &builder2).to_node_ids();
-    assert_eq!(node_ids.len(), 2);
-    assert_eq!(node_ids[0], builder1.id);
-    assert_eq!(node_ids[1], builder2.id);
+    let builder3_id = builder3.id;
 
     // Test 3-tuple of builders
-    let node_ids = (&builder1, &builder2, &builder3).to_node_ids();
+    let node_ids = (builder1, builder2, builder3).to_node_ids();
     assert_eq!(node_ids.len(), 3);
-    assert_eq!(node_ids[0], builder1.id);
-    assert_eq!(node_ids[1], builder2.id);
-    assert_eq!(node_ids[2], builder3.id);
+    assert_eq!(node_ids[0], builder1_id);
+    assert_eq!(node_ids[1], builder2_id);
+    assert_eq!(node_ids[2], builder3_id);
 }
 
 #[test]
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 73b5f83..938ecdf 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 //! # Quick Start
 //!
 //! ```no_run
-//! use dagx::{task, DagRunner, Task};
+//! use dagx::{task, DagRunner, Task, TaskHandle};
 //! use futures::FutureExt; // for FutureExt::map
 //!
 //! // Source task with read-only state (tuple struct)
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@
 //!
 //! // Add source tasks
 //! let x = dag.add_task(Value(2));
-//! let y = dag.add_task(Value(3));
+//! let y: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(Value(3)).into(); // Allows y to be reused as a dependency
 //!
 //! // Add task with dependencies
-//! let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&x, &y));
+//! let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((x, &y));
 //!
 //! // Execute and retrieve results
 //! dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await.unwrap();
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
 //! # async {
 //! # let dag = DagRunner::new();
 //! # let source = dag.add_task(Value(42));
-//! let doubled = dag.add_task(Double).depends_on(&source);
+//! let doubled = dag.add_task(Double).depends_on(source);
 //! # };
 //! ```
 //!
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@
 //! # let dag = DagRunner::new();
 //! # let x = dag.add_task(Value(2));
 //! # let y = dag.add_task(Value(3));
-//! let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&x, &y));
+//! let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((x, y));
 //! # };
 //! ```
 //!
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@
 //! # async {
 //! let dag = DagRunner::new();
 //!
-//! let base = dag.add_task(Value(10));
+//! let base = dag.add_task(Value(10)).into();
 //! let plus1 = dag.add_task(Add(1)).depends_on(&base);
 //! let times2 = dag.add_task(Scale(2)).depends_on(&base);
 //!
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@
 //! let name = dag.add_task(Name("Alice".to_string()));
 //! let age = dag.add_task(Age(30));
 //! let active = dag.add_task(Active(true));
-//! let result = dag.add_task(FormatUser).depends_on((&name, &age, &active));
+//! let result = dag.add_task(FormatUser).depends_on((name, age, active));
 //!
 //! dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await.unwrap();
 //!
@@ -424,12 +424,12 @@
 //!
 //! // Layer 1: Sources
 //! let x = dag.add_task(Value(2));
-//! let y = dag.add_task(Value(3));
+//! let y = dag.add_task(Value(3)).into();
 //! let z = dag.add_task(Value(5));
 //!
 //! // Layer 2: Intermediate computations
-//! let sum_xy = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&x, &y));  // 2 + 3 = 5
-//! let prod_yz = dag.add_task(Multiply).depends_on((&y, &z)); // 3 * 5 = 15
+//! let sum_xy = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((x, &y));  // 2 + 3 = 5
+//! let prod_yz = dag.add_task(Multiply).depends_on((&y, z)); // 3 * 5 = 15
 //!
 //! // Layer 3: Final result
 //! let total = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&sum_xy, &prod_yz)); // 5 + 15 = 20
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@
 //! let dag = DagRunner::new();
 //!
 //! let user = dag.add_task(CreateUser);
-//! let formatted = dag.add_task(FormatUser).depends_on(&user);
+//! let formatted = dag.add_task(FormatUser).depends_on(user);
 //!
 //! dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await.unwrap();
 //!
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@
 //!
 //! # async {
 //! let dag = DagRunner::new();
-//! let data = dag.add_task(FetchData);
+//! let data = dag.add_task(FetchData).into();
 //!
 //! // All three tasks get efficient Arc-wrapped sharing automatically
 //! let task1 = dag.add_task(ProcessData).depends_on(&data);
diff --git a/src/runner.rs b/src/runner.rs
index 1a30457..faa9da9 100644
--- a/src/runner.rs
+++ b/src/runner.rs
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ impl<'a> Drop for RunGuard<'a> {
 /// // Construct instances using ::new() pattern
 /// let x = dag.add_task(LoadValue::new(2));
 /// let y = dag.add_task(LoadValue::new(3));
-/// let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&x, &y));
+/// let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((x, y));
 ///
 /// dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await.unwrap();
 ///
@@ -190,10 +190,10 @@ impl DagRunner {
     /// let base = dag.add_task(LoadValue::new(10));
     ///
     /// // Construct task with offset of 1
-    /// let inc = dag.add_task(AddOffset::new(1)).depends_on(&base);
+    /// let inc = dag.add_task(AddOffset::new(1)).depends_on(base);
     ///
     /// dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await.unwrap();
-    /// assert_eq!(dag.get(&inc).unwrap(), 11);
+    /// assert_eq!(dag.get(inc).unwrap(), 11);
     /// # };
     /// ```
     pub fn add_task<Tk>(&self, task: Tk) -> TaskBuilder<'_, Tk, Pending>
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ impl DagRunner {
     ///
     /// let a = dag.add_task(Value(1));
     /// let b = dag.add_task(Value(2));
-    /// let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&a, &b));
+    /// let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((a, b));
     ///
     /// dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await.unwrap(); // Executes all tasks
     /// # };
diff --git a/src/runner/tests.rs b/src/runner/tests.rs
index 51fd191..4ffae00 100644
--- a/src/runner/tests.rs
+++ b/src/runner/tests.rs
@@ -190,16 +190,16 @@ async fn test_multiple_get_calls() {
     init_tracing();
     // Test that get() can be called multiple times for the same handle
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let handle = dag.add_task(TestTask { value: 100 });
+    let handle: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(TestTask { value: 100 }).into();
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
         .unwrap();
 
     // Multiple get calls should all return the same value
-    let result1 = dag.get(&handle).unwrap();
-    let result2 = dag.get(&handle).unwrap();
-    let result3 = dag.get(&handle).unwrap();
+    let result1 = dag.get(handle).unwrap();
+    let result2 = dag.get(handle).unwrap();
+    let result3 = dag.get(handle).unwrap();
 
     assert_eq!(result1, 100);
     assert_eq!(result2, 100);
@@ -264,11 +264,11 @@ async fn test_task_panic_in_multi_task_layer() {
     }
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let source = dag.add_task(Source);
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(Source).into();
 
     // Create two tasks in the same layer - one panics, one doesn't
-    let _panic_task = dag.add_task(PanicTask).depends_on(&source);
-    let _good_task = dag.add_task(GoodTask).depends_on(&source);
+    let _panic_task = dag.add_task(PanicTask).depends_on(source);
+    let _good_task = dag.add_task(GoodTask).depends_on(source);
 
     // Run the DAG - the panic should be caught
     let result = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
diff --git a/src/types.rs b/src/types.rs
index 70a1467..4c6b115 100644
--- a/src/types.rs
+++ b/src/types.rs
@@ -75,18 +75,6 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl<'a, Tk: Task, Deps> From<&TaskBuilder<'a, Tk, Deps>> for TaskHandle<Tk::Output>
-where
-    Tk::Input: IsUnitType,
-{
-    fn from(node: &TaskBuilder<'a, Tk, Deps>) -> Self {
-        TaskHandle {
-            id: node.id,
-            _phantom: std::marker::PhantomData,
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 // TaskHandle can be converted from &TaskHandle (for .get() calls)
 impl<T> From<&TaskHandle<T>> for TaskHandle<T> {
     fn from(handle: &TaskHandle<T>) -> Self {
diff --git a/src/types/tests.rs b/src/types/tests.rs
index 2a63044..862121c 100644
--- a/src/types/tests.rs
+++ b/src/types/tests.rs
@@ -147,25 +147,3 @@ fn test_task_handle_ref_from_conversion() {
     assert_eq!(converted.id.0, 123);
     assert_eq!(handle.id, converted.id);
 }
-
-#[test]
-fn test_task_builder_ref_from_conversion() {
-    use crate::runner::DagRunner;
-
-    // Test From<&TaskBuilder> for TaskHandle (line 77-87, specifically line 83)
-    struct SimpleTask2;
-    #[crate::task]
-    impl SimpleTask2 {
-        async fn run(&self) -> String {
-            "test".to_string()
-        }
-    }
-
-    let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let builder = dag.add_task(SimpleTask2);
-    let builder_id = builder.id;
-
-    // This conversion uses the From<&TaskBuilder> implementation
-    let handle: TaskHandle<String> = (&builder).into();
-    assert_eq!(handle.id, builder_id);
-}
diff --git a/tests/arc_tests.rs b/tests/arc_tests.rs
index 7ea5420..95b360e 100644
--- a/tests/arc_tests.rs
+++ b/tests/arc_tests.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 //!
 //! These tests serve as both validation and documentation for proper Arc usage.
 
-use dagx::{task, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{task, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ async fn test_arc_basic_pipeline() {
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
     let producer = dag.add_task(Producer);
-    let consumer = dag.add_task(Consumer).depends_on(&producer);
+    let consumer = dag.add_task(Consumer).depends_on(producer);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ async fn test_arc_with_primitives() {
     let bool_prod = dag.add_task(BoolProducer);
     let consumer = dag
         .add_task(AllConsumer)
-        .depends_on((&i32_prod, &f64_prod, &bool_prod));
+        .depends_on((i32_prod, f64_prod, bool_prod));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ async fn test_arc_with_collections() {
     let set_prod = dag.add_task(SetProducer);
     let consumer = dag
         .add_task(CollectionConsumer)
-        .depends_on((&vec_prod, &map_prod, &set_prod));
+        .depends_on((vec_prod, map_prod, set_prod));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -240,10 +240,10 @@ async fn test_arc_with_custom_structs() {
     }
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let person_prod = dag.add_task(PersonProducer);
-    let name_ext = dag.add_task(NameExtractor).depends_on(&person_prod);
-    let age_ext = dag.add_task(AgeExtractor).depends_on(&person_prod);
-    let email_ext = dag.add_task(EmailCountExtractor).depends_on(&person_prod);
+    let person_prod: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(PersonProducer).into();
+    let name_ext = dag.add_task(NameExtractor).depends_on(person_prod);
+    let age_ext = dag.add_task(AgeExtractor).depends_on(person_prod);
+    let email_ext = dag.add_task(EmailCountExtractor).depends_on(person_prod);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -306,10 +306,10 @@ async fn test_arc_fan_out_three_consumers() {
     }
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let producer = dag.add_task(DataProducer);
-    let c1 = dag.add_task(CountConsumer).depends_on(&producer);
-    let c2 = dag.add_task(FirstConsumer).depends_on(&producer);
-    let c3 = dag.add_task(JoinConsumer).depends_on(&producer);
+    let producer: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(DataProducer).into();
+    let c1 = dag.add_task(CountConsumer).depends_on(producer);
+    let c2 = dag.add_task(FirstConsumer).depends_on(producer);
+    let c3 = dag.add_task(JoinConsumer).depends_on(producer);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -378,12 +378,12 @@ async fn test_arc_fan_out_five_consumers_large_data() {
     }
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let producer = dag.add_task(LargeDataProducer);
-    let c1 = dag.add_task(First100Analyzer).depends_on(&producer);
-    let c2 = dag.add_task(Last100Analyzer).depends_on(&producer);
-    let c3 = dag.add_task(LongestFinder).depends_on(&producer);
-    let c4 = dag.add_task(PatternCounter).depends_on(&producer);
-    let c5 = dag.add_task(TotalBytesComputer).depends_on(&producer);
+    let producer: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(LargeDataProducer).into();
+    let c1 = dag.add_task(First100Analyzer).depends_on(producer);
+    let c2 = dag.add_task(Last100Analyzer).depends_on(producer);
+    let c3 = dag.add_task(LongestFinder).depends_on(producer);
+    let c4 = dag.add_task(PatternCounter).depends_on(producer);
+    let c5 = dag.add_task(TotalBytesComputer).depends_on(producer);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -467,9 +467,9 @@ async fn test_arc_nested_fan_out_tree() {
     }
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let root = dag.add_task(RootProducer);
-    let l1_sum = dag.add_task(Level1Sum).depends_on(&root);
-    let l1_prod = dag.add_task(Level1Product).depends_on(&root);
+    let root: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(RootProducer).into();
+    let l1_sum = dag.add_task(Level1Sum).depends_on(root);
+    let l1_prod = dag.add_task(Level1Product).depends_on(root);
     let l2_double = dag.add_task(Level2Double).depends_on(l1_sum);
     let l2_square = dag.add_task(Level2Square).depends_on(l1_sum);
     let l2_negate = dag.add_task(Level2Negate).depends_on(l1_prod);
@@ -536,10 +536,10 @@ async fn test_arc_performance_vs_clone() {
     }
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let producer = dag.add_task(LargeProducer);
-    let p1 = dag.add_task(Process1).depends_on(&producer);
-    let p2 = dag.add_task(Process2).depends_on(&producer);
-    let p3 = dag.add_task(Process3).depends_on(&producer);
+    let producer: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(LargeProducer).into();
+    let p1 = dag.add_task(Process1).depends_on(producer);
+    let p2 = dag.add_task(Process2).depends_on(producer);
+    let p3 = dag.add_task(Process3).depends_on(producer);
 
     let start = Instant::now();
 
@@ -625,8 +625,8 @@ async fn test_arc_with_result() {
     let result_arc_ok = dag.add_task(ResultArcOk);
     let arc_result_err = dag.add_task(ArcResultErr);
 
-    let consumer1 = dag.add_task(ArcResultConsumer).depends_on(&arc_result_ok);
-    let consumer2 = dag.add_task(ResultArcConsumer).depends_on(&result_arc_ok);
+    let consumer1 = dag.add_task(ArcResultConsumer).depends_on(arc_result_ok);
+    let consumer2 = dag.add_task(ResultArcConsumer).depends_on(result_arc_ok);
 
     // Create a new instance for the error case
     struct ArcResultConsumer2;
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ async fn test_arc_with_result() {
         }
     }
 
-    let consumer3 = dag.add_task(ArcResultConsumer2).depends_on(&arc_result_err);
+    let consumer3 = dag.add_task(ArcResultConsumer2).depends_on(arc_result_err);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -745,10 +745,10 @@ async fn test_arc_with_option() {
     let opt_arc_some = dag.add_task(OptionArcSome);
     let opt_arc_none = dag.add_task(OptionArcNone);
 
-    let c1 = dag.add_task(ArcOptionConsumer1).depends_on(&arc_opt_some);
-    let c2 = dag.add_task(ArcOptionConsumer2).depends_on(&arc_opt_none);
-    let c3 = dag.add_task(OptionArcConsumer1).depends_on(&opt_arc_some);
-    let c4 = dag.add_task(OptionArcConsumer2).depends_on(&opt_arc_none);
+    let c1 = dag.add_task(ArcOptionConsumer1).depends_on(arc_opt_some);
+    let c2 = dag.add_task(ArcOptionConsumer2).depends_on(arc_opt_none);
+    let c3 = dag.add_task(OptionArcConsumer1).depends_on(opt_arc_some);
+    let c4 = dag.add_task(OptionArcConsumer2).depends_on(opt_arc_none);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -800,9 +800,9 @@ async fn test_arc_diamond_dependency() {
     }
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let top = dag.add_task(Top);
-    let left = dag.add_task(LeftBranch).depends_on(&top);
-    let right = dag.add_task(RightBranch).depends_on(&top);
+    let top: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(Top).into();
+    let left = dag.add_task(LeftBranch).depends_on(top);
+    let right = dag.add_task(RightBranch).depends_on(top);
     let bottom = dag.add_task(Bottom).depends_on((&left, &right));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ async fn test_arc_empty_collections() {
     let map_task = dag.add_task(EmptyHashMap);
     let consumer = dag
         .add_task(EmptyConsumer)
-        .depends_on((&vec_task, &string_task, &map_task));
+        .depends_on((vec_task, string_task, map_task));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -938,11 +938,11 @@ async fn test_arc_very_large_data() {
     }
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let producer = dag.add_task(HugeProducer);
-    let counter = dag.add_task(ItemCounter).depends_on(&producer);
-    let first = dag.add_task(FirstSampler).depends_on(&producer);
-    let last = dag.add_task(LastSampler).depends_on(&producer);
-    let middle = dag.add_task(MiddleSampler).depends_on(&producer);
+    let producer: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(HugeProducer).into();
+    let counter = dag.add_task(ItemCounter).depends_on(producer);
+    let first = dag.add_task(FirstSampler).depends_on(producer);
+    let last = dag.add_task(LastSampler).depends_on(producer);
+    let middle = dag.add_task(MiddleSampler).depends_on(producer);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -979,7 +979,7 @@ async fn test_arc_of_arc() {
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
     let producer = dag.add_task(NestedProducer);
-    let consumer = dag.add_task(NestedConsumer).depends_on(&producer);
+    let consumer = dag.add_task(NestedConsumer).depends_on(producer);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -1037,13 +1037,13 @@ async fn test_arc_mixed_with_non_arc() {
     }
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let arc_prod = dag.add_task(ArcProducer);
-    let non_arc_prod = dag.add_task(NonArcProducer);
+    let arc_prod = dag.add_task(ArcProducer).into();
+    let non_arc_prod = dag.add_task(NonArcProducer).into();
     let mixed = dag
         .add_task(MixedConsumer)
         .depends_on((&arc_prod, &non_arc_prod));
-    let unwrap = dag.add_task(Unwrapper).depends_on(&arc_prod);
-    let wrap = dag.add_task(Wrapper).depends_on(&non_arc_prod);
+    let unwrap = dag.add_task(Unwrapper).depends_on(arc_prod);
+    let wrap = dag.add_task(Wrapper).depends_on(non_arc_prod);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -1106,10 +1106,10 @@ async fn test_arc_parallel_execution() {
     }
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
-    let producer = dag.add_task(SharedProducer);
-    let t1 = dag.add_task(ParallelTask1).depends_on(&producer);
-    let t2 = dag.add_task(ParallelTask2).depends_on(&producer);
-    let t3 = dag.add_task(ParallelTask3).depends_on(&producer);
+    let producer: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(SharedProducer).into();
+    let t1 = dag.add_task(ParallelTask1).depends_on(producer);
+    let t2 = dag.add_task(ParallelTask2).depends_on(producer);
+    let t3 = dag.add_task(ParallelTask3).depends_on(producer);
 
     let start = Instant::now();
 
@@ -1160,7 +1160,7 @@ async fn test_arc_reference_counting() {
 
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
     let producer = dag.add_task(RefCountProducer);
-    let checker = dag.add_task(RefCountChecker).depends_on(&producer);
+    let checker = dag.add_task(RefCountChecker).depends_on(producer);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -1223,16 +1223,18 @@ async fn test_arc_massive_fanout_performance_comparison() {
     }
 
     let dag_without_arc = DagRunner::new();
-    let producer = dag_without_arc.add_task(ProducerWithoutArc {
-        data: random_data.clone(),
-    });
+    let producer: TaskHandle<_> = dag_without_arc
+        .add_task(ProducerWithoutArc {
+            data: random_data.clone(),
+        })
+        .into();
 
     // Create consumer tasks for fan-out pattern
     let consumers_without_arc: Vec<_> = (0..FAN_OUT_COUNT)
         .map(|_| {
             dag_without_arc
                 .add_task(ConsumerWithoutArc)
-                .depends_on(&producer)
+                .depends_on(producer)
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -1275,16 +1277,18 @@ async fn test_arc_massive_fanout_performance_comparison() {
     }
 
     let dag_with_arc = DagRunner::new();
-    let producer_arc = dag_with_arc.add_task(ProducerWithArc {
-        data: random_data.clone(),
-    });
+    let producer_arc: TaskHandle<_> = dag_with_arc
+        .add_task(ProducerWithArc {
+            data: random_data.clone(),
+        })
+        .into();
 
     // Create consumer tasks for fan-out pattern
     let consumers_with_arc: Vec<_> = (0..FAN_OUT_COUNT)
         .map(|_| {
             dag_with_arc
                 .add_task(ConsumerWithArc)
-                .depends_on(&producer_arc)
+                .depends_on(producer_arc)
         })
         .collect();
 
diff --git a/tests/boundaries/deep_chains.rs b/tests/boundaries/deep_chains.rs
index 28fb521..26d0826 100644
--- a/tests/boundaries/deep_chains.rs
+++ b/tests/boundaries/deep_chains.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ async fn test_1000_level_deep_chain() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let first = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 0 }));
-    let mut current = (&first).into(); // Convert to TaskHandle
+    let mut current = first.into(); // Convert to TaskHandle
 
     for _i in 1..1000 {
         current = dag
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ async fn test_deep_chain_with_branches() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let first = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 0 }));
-    let mut main_chain: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&first).into();
+    let mut main_chain: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = first.into();
     let mut branches = Vec::new();
 
     for i in 1..500 {
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ async fn test_multiple_parallel_deep_chains() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     for chain_id in 0..8 {
         let first = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { chain_id * 1000 }));
-        let mut current: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&first).into();
+        let mut current: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = first.into();
 
         for _ in 0..500 {
             current = dag
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ async fn test_deep_chain_execution_order() -> DagResult<()> {
             }
         }
     }));
-    let mut current: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&first).into();
+    let mut current: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = first.into();
 
     for expected in 1..100 {
         current = dag
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ async fn test_deep_binary_tree() -> DagResult<()> {
     fn build_tree(dag: &DagRunner, depth: usize, value: i32) -> dagx::TaskHandle<i32> {
         if depth == 0 {
             let task = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { value }));
-            (&task).into() // Convert TaskBuilder to TaskHandle
+            task.into() // Convert TaskBuilder to TaskHandle
         } else {
             let left = build_tree(dag, depth - 1, value * 2);
             let right = build_tree(dag, depth - 1, value * 2 + 1);
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@ async fn test_fibonacci_chain() -> DagResult<()> {
     let f0_builder = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 0i64 }));
     let f1_builder = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1i64 }));
 
-    let mut prev2: dagx::TaskHandle<i64> = (&f0_builder).into();
-    let mut prev1: dagx::TaskHandle<i64> = (&f1_builder).into();
+    let mut prev2: dagx::TaskHandle<i64> = f0_builder.into();
+    let mut prev1: dagx::TaskHandle<i64> = f1_builder.into();
 
     for _ in 2..50 {
         let next = dag
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ async fn test_deep_chain_with_accumulator() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     // Use a simpler accumulation pattern - just sum
     let first = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 0i64 }));
-    let mut current: dagx::TaskHandle<i64> = (&first).into();
+    let mut current: dagx::TaskHandle<i64> = first.into();
 
     for i in 1..=200 {
         current = dag
@@ -250,8 +250,8 @@ async fn test_zigzag_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
     let a_first = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 }));
     let b_first = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 2 }));
 
-    let mut chain_a: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&a_first).into();
-    let mut chain_b: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&b_first).into();
+    let mut chain_a: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = a_first.into();
+    let mut chain_b: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = b_first.into();
 
     for i in 0..100 {
         if i % 2 == 0 {
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ async fn test_10000_level_chain_stress() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let first = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 0u64 }));
-    let mut current: dagx::TaskHandle<u64> = (&first).into();
+    let mut current: dagx::TaskHandle<u64> = first.into();
 
     for _ in 1..10_000 {
         current = dag
diff --git a/tests/boundaries/large_scale.rs b/tests/boundaries/large_scale.rs
index 36c5e01..6e32c2b 100644
--- a/tests/boundaries/large_scale.rs
+++ b/tests/boundaries/large_scale.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ async fn test_10000_independent_tasks() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     let counter = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
 
-    let tasks: Vec<_> = (0..10_000)
+    let mut tasks: Vec<_> = (0..10_000)
         .map(|i| {
             let counter = counter.clone();
             dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| {
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ async fn test_10000_independent_tasks() -> DagResult<()> {
     assert_eq!(counter.load(Ordering::Relaxed), 10_000);
 
     // Spot check some results
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&tasks[0])?, 0);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&tasks[9_999])?, 9_999);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&tasks[5_000])?, 5_000);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(tasks.swap_remove(9_999))?, 9_999);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(tasks.swap_remove(5_000))?, 5_000);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(tasks.swap_remove(0))?, 0);
 
     Ok(())
 }
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ async fn test_5000_node_pyramid() -> DagResult<()> {
                     0
                 }
             }));
-            (&task).into()
+            task.into()
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ async fn test_5000_node_pyramid_single_threaded() -> DagResult<()> {
                     0
                 }
             }));
-            (&task).into()
+            task.into()
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -188,7 +188,10 @@ async fn test_wide_dag_1000_sources_1000_sinks() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     // Create 1000 source tasks
     let sources: Vec<_> = (0..1000)
-        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i % 10 })))
+        .map(|i| {
+            dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i % 10 }))
+                .into()
+        })
         .collect();
 
     // Create 1000 sink tasks, each depending on 3 random sources
@@ -238,7 +241,7 @@ async fn test_10000_node_linear_chain_segments() -> DagResult<()> {
                 }
             }
         }));
-        let mut current: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&first).into();
+        let mut current: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = first.into();
 
         for _i in 1..100 {
             current = dag
diff --git a/tests/boundaries/type_limits.rs b/tests/boundaries/type_limits.rs
index 173aa62..f795009 100644
--- a/tests/boundaries/type_limits.rs
+++ b/tests/boundaries/type_limits.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Tests for type system edge cases and limits
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ async fn test_zero_sized_types_throughout() -> DagResult<()> {
     let t1 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { Empty }));
 
     // Task that also produces ZST (independent since we can't extract custom types)
-    let t2 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 }));
+    let t2: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 })).into();
 
     // Task with PhantomData
     let _t3 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ async fn test_zero_sized_types_throughout() -> DagResult<()> {
             assert_eq!(val, 42);
             "success"
         }))
-        .depends_on(&t2);
+        .depends_on(t2);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ async fn test_large_value_types() -> DagResult<()> {
         .add_task(task_fn(|val: usize| async move {
             val // Just pass through to verify
         }))
-        .depends_on(&t1);
+        .depends_on(t1);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -86,12 +86,12 @@ async fn test_unit_type_chains() -> DagResult<()> {
     // Test chains of unit type operations
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let t1 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {}));
-    let t2 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {})).depends_on(&t1);
+    let t1: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {})).into();
+    let t2 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {})).depends_on(t1);
     let t3 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {})).depends_on(t2);
     let t4 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { "done" }))
-        .depends_on(&t3);
+        .depends_on(t3);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ async fn test_nested_option_result_types() -> DagResult<()> {
                 _ => 0,
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&t1);
+        .depends_on(t1);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ async fn test_tuple_of_tuples() -> DagResult<()> {
                 a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h
             },
         ))
-        .depends_on((&t1, &t2));
+        .depends_on((t1, t2));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ async fn test_string_types_variety() -> DagResult<()> {
                 std::sync::Arc<&str>,
             )| async move { format!("{} {} {} {} {} {}", s1, s2, s3, s4, s5, s6) },
         ))
-        .depends_on((&t1, &t2, &t3, &t4, &t5, &t6));
+        .depends_on((t1, t2, t3, t4, t5, t6));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ async fn test_generic_type_constraints() -> DagResult<()> {
                 format!("{:?} {:?} {:?}", w1, w2, w3)
             },
         ))
-        .depends_on((&t1, &t2, &t3));
+        .depends_on((t1, t2, t3));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ async fn test_reference_wrapper_types() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     let t2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|val: i32| async move { val * 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&t1);
+        .depends_on(t1);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ async fn test_array_types() -> DagResult<()> {
             }
             sum
         }))
-        .depends_on((&t1, &t2));
+        .depends_on((t1, t2));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ async fn test_enum_variants() -> DagResult<()> {
                     && matches!(e4, MyEnum::LargeVariant(_))
             },
         ))
-        .depends_on((&t1, &t2, &t3, &t4));
+        .depends_on((t1, t2, t3, t4));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
diff --git a/tests/boundaries/zero_tasks.rs b/tests/boundaries/zero_tasks.rs
index b43e7c4..24abe3e 100644
--- a/tests/boundaries/zero_tasks.rs
+++ b/tests/boundaries/zero_tasks.rs
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ async fn test_zero_sized_type_task() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&task)?, ZeroSized);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(task)?, ZeroSized);
     Ok(())
 }
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ async fn test_dag_with_only_source_tasks() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
-    for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(task)?, i);
     }
 
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ async fn test_dag_with_never_type_simulation() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&task)?, Ok(42));
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(task)?, Ok(42));
     Ok(())
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/custom_type_test.rs b/tests/custom_type_test.rs
index adc54d1..c9a7c4d 100644
--- a/tests/custom_type_test.rs
+++ b/tests/custom_type_test.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Test that custom types work without any trait implementations
-use dagx::{task, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{task, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ async fn test_custom_type_single_dependency() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let fetch = dag.add_task(FetchPerson);
-    let process = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(&fetch);
+    let process = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(fetch);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ async fn test_custom_type_single_dependency() {
 async fn test_custom_type_passthrough() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let fetch = dag.add_task(FetchPerson);
-    let transform = dag.add_task(PersonToCompany).depends_on(&fetch);
-    let process = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(&fetch);
+    let fetch: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(FetchPerson).into();
+    let transform = dag.add_task(PersonToCompany).depends_on(fetch);
+    let process = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(fetch);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ async fn test_custom_type_diamond_pattern() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Source
-    let fetch = dag.add_task(FetchPerson);
+    let fetch: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(FetchPerson).into();
 
     // Two paths from source
-    let path_a = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(&fetch);
-    let path_b = dag.add_task(PersonToCompany).depends_on(&fetch);
+    let path_a = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(fetch);
+    let path_b = dag.add_task(PersonToCompany).depends_on(fetch);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -111,10 +111,10 @@ async fn test_custom_type_diamond_pattern() {
 async fn test_custom_type_fan_out() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let fetch = dag.add_task(FetchPerson);
-    let process1 = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(&fetch);
-    let process2 = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(&fetch);
-    let process3 = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(&fetch);
+    let fetch: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(FetchPerson).into();
+    let process1 = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(fetch);
+    let process2 = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(fetch);
+    let process3 = dag.add_task(ProcessPerson).depends_on(fetch);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
diff --git a/tests/cycle_prevention.rs b/tests/cycle_prevention.rs
index 5e71747..843410d 100644
--- a/tests/cycle_prevention.rs
+++ b/tests/cycle_prevention.rs
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ fn test_builder_consumed_by_depends_on() {
     let consumer_builder = dag.add_task(Consumer);
 
     // This consumes consumer_builder and returns a TaskHandle
-    let _consumer_handle = consumer_builder.depends_on(&source);
+    let _consumer_handle = consumer_builder.depends_on(source);
 
     // We CANNOT use consumer_builder again because it was moved
     // This would fail to compile:
-    // let _consumer2 = consumer_builder.depends_on(&source);  // ERROR: use of moved value
+    // let _consumer2 = consumer_builder.depends_on(source);  // ERROR: use of moved value
 }
 
 /// Demonstrates that you can only get a TaskHandle by finalizing a builder,
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ fn test_handle_is_immutable_reference() {
     // But TaskHandle has NO methods to modify the DAG
     // There's no way to add dependencies to it
     // This would fail to compile:
-    // handle.depends_on(&something);  // ERROR: no method named `depends_on`
+    // handle.depends_on(something);  // ERROR: no method named `depends_on`
 }
 
 /// Documents the ordering constraint that prevents cycles
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ fn test_ordering_prevents_cycles() {
     // Let's create a valid DAG instead: A→B (B depends on A)
     let a_handle: TaskHandle<i32> = a_builder.into(); // A has no deps (unit input)
     let _b_handle = b_builder.depends_on(a_handle);
-    // Now we could try: a_handle.depends_on(&b_handle)?
+    // Now we could try: a_handle.depends_on(b_handle)?
     // But TaskHandle has no such method!
 }
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ fn test_unit_tasks_cannot_create_cycles() {
     // And once you've converted to TaskHandle, you can't go back
 
     // This would fail to compile:
-    // _handle1.depends_on(&_handle2);  // ERROR: no method named `depends_on`
+    // _handle1.depends_on(_handle2);  // ERROR: no method named `depends_on`
 }
 
 /// Demonstrates the catch-22 of three-way cycles
@@ -183,9 +183,9 @@ fn test_three_way_cycle_impossible() {
     let _c_builder = dag.add_task(C);
 
     // To create A→C→B→A:
-    // 1. a_builder.depends_on(&c_handle)  // Need c_handle
-    // 2. c_builder.depends_on(&b_handle)  // Need b_handle
-    // 3. b_builder.depends_on(&a_handle)  // Need a_handle (from step 1!)
+    // 1. a_builder.depends_on(c_handle)  // Need c_handle
+    // 2. c_builder.depends_on(b_handle)  // Need b_handle
+    // 3. b_builder.depends_on(a_handle)  // Need a_handle (from step 1!)
     //
     // But step 3 needs a_handle which doesn't exist until step 1 completes.
     // And step 1 needs c_handle which doesn't exist until step 2 completes.
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ fn test_self_loop_prevented() {
     let _builder = dag.add_task(SelfReferential);
 
     // To create A→A (self-loop):
-    // builder.depends_on(&builder)
+    // builder.depends_on(builder)
     //
     // But this would fail because:
     // 1. depends_on() takes `self` by value (moves builder)
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ fn test_self_loop_prevented() {
     // 3. We can't also use &builder as an argument because it's being moved
     //
     // This would fail to compile:
-    // let _handle = builder.depends_on(&builder);  // ERROR: use of moved value
+    // let _handle = builder.depends_on(builder);  // ERROR: use of moved value
 }
 
 /// Comprehensive test showing all the guardrails
@@ -264,8 +264,8 @@ async fn test_type_safety_prevents_invalid_graphs() {
     let s2 = dag.add_task(Source);
 
     // Transform depends on sources
-    let t1 = dag.add_task(Transform).depends_on(&s1);
-    let t2 = dag.add_task(Transform).depends_on(&s2);
+    let t1 = dag.add_task(Transform).depends_on(s1);
+    let t2 = dag.add_task(Transform).depends_on(s2);
 
     // Aggregate depends on transforms
     let result = dag.add_task(Aggregate).depends_on((&t1, &t2));
diff --git a/tests/dependencies/resolution.rs b/tests/dependencies/resolution.rs
index c68317b..f29d1aa 100644
--- a/tests/dependencies/resolution.rs
+++ b/tests/dependencies/resolution.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Tests for dependency resolution order and transitive dependencies
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ async fn test_dependency_resolution_order() -> DagResult<()> {
                 x + 1
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&a)
+        .depends_on(a)
     };
 
     let c = {
@@ -108,17 +108,17 @@ async fn test_transitive_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
     // A -> B -> C (creates transitive A -> C relationship)
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let a = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 }));
+    let a: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 })).into();
     let b = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&a);
+        .depends_on(a);
     let c = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 5 }))
         .depends_on(b);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&a)?, 10);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(a)?, 10);
     assert_eq!(dag.get(b)?, 20);
     assert_eq!(dag.get(c)?, 25); // 20 + 5
 
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ async fn test_deep_chain_50_levels() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let first = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 0 }));
-    let mut handles = vec![(&first).into()];
+    let mut handles = vec![first.into()];
 
     for _i in 1..=50 {
         let next = dag
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ async fn test_deep_chain_200_levels() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let first = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 }));
-    let mut current = (&first).into();
+    let mut current = first.into();
 
     for _ in 0..200 {
         current = dag
diff --git a/tests/dependencies/single.rs b/tests/dependencies/single.rs
index cff5237..8191d8d 100644
--- a/tests/dependencies/single.rs
+++ b/tests/dependencies/single.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Tests for single dependencies and basic dependency data flow
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ async fn test_single_dependency() -> DagResult<()> {
     let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 }));
     let dependent = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -24,17 +24,19 @@ async fn test_dependency_data_flow() -> DagResult<()> {
     // Test that data flows correctly through dependencies
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { vec![1, 2, 3, 4, 5] }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { vec![1, 2, 3, 4, 5] }))
+        .into();
 
     let sum = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|v: Vec<i32>| async move { v.iter().sum::<i32>() }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
 
     let product = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(
             |v: Vec<i32>| async move { v.iter().product::<i32>() },
         ))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
 
     let final_result = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|(s, p): (i32, i32)| async move { s + p }))
@@ -62,7 +64,7 @@ async fn test_dependencies_with_different_types() -> DagResult<()> {
         .add_task(task_fn(|(i, s, b): (i32, String, bool)| async move {
             format!("{}: {} ({})", s, i, b)
         }))
-        .depends_on((&int_source, &string_source, &bool_source));
+        .depends_on((int_source, string_source, bool_source));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -75,13 +77,13 @@ async fn test_shared_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
     // Test that a single node can be a dependency for multiple downstream nodes
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let shared = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 }));
+    let shared: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 })).into();
 
     // Create 10 tasks that all depend on the shared node
     let dependents: Vec<_> = (0..10)
         .map(|i| {
             dag.add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x * (i + 1) }))
-                .depends_on(&shared)
+                .depends_on(shared)
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -106,7 +108,7 @@ async fn test_multiple_source_nodes() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
-    for (i, source) in sources.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, source) in sources.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(source)?, i as i32 * 10);
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/dependencies/tuples.rs b/tests/dependencies/tuples.rs
index 1126334..299c22e 100644
--- a/tests/dependencies/tuples.rs
+++ b/tests/dependencies/tuples.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ async fn test_two_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
     let b = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 20 }));
     let sum = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|(x, y): (i32, i32)| async move { x + y }))
-        .depends_on((&a, &b));
+        .depends_on((a, b));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ async fn test_three_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
         .add_task(task_fn(
             |(x, y, z): (i32, i32, i32)| async move { x + y + z },
         ))
-        .depends_on((&a, &b, &c));
+        .depends_on((a, b, c));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ async fn test_four_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let deps: Vec<_> = (1..=4)
-        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })))
+        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })).into())
         .collect();
 
     let sum = dag
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ async fn test_five_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let deps: Vec<_> = (1..=5)
-        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })))
+        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })).into())
         .collect();
 
     let sum = dag
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ async fn test_six_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let deps: Vec<_> = (1..=6)
-        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })))
+        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })).into())
         .collect();
 
     let sum = dag.add_task(task_fn(
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ async fn test_seven_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let deps: Vec<_> = (1..=7)
-        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })))
+        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })).into())
         .collect();
 
     let sum = dag
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ async fn test_eight_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let deps: Vec<_> = (1..=8)
-        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })))
+        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })).into())
         .collect();
 
     let sum = dag
diff --git a/tests/errors/error_types.rs b/tests/errors/error_types.rs
index 68e9fc1..affe88c 100644
--- a/tests/errors/error_types.rs
+++ b/tests/errors/error_types.rs
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
 //! Tests for different error types and error handling
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::{DagError, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagError, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_result_not_found_error() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let t1 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 }));
+    let t1: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 })).into();
 
     // Try to get result before running
-    let result = dag.get(&t1);
+    let result = dag.get(t1);
     assert!(matches!(result, Err(DagError::ResultNotFound { .. })));
 
     // Run and verify it works after
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ async fn test_result_not_found_error() {
         .await
         .unwrap();
 
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&t1).unwrap(), 42);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(t1).unwrap(), 42);
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ async fn test_nested_result_error_handling() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // Both tasks complete successfully (they return Results)
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&task1).unwrap(), Err("Internal error".to_string()));
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&task2).unwrap(), Ok(42));
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(task1).unwrap(), Err("Internal error".to_string()));
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(task2).unwrap(), Ok(42));
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ async fn test_option_none_not_error() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // None is a valid result, not an error
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&task).unwrap(), None);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(task).unwrap(), None);
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -82,12 +82,12 @@ async fn test_custom_error_types() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // Check custom errors are preserved
-    match dag.get(&task1).unwrap() {
+    match dag.get(task1).unwrap() {
         Err(CustomError::ValidationError(msg)) => assert_eq!(msg, "Invalid input"),
         _ => panic!("Wrong error type"),
     }
 
-    match dag.get(&task2).unwrap() {
+    match dag.get(task2).unwrap() {
         Err(CustomError::ProcessingError { code, .. }) => assert_eq!(code, 500),
         _ => panic!("Wrong error type"),
     }
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ async fn test_error_in_tuple_dependency() {
 
     let dependent = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|(a, b): (i32, i32)| async move { a + b }))
-        .depends_on((&ok_task, &err_task));
+        .depends_on((ok_task, err_task));
 
     let result = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
 
@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ async fn test_string_panic_vs_structured_panic() {
     let _ = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
 
     // Both should result in errors
-    assert!(dag.get(&string_panic).is_err());
-    assert!(dag.get(&formatted_panic).is_err());
+    assert!(dag.get(string_panic).is_err());
+    assert!(dag.get(formatted_panic).is_err());
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ async fn test_anyhow_like_error_chain() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // Get the chained error
-    let result = dag.get(&task).unwrap();
+    let result = dag.get(task).unwrap();
     assert!(result.is_err());
 
     if let Err(e) = result {
diff --git a/tests/errors/propagation.rs b/tests/errors/propagation.rs
index be3c01a..80e832b 100644
--- a/tests/errors/propagation.rs
+++ b/tests/errors/propagation.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Tests for error propagation through the DAG
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::DagRunner;
+use dagx::{DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 async fn test_linear_error_propagation() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let t1 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 }));
+    let t1: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 })).into();
     let t2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move {
             panic!("Error at t2 with input {}", x);
         }))
-        .depends_on(&t1);
+        .depends_on(t1);
     let t3 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
         .depends_on(t2);
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ async fn test_linear_error_propagation() {
     let _ = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
 
     // t1 succeeds
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&t1).unwrap(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(t1).unwrap(), 1);
 
     // t2 fails
     assert!(dag.get(t2).is_err());
@@ -46,17 +46,17 @@ async fn test_diamond_error_propagation() {
     //     \    /
     //      sink
 
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100 }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100 })).into();
 
     let left = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x / 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
 
     let right = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move {
             panic!("Right path fails with {}", x);
         }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
 
     let sink = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|(l, r): (i32, i32)| async move { l + r }))
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ async fn test_diamond_error_propagation() {
 
     let _ = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
 
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&source).unwrap(), 100);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(source).unwrap(), 100);
     assert_eq!(dag.get(left).unwrap(), 50);
     assert!(dag.get(right).is_err());
     assert!(dag.get(sink).is_err()); // Fails due to right dependency
@@ -76,16 +76,18 @@ async fn test_error_stops_at_boundary() {
     let execution_tracker = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
 
     // Branch with error
-    let error_source = dag.add_task(task_fn({
-        let tracker = execution_tracker.clone();
-        move |_: ()| {
-            let tracker = tracker.clone();
-            async move {
-                tracker.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
-                panic!("Error source");
+    let error_source: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn({
+            let tracker = execution_tracker.clone();
+            move |_: ()| {
+                let tracker = tracker.clone();
+                async move {
+                    tracker.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                    panic!("Error source");
+                }
             }
-        }
-    }));
+        }))
+        .into();
 
     let error_dependent = dag
         .add_task(task_fn({
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ async fn test_error_stops_at_boundary() {
                 }
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&error_source);
+        .depends_on(error_source);
 
     // Independent branch
     let independent = dag.add_task(task_fn({
@@ -115,11 +117,11 @@ async fn test_error_stops_at_boundary() {
     let _ = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
 
     // Error branch: source runs but dependent doesn't
-    assert!(dag.get(&error_source).is_err());
+    assert!(dag.get(error_source).is_err());
     assert!(dag.get(error_dependent).is_err());
 
     // Independent branch runs
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&independent).unwrap(), 10);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(independent).unwrap(), 10);
 
     // Check execution: 1 (error_source) + 10 (independent) = 11
     assert_eq!(execution_tracker.load(Ordering::SeqCst), 11);
@@ -130,15 +132,19 @@ async fn test_multiple_error_sources_convergence() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Multiple error sources
-    let error1 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
-        panic!("Error source 1");
-    }));
+    let error1 = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
+            panic!("Error source 1");
+        }))
+        .into();
 
-    let error2 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
-        panic!("Error source 2");
-    }));
+    let error2 = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
+            panic!("Error source 2");
+        }))
+        .into();
 
-    let success = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 }));
+    let success = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 })).into();
 
     // Convergence point depends on all three
     let convergence = dag
@@ -148,11 +154,11 @@ async fn test_multiple_error_sources_convergence() {
     let _ = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
 
     // All error sources fail
-    assert!(dag.get(&error1).is_err());
-    assert!(dag.get(&error2).is_err());
+    assert!(dag.get(error1).is_err());
+    assert!(dag.get(error2).is_err());
 
     // Success task works
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&success).unwrap(), 42);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(success).unwrap(), 42);
 
     // Convergence fails due to any error dependency
     assert!(dag.get(convergence).is_err());
@@ -162,22 +168,24 @@ async fn test_multiple_error_sources_convergence() {
 async fn test_error_in_wide_fanout() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
-        panic!("Source fails");
-    }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
+            panic!("Source fails");
+        }))
+        .into();
 
     // Create wide fanout from failing source
     let dependents: Vec<_> = (0..20)
         .map(|i| {
             dag.add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x + i }))
-                .depends_on(&source)
+                .depends_on(source)
         })
         .collect();
 
     let _ = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
 
     // Source fails
-    assert!(dag.get(&source).is_err());
+    assert!(dag.get(source).is_err());
 
     // All dependents fail
     for dependent in &dependents {
@@ -190,9 +198,11 @@ async fn test_selective_error_propagation() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Source that produces a Result
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
-        Result::<i32, String>::Err("Source error".to_string())
-    }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
+            Result::<i32, String>::Err("Source error".to_string())
+        }))
+        .into();
 
     // Handler that processes the Result
     let handler = dag
@@ -202,7 +212,7 @@ async fn test_selective_error_propagation() {
                 Err(_) => -1, // Default value on error
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
 
     // Further processing
     let final_task = dag
@@ -220,7 +230,7 @@ async fn test_selective_error_propagation() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // Source returns an Err variant (not a panic)
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&source).unwrap(), Err("Source error".to_string()));
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(source).unwrap(), Err("Source error".to_string()));
 
     // Handler processes it
     assert_eq!(dag.get(handler).unwrap(), -1);
@@ -258,7 +268,7 @@ async fn test_error_propagation_timing() {
                 }
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&t1);
+        .depends_on(t1);
 
     let _t3 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn({
@@ -271,7 +281,7 @@ async fn test_error_propagation_timing() {
                 }
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&t2);
+        .depends_on(t2);
 
     let _ = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
 
@@ -297,12 +307,12 @@ async fn test_partial_branch_failure_propagation() {
     //      \  |   /
     //        sink
 
-    let root = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100 }));
+    let root: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100 })).into();
 
     // Branch A
     let a1 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
-        .depends_on(&root);
+        .depends_on(root);
     let a2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 2 }))
         .depends_on(a1);
@@ -313,22 +323,22 @@ async fn test_partial_branch_failure_propagation() {
     // Branch B (with error) - use Result instead of panic
     let b1 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { Ok(x * 2) }))
-        .depends_on(&root);
+        .depends_on(root);
     let b2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|_x: Result<i32, &str>| async move {
             Err("Branch B fails at b2")
         }))
-        .depends_on(&b1);
+        .depends_on(b1);
     let b3 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(
             |x: Result<i32, &str>| async move { x.map(|v| v * 3) },
         ))
-        .depends_on(&b2);
+        .depends_on(b2);
 
     // Branch C
     let c1 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x - 1 }))
-        .depends_on(&root);
+        .depends_on(root);
     let c2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x - 2 }))
         .depends_on(c1);
diff --git a/tests/errors/recovery.rs b/tests/errors/recovery.rs
index 84e63a5..d6226b2 100644
--- a/tests/errors/recovery.rs
+++ b/tests/errors/recovery.rs
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ async fn test_fallback_on_error() -> DagResult<()> {
     let _ = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
 
     // Primary should fail
-    assert!(dag.get(&primary).is_err());
+    assert!(dag.get(primary).is_err());
 
     // Fallback should succeed
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&fallback)?, 100);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(fallback)?, 100);
 
     Ok(())
 }
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ async fn test_retry_pattern_simulation() -> DagResult<()> {
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
     // Task completes with error on first "attempt"
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&task)?, Err("Simulated failure"));
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(task)?, Err("Simulated failure"));
 
     Ok(())
 }
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ async fn test_circuit_breaker_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
     // First few tasks fail and open circuit
-    for task in &tasks[0..3] {
+    for task in tasks.into_iter().take(4) {
         assert!(dag.get(task)?.is_err());
     }
 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ async fn test_partial_recovery_with_defaults() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     let _ = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
 
-    let result = dag.get(&aggregator)?;
+    let result = dag.get(aggregator)?;
     assert_eq!(result.len(), 10);
 
     Ok(())
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ async fn test_error_accumulation_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
     let errors = Arc::new(parking_lot::Mutex::new(Vec::new()));
 
     // Tasks that may produce errors
-    let tasks: Vec<_> = (0..10)
+    let mut tasks: Vec<_> = (0..10)
         .map(|i| {
             let errors = errors.clone();
             dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| {
@@ -171,9 +171,13 @@ async fn test_error_accumulation_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
     let error_list = errors.lock().clone();
     assert_eq!(error_list.len(), 5); // Even numbered tasks
 
+    tasks.truncate(2);
+
+    let [first, second] = <[_; 2]>::try_from(tasks).map_err(|_e| ()).unwrap();
+
     // Verify specific results
-    assert!(dag.get(&tasks[0])?.is_err());
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&tasks[1])?, Ok(1));
+    assert!(dag.get(first)?.is_err());
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(second)?, Ok(1));
 
     Ok(())
 }
@@ -197,7 +201,7 @@ async fn test_graceful_degradation() -> DagResult<()> {
             // Here just uses base
             base.iter().sum::<i32>()
         }))
-        .depends_on(&critical);
+        .depends_on(critical);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -217,13 +221,13 @@ async fn test_error_boundary_isolation() -> DagResult<()> {
         .add_task(task_fn(|_x: i32| async move {
             Err::<i32, &str>("Group A error")
         }))
-        .depends_on(&a1);
+        .depends_on(a1);
 
     // Group B: should be isolated from Group A's error
     let b1 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 20 }));
     let b2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&b1);
+        .depends_on(b1);
 
     // Group C: depends on B but not A
     let c1 = dag
@@ -268,10 +272,10 @@ async fn test_compensation_action() -> DagResult<()> {
     let _ = dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await;
 
     // Action failed
-    assert!(dag.get(&action).is_err());
+    assert!(dag.get(action).is_err());
 
     // Compensation ran successfully
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&compensation)?, "Compensation executed");
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(compensation)?, "Compensation executed");
     assert!(compensation_triggered.load(Ordering::SeqCst));
 
     Ok(())
diff --git a/tests/execution/basic.rs b/tests/execution/basic.rs
index f94185d..caade69 100644
--- a/tests/execution/basic.rs
+++ b/tests/execution/basic.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ async fn test_deep_chain() {
     let a = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 }));
     let b = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
-        .depends_on(&a);
+        .depends_on(a);
     let c = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
         .depends_on(b);
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ async fn test_wide_parallel() {
         .await
         .unwrap();
 
-    for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(task).unwrap(), i * 2);
     }
 }
@@ -70,13 +70,13 @@ async fn test_wide_parallel() {
 async fn test_diamond_dependency() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let a = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 }));
+    let a: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 })).into();
     let b = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 5 }))
-        .depends_on(&a);
+        .depends_on(a);
     let c = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&a);
+        .depends_on(a);
     let d = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|(x, y): (i32, i32)| async move { x + y }))
         .depends_on((&b, &c));
@@ -124,12 +124,12 @@ async fn test_different_output_types() {
 async fn test_multiple_sinks() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 })).into();
 
     // Branch 1
     let branch1 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
     let sink1 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
         .depends_on(branch1);
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ async fn test_multiple_sinks() {
     // Branch 2
     let branch2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 5 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
     let sink2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 3 }))
         .depends_on(branch2);
@@ -156,10 +156,10 @@ async fn test_single_task_inline_path() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Single task in its own layer
-    let t1 = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 }));
+    let t1: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 })).into();
     let t2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&t1);
+        .depends_on(t1);
     let t3 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 5 }))
         .depends_on(t2);
@@ -176,18 +176,18 @@ async fn test_multi_task_spawn_path() {
     // Test multi-task layer spawn path (line 411-456 in runner.rs)
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100 }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100 })).into();
 
     // Create multiple tasks in the same layer (all depend on source)
     let t1 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
     let t2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
     let t3 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 3 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -204,14 +204,16 @@ async fn test_producer_consumer_channels() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Producer
-    let producer = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { vec![1, 2, 3, 4, 5] }));
+    let producer: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { vec![1, 2, 3, 4, 5] }))
+        .into();
 
     // Consumer
     let consumer = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(
             |data: Vec<i32>| async move { data.iter().sum::<i32>() },
         ))
-        .depends_on(&producer);
+        .depends_on(producer);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -225,18 +227,18 @@ async fn test_multi_consumer_fanout() {
     // Test fanout with multiple consumers from one producer
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let producer = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 }));
+    let producer: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 })).into();
 
     // Multiple consumers
     let c1 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&producer);
+        .depends_on(producer);
     let c2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 10 }))
-        .depends_on(&producer);
+        .depends_on(producer);
     let c3 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x - 5 }))
-        .depends_on(&producer);
+        .depends_on(producer);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -253,14 +255,14 @@ async fn test_compute_layers_with_dependents_tracking() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Create diamond pattern to ensure dependents are tracked correctly
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 })).into();
 
     let left = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
     let right = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
 
     let sink = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|(l, r): (i32, i32)| async move { l + r }))
@@ -301,7 +303,7 @@ async fn test_layer_execution_order() {
                 x + 1
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&t1);
+        .depends_on(t1);
 
     let order3 = execution_order.clone();
     let t3 = dag
diff --git a/tests/execution/examples.rs b/tests/execution/examples.rs
index 79b8abb..a7b2147 100644
--- a/tests/execution/examples.rs
+++ b/tests/execution/examples.rs
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ use futures::FutureExt;
 async fn test_example_a_fan_out() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let base = dag.add_task(Seed::new(10)); // Input=() → no depends_on, returns TaskHandle
-    let plus1 = dag.add_task(Inc::new()).depends_on(&base); // 11
-    let plus2 = dag.add_task(Inc::new()).depends_on(&base); // 11
+    let base: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(Seed::new(10)).into(); // Input=() → no depends_on, returns TaskHandle
+    let plus1 = dag.add_task(Inc::new()).depends_on(base); // 11
+    let plus2 = dag.add_task(Inc::new()).depends_on(base); // 11
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ async fn test_example_b_fan_in() {
     let n = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42usize }));
     let f = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { true }));
 
-    let output = dag.add_task(OutputResult::new()).depends_on((&s, &n, &f));
+    let output = dag.add_task(OutputResult::new()).depends_on((s, n, f));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -42,11 +42,11 @@ async fn test_example_c_many_to_many() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let x = dag.add_task(Seed::new(2));
-    let y = dag.add_task(Seed::new(3));
+    let y = dag.add_task(Seed::new(3)).into();
     let z = dag.add_task(Seed::new(5));
 
-    let sum_xy = dag.add_task(Add::new()).depends_on((&x, &y)); // 5
-    let prod_yz = dag.add_task(Mul::new()).depends_on((&y, &z)); // 15
+    let sum_xy = dag.add_task(Add::new()).depends_on((x, &y)); // 5
+    let prod_yz = dag.add_task(Mul::new()).depends_on((&y, z)); // 15
     let total = dag.add_task(Add::new()).depends_on((&sum_xy, &prod_yz)); // 20
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
@@ -59,12 +59,14 @@ async fn test_example_c_many_to_many() {
 async fn test_single_input_forms() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let s = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { "hello".to_owned() }));
+    let s = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { "hello".to_owned() }))
+        .into();
 
     // Preferred form: &node
     let upper1 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|s: String| async move { s.to_uppercase() }))
-        .depends_on(&s);
+        .depends_on(s);
 
     // Also allowed: (&node,)
     let upper2 = dag
diff --git a/tests/execution/integration.rs b/tests/execution/integration.rs
index 1aa7955..fe51891 100644
--- a/tests/execution/integration.rs
+++ b/tests/execution/integration.rs
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ async fn integration_test_etl_pipeline() -> DagResult<()> {
     let source3 = dag.add_task(LoadValue::new(30));
 
     // Transform: Process each source
-    let transform1 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(&source1);
-    let transform2 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(3)).depends_on(&source2);
-    let transform3 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(4)).depends_on(&source3);
+    let transform1 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(source1);
+    let transform2 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(3)).depends_on(source2);
+    let transform3 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(4)).depends_on(source3);
 
     // Load: Aggregate results
     let combine12 = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&transform1, &transform2));
@@ -115,9 +115,9 @@ async fn integration_test_multiple_sinks() -> DagResult<()> {
     let source = dag.add_task(LoadValue::new(10));
 
     // Multiple independent branches
-    let branch1 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(&source);
-    let branch2 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(3)).depends_on(&source);
-    let branch3 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(4)).depends_on(&source);
+    let branch1 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(source);
+    let branch2 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(3)).depends_on(source);
+    let branch3 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(4)).depends_on(source);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -136,8 +136,8 @@ async fn integration_test_diamond_cascade() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     // Diamond 1
     let source1 = dag.add_task(LoadValue::new(10));
-    let left1 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(&source1);
-    let right1 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(3)).depends_on(&source1);
+    let left1 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(source1);
+    let right1 = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(3)).depends_on(source1);
     let sink1 = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&left1, &right1));
 
     // Diamond 2 (depends on Diamond 1)
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ async fn integration_test_error_recovery() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let source = dag.add_task(LoadValue::new(42));
-    let transform = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(&source);
+    let transform = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(source);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -248,9 +248,9 @@ async fn integration_test_reused_values() -> DagResult<()> {
     let source = dag.add_task(LoadValue::new(100));
 
     // Use source in multiple different ways
-    let double = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(&source);
-    let triple = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(3)).depends_on(&source);
-    let quadruple = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(4)).depends_on(&source);
+    let double = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(2)).depends_on(source);
+    let triple = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(3)).depends_on(source);
+    let quadruple = dag.add_task(Multiply::new(4)).depends_on(source);
 
     // Combine some of the results
     let combined = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&double, &triple));
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ async fn integration_test_parallel_vs_sequential_timing() -> DagResult<()> {
             sleep(sleep_duration).await;
             x + 1
         }))
-        .depends_on(&parallel_tasks[0]);
+        .depends_on(parallel_tasks[0]);
 
     let seq2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move {
diff --git a/tests/execution/results.rs b/tests/execution/results.rs
index e32f4b3..ce0b81f 100644
--- a/tests/execution/results.rs
+++ b/tests/execution/results.rs
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ async fn test_stateful_tasks() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let input = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 5 }));
-    let counter = dag.add_task(Counter::new(10)).depends_on(&input);
+    let counter = dag.add_task(Counter::new(10)).depends_on(input);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ async fn test_task_fn_with_captured_state() {
     let base = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 5 }));
     let scaled = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x * multiplier }))
-        .depends_on(&base);
+        .depends_on(base);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
diff --git a/tests/parallelism/concurrent.rs b/tests/parallelism/concurrent.rs
index 3119e4b..d4f4ddf 100644
--- a/tests/parallelism/concurrent.rs
+++ b/tests/parallelism/concurrent.rs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ async fn test_concurrent_run_calls() {
     assert_eq!(error_count, 4);
 
     // Verify results are consistent from the successful run
-    for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(task).unwrap(), i);
     }
 }
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ async fn test_concurrent_execution_and_building() {
     let mut handles = JoinSet::new();
 
     // Reader tasks
-    for task in &initial {
+    for task in initial {
         let dag = Arc::clone(&dag);
         let task_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = task.into();
         handles.spawn(async move { dag.get(task_handle).unwrap() });
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ async fn test_dag_builder_thread_safety() {
 
             let transform1 = dag
                 .add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x * 10 }))
-                .depends_on(&source);
+                .depends_on(source);
 
             let transform2 = dag
                 .add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x + thread_id }))
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ async fn test_concurrent_get_operations() {
     // Now access results concurrently
     let mut handles = JoinSet::new();
 
-    for task in tasks.iter() {
+    for task in tasks.into_iter() {
         let dag = Arc::clone(&dag);
         let task_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = task.into();
         handles.spawn(async move { dag.get(task_handle).unwrap() });
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ async fn test_no_race_in_dependency_tracking() {
     let mut handles = JoinSet::new();
 
     // Multiple threads create tasks depending on the same source
-    let source_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&source).into();
+    let source_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = source.into();
     for i in 0..50 {
         let dag = Arc::clone(&dag);
         let source_clone = source_handle;
@@ -245,14 +245,14 @@ async fn test_high_concurrency_stress() {
                     // Add a task with a simple dependency
                     let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i }));
                     dag.add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-                        .depends_on(&source);
+                        .depends_on(source);
                 }
                 2 => {
                     // Add a more complex subgraph
                     let a = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i }));
                     let b = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i + 1 }));
                     dag.add_task(task_fn(move |(x, y): (i32, i32)| async move { x + y }))
-                        .depends_on((&a, &b));
+                        .depends_on((a, b));
                 }
                 _ => unreachable!(),
             }
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ async fn test_atomic_dag_operations() {
     let mut handles = JoinSet::new();
     let success_count = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
 
-    let base_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&base).into();
+    let base_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = base.into();
     for i in 0..50 {
         let dag = Arc::clone(&dag);
         let base_clone = base_handle;
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ async fn test_no_deadlock_on_circular_waiting() {
         handles.spawn(async move {
             // Each thread creates a chain of tasks
             let first = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i }));
-            let mut chain = vec![(&first).into()];
+            let mut chain = vec![first.into()];
 
             for j in 0..5 {
                 let next = dag
diff --git a/tests/parallelism/execution.rs b/tests/parallelism/execution.rs
index cb63cb8..5dfcbf8 100644
--- a/tests/parallelism/execution.rs
+++ b/tests/parallelism/execution.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Tests for execution correctness and parallelism
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ async fn test_layers_execute_in_parallel() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     // Layer 1: Tasks depending on layer 0
     let layer1: Vec<_> = sources
-        .iter()
+        .into_iter()
         .enumerate()
         .map(|(i, source)| {
             let timing = layer_timing.clone();
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ async fn test_completion_order_matches_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
                 x + y
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on((&a, &b))
+        .depends_on((a, b))
     };
 
     let d = {
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ async fn test_dependent_tasks_respect_ordering() -> DagResult<()> {
     let execution_order = Arc::new(Mutex::new(Vec::new()));
 
     // Create a chain: A -> B -> C -> D
-    let a = {
+    let a: TaskHandle<_> = {
         let order = execution_order.clone();
         dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| {
             let order = order.clone();
@@ -226,7 +226,8 @@ async fn test_dependent_tasks_respect_ordering() -> DagResult<()> {
                 1
             }
         }))
-    };
+    }
+    .into();
 
     let b = {
         let order = execution_order.clone();
@@ -238,7 +239,7 @@ async fn test_dependent_tasks_respect_ordering() -> DagResult<()> {
                 x + 1
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&a)
+        .depends_on(a)
     };
 
     let c = {
diff --git a/tests/parallelism/proof.rs b/tests/parallelism/proof.rs
index 98a56e3..77d5db8 100644
--- a/tests/parallelism/proof.rs
+++ b/tests/parallelism/proof.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ async fn test_parallelism_proof_1000_tasks() -> DagResult<()> {
     let elapsed = start.elapsed();
 
     // Verify all tasks completed
-    for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(task)?, i as u32);
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/parallelism/spawning.rs b/tests/parallelism/spawning.rs
index 0bebe59..0273175 100644
--- a/tests/parallelism/spawning.rs
+++ b/tests/parallelism/spawning.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ async fn test_spawner_actually_spawns_tasks() -> DagResult<()> {
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
     // Verify all tasks were spawned
-    for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(task)?, i as i32);
     }
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ async fn test_tasks_not_running_inline() -> DagResult<()> {
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
     // Verify results
-    for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(task)?, i as i32);
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/parallelism/threads.rs b/tests/parallelism/threads.rs
index 0b7e5d1..39b8743 100644
--- a/tests/parallelism/threads.rs
+++ b/tests/parallelism/threads.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Tests for multi-threading and concurrent execution
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ async fn test_tasks_run_on_different_threads() -> DagResult<()> {
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
     // Verify all tasks completed
-    for task in tasks.iter() {
+    for task in tasks.into_iter() {
         let _ = dag.get(task)?;
     }
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ async fn test_concurrent_execution_with_atomic_counter() -> DagResult<()> {
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
     // Verify all tasks completed
-    for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(task)?, i);
     }
 
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ async fn test_diamond_parallel_execution() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     let concurrent_middle = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
 
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100 }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100 })).into();
 
     // These should run in parallel
     let parallel1 = {
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ async fn test_diamond_parallel_execution() -> DagResult<()> {
                 x * 2
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&source)
+        .depends_on(source)
     };
 
     let parallel2 = {
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ async fn test_diamond_parallel_execution() -> DagResult<()> {
                 x * 3
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&source)
+        .depends_on(source)
     };
 
     let sink = dag
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ async fn test_parallel_branches_with_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
     let branch_progress = Arc::new(Mutex::new(Vec::new()));
 
     // Source node
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 })).into();
 
     // Branch 1: source -> b1_1 -> b1_2
     let b1_1 = {
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ async fn test_parallel_branches_with_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
                 x * 2
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&source)
+        .depends_on(source)
     };
 
     let b1_2 = {
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ async fn test_parallel_branches_with_dependencies() -> DagResult<()> {
                 x * 3
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&source)
+        .depends_on(source)
     };
 
     let b2_2 = {
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ async fn test_wide_fanout_parallel_execution() -> DagResult<()> {
     let max_concurrent = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
     let current_concurrent = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
 
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 42 })).into();
 
     // Create 50 tasks that all depend on the source
     let dependents: Vec<_> = (0..50)
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ async fn test_wide_fanout_parallel_execution() -> DagResult<()> {
                     x + i
                 }
             }))
-            .depends_on(&source)
+            .depends_on(source)
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ async fn test_massive_parallel_fanout() -> DagResult<()> {
     let max_concurrent = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
     let current = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
 
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 })).into();
 
     // Create 1000 tasks all depending on the same source
     let tasks: Vec<_> = (0..1000)
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ async fn test_massive_parallel_fanout() -> DagResult<()> {
                     x + i
                 }
             }))
-            .depends_on(&source)
+            .depends_on(source)
         })
         .collect();
 
diff --git a/tests/parallelism/timing.rs b/tests/parallelism/timing.rs
index c388cc6..1cba4ea 100644
--- a/tests/parallelism/timing.rs
+++ b/tests/parallelism/timing.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
 
-use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::sync::Mutex;
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ async fn test_parallel_execution_speedup() -> DagResult<()> {
     let elapsed = start.elapsed();
 
     // Verify all tasks completed
-    for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(task)?, i);
     }
 
@@ -84,15 +84,15 @@ async fn test_sync_tasks_dont_block_async_runtime() -> DagResult<()> {
     let start_times = Arc::new(Mutex::new(Vec::new()));
 
     // Mix of sync and async tasks
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 })).into();
 
     // Sync tasks
-    let sync1 = dag.add_task(SyncTask).depends_on(&source);
-    let sync2 = dag.add_task(SyncTask).depends_on(&source);
+    let sync1 = dag.add_task(SyncTask).depends_on(source);
+    let sync2 = dag.add_task(SyncTask).depends_on(source);
 
     // Async tasks
-    let async1 = dag.add_task(AsyncTask).depends_on(&source);
-    let async2 = dag.add_task(AsyncTask).depends_on(&source);
+    let async1 = dag.add_task(AsyncTask).depends_on(source);
+    let async2 = dag.add_task(AsyncTask).depends_on(source);
 
     // Track timing
     let timing_task = {
diff --git a/tests/patterns/butterfly.rs b/tests/patterns/butterfly.rs
index 81aa07a..17d26e5 100644
--- a/tests/patterns/butterfly.rs
+++ b/tests/patterns/butterfly.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Butterfly pattern DAG tests
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@ async fn test_butterfly_network() -> DagResult<()> {
     // Simplified butterfly network - avoid tuples entirely
     // Layer 0: inputs
     let inputs: Vec<_> = (0..8)
-        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i as f64 })))
+        .map(|i| {
+            dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i as f64 }))
+                .into()
+        })
         .collect();
 
     // Layer 1: butterfly operations (compute pairs separately)
@@ -92,7 +95,7 @@ async fn test_recursive_butterfly() -> DagResult<()> {
         .into_iter()
         .map(|val| {
             let task = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { val }));
-            (&task).into()
+            task.into()
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -115,7 +118,10 @@ async fn test_benes_network() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     // 4 inputs
     let inputs: Vec<_> = (0..4)
-        .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { 1 << i }))) // Powers of 2
+        .map(|i| {
+            dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { 1 << i }))
+                .into()
+        }) // Powers of 2
         .collect();
 
     // First stage: sort pairs
@@ -153,7 +159,7 @@ async fn test_shuffle_exchange_network() -> DagResult<()> {
     let counter = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
 
     // Create 8 inputs
-    let inputs: Vec<_> = (0..8)
+    let inputs: Vec<TaskHandle<_>> = (0..8)
         .map(|i| {
             let counter = counter.clone();
             dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| {
@@ -163,6 +169,7 @@ async fn test_shuffle_exchange_network() -> DagResult<()> {
                     i
                 }
             }))
+            .into()
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -172,7 +179,7 @@ async fn test_shuffle_exchange_network() -> DagResult<()> {
             // Shuffle pattern: rotate bits
             let source = ((i << 1) | (i >> 2)) & 0x7;
             dag.add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x }))
-                .depends_on(&inputs[source])
+                .depends_on(inputs[source])
         })
         .collect();
 
diff --git a/tests/patterns/complex.rs b/tests/patterns/complex.rs
index abb6c86..f052eac 100644
--- a/tests/patterns/complex.rs
+++ b/tests/patterns/complex.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Complex DAG pattern tests
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ async fn test_workflow_with_conditional_paths() -> DagResult<()> {
                 Err("Invalid input")
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&input);
+        .depends_on(input);
 
     // Process valid input
     let process = dag
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ async fn test_workflow_with_conditional_paths() -> DagResult<()> {
                 Err(_) => -1,
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&validate);
+        .depends_on(validate);
 
     // Parallel enhancement steps
     let enhance1 = dag
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ async fn test_map_reduce_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
                 // Simulate word count
                 vec![("word1", i % 3), ("word2", i % 5), ("word3", i % 7)]
             }));
-            (&task).into()
+            task.into()
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ async fn test_pipeline_with_feedback() -> DagResult<()> {
                 }
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&init);
+        .depends_on(init);
 
     // Stage 2: Filter
     let stage2 = dag
@@ -209,9 +209,11 @@ async fn test_scatter_gather_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Scatter: distribute work to multiple workers
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
-        vec![10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80]
-    }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async {
+            vec![10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80]
+        }))
+        .into();
 
     // Workers process chunks
     let workers: Vec<_> = (0..4)
@@ -228,7 +230,7 @@ async fn test_scatter_gather_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
 
                 data[start..end].iter().sum::<i32>()
             }))
-            .depends_on(&source)
+            .depends_on(source)
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -266,7 +268,7 @@ async fn test_fork_join_with_barriers() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     // Multiple parallel paths
     let mut path1 = Vec::new();
-    let parent_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&parent).into();
+    let parent_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = parent.into();
     let mut prev1 = parent_handle;
     for i in 0..3 {
         let counter = phase_counter.clone();
diff --git a/tests/patterns/grid.rs b/tests/patterns/grid.rs
index 11fdd74..27c8c8e 100644
--- a/tests/patterns/grid.rs
+++ b/tests/patterns/grid.rs
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ async fn test_2d_grid_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
     #[allow(clippy::needless_range_loop)]
     for i in 0..4 {
         let task = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i as i32 }));
-        grid[0][i] = Some((&task).into());
+        grid[0][i] = Some(task.into());
         if i > 0 {
             let task = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i as i32 * 10 }));
-            grid[i][0] = Some((&task).into());
+            grid[i][0] = Some(task.into());
         }
     }
 
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ async fn test_3d_grid_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     // Initialize origin
     let origin = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 }));
-    grid[0][0][0] = Some((&origin).into());
+    grid[0][0][0] = Some(origin.into());
 
     // Fill the 3D grid
     for x in 0..size {
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ async fn test_3d_grid_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
                 let task_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<usize> = match deps.len() {
                     0 => {
                         let t = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { x + y + z }));
-                        (&t).into()
+                        t.into()
                     }
                     1 => dag
                         .add_task(task_fn(move |prev: usize| async move { prev + 1 }))
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ async fn test_hexagonal_grid() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     // Center hex
     let center_builder = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100 }));
-    let center: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&center_builder).into();
+    let center: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = center_builder.into();
     hex_grid.insert((0, 0), center);
 
     // Ring 1 (6 hexes around center)
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ async fn test_hexagonal_grid() -> DagResult<()> {
                 .depends_on(neighbors[0])
         } else {
             let t = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { q + r }));
-            (&t).into()
+            t.into()
         };
 
         hex_grid.insert((q, r), task);
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ async fn test_toroidal_grid() -> DagResult<()> {
     for i in 0..SIZE {
         for j in 0..SIZE {
             let task = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { (i * SIZE + j) as i32 }));
-            grid[i][j] = Some((&task).into());
+            grid[i][j] = Some(task.into());
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/patterns/tree.rs b/tests/patterns/tree.rs
index 448b004..a970d60 100644
--- a/tests/patterns/tree.rs
+++ b/tests/patterns/tree.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Tree pattern DAG tests
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ async fn test_binary_tree_reduction() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     // Build binary tree reduction
     let mut current_level: Vec<dagx::TaskHandle<i32>> =
-        leaves.into_iter().map(|t| (&t).into()).collect();
+        leaves.into_iter().map(|t| t.into()).collect();
 
     while current_level.len() > 1 {
         let mut next_level = Vec::new();
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ async fn test_n_ary_tree() -> DagResult<()> {
     fn build_tree(dag: &DagRunner, depth: usize, value: i32) -> dagx::TaskHandle<i32> {
         if depth == 0 {
             let task = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { value }));
-            return (&task).into();
+            return task.into();
         }
 
         let children: Vec<_> = (0..3)
@@ -88,19 +88,19 @@ async fn test_unbalanced_tree() -> DagResult<()> {
     //   /            \
     //  f              g
 
-    let f = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 }));
+    let f: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 1 })).into();
     let g = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 2 }));
 
     let c = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&f);
+        .depends_on(f);
 
     let d_builder = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 3 }));
-    let d: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&d_builder).into();
+    let d: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = d_builder.into();
 
     let e = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 3 }))
-        .depends_on(&g);
+        .depends_on(g);
 
     let a = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|(c, d): (i32, i32)| async move { c + d }))
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ async fn test_unbalanced_tree() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&f)?, 1);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(f)?, 1);
     assert_eq!(dag.get(c)?, 2);
     assert_eq!(dag.get(a)?, 5); // 2 + 3
     assert_eq!(dag.get(b)?, 16); // 6 + 10
@@ -130,20 +130,22 @@ async fn test_trie_like_structure() -> DagResult<()> {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Build a trie-like structure for paths
-    let root = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { "root".to_string() }));
+    let root: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { "root".to_string() }))
+        .into();
 
     // First level
     let usr = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|r: String| async move { format!("{}/usr", r) }))
-        .depends_on(&root);
+        .depends_on(root);
 
     let etc = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|r: String| async move { format!("{}/etc", r) }))
-        .depends_on(&root);
+        .depends_on(root);
 
     let var = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|r: String| async move { format!("{}/var", r) }))
-        .depends_on(&root);
+        .depends_on(root);
 
     // Second level
     let usr_bin = dag
@@ -188,7 +190,7 @@ async fn test_balanced_k_ary_tree() -> DagResult<()> {
     ) -> dagx::TaskHandle<usize> {
         if depth == 0 {
             let task = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { node_id }));
-            return (&task).into();
+            return task.into();
         }
 
         let children: Vec<_> = (0..k)
@@ -243,7 +245,7 @@ async fn test_merkle_tree_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     // Convert to TaskHandles
     let mut current_level: Vec<dagx::TaskHandle<String>> =
-        data_blocks.into_iter().map(|t| (&t).into()).collect();
+        data_blocks.into_iter().map(|t| t.into()).collect();
 
     while current_level.len() > 1 {
         let mut next_level = Vec::new();
diff --git a/tests/performance/memory.rs b/tests/performance/memory.rs
index 6528461..6f5c49c 100644
--- a/tests/performance/memory.rs
+++ b/tests/performance/memory.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ async fn test_memory_usage_10000_nodes() {
     let before_build = memory_usage_hint();
 
     // Create 10,000 nodes
-    let tasks: Vec<_> = (0..10_000)
+    let mut tasks: Vec<_> = (0..10_000)
         .map(|i| dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i })))
         .collect();
 
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ async fn test_memory_usage_10000_nodes() {
     println!("Additional memory for execution: ~{} bytes", exec_memory);
 
     // Verify some results
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&tasks[0]).unwrap(), 0);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&tasks[9999]).unwrap(), 9999);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(tasks.swap_remove(9999)).unwrap(), 9999);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(tasks.swap_remove(0)).unwrap(), 0);
 
     // Memory should be reasonable (< 100MB for 10k simple nodes)
     assert!(
diff --git a/tests/performance/stress.rs b/tests/performance/stress.rs
index 1fa63a1..6f96275 100644
--- a/tests/performance/stress.rs
+++ b/tests/performance/stress.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ async fn test_deep_chain_100_levels() {
     // Create a chain 100 levels deep
     let start = Instant::now();
     let first = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 0 }));
-    let mut handles = vec![(&first).into()];
+    let mut handles = vec![first.into()];
 
     for _ in 1..=100 {
         let next = dag
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ async fn test_stress_mixed_patterns() {
     for i in 0..10 {
         // Linear chains
         let first = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i * 1000 }));
-        let mut chain_handles = vec![(&first).into()];
+        let mut chain_handles = vec![first.into()];
         for j in 1..10 {
             let next = dag
                 .add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x + j }))
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ async fn test_stress_mixed_patterns() {
 
         // Diamonds
         let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i * 100 }));
-        let source_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&source).into();
+        let source_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = source.into();
         let left = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
             .depends_on(source_handle);
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ async fn test_stress_mixed_patterns() {
 
         // Fan-outs
         let hub = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i }));
-        let hub_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&hub).into();
+        let hub_handle: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = hub.into();
         for j in 0..5 {
             let fan = dag
                 .add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x + j * 10 }))
diff --git a/tests/runtimes/async_std.rs b/tests/runtimes/async_std.rs
index 56b6915..028e15d 100644
--- a/tests/runtimes/async_std.rs
+++ b/tests/runtimes/async_std.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ async fn test_basic_dag_async_std() {
 
     let x = dag.add_task(Value(2));
     let y = dag.add_task(Value(3));
-    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&x, &y));
+    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((x, y));
 
     dag.run(async_std::task::spawn).await.unwrap();
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ async fn test_parallel_execution_async_std() {
 
     dag.run(async_std::task::spawn).await.unwrap();
 
-    for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(task).unwrap(), i * 2);
     }
 }
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ async fn test_complex_dependencies_async_std() {
 
     let a = dag.add_task(Value(10));
     let b = dag.add_task(Value(20));
-    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&a, &b));
+    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((a, b));
     let double = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
         .depends_on(sum);
diff --git a/tests/runtimes/compatibility.rs b/tests/runtimes/compatibility.rs
index be48b56..dd206af 100644
--- a/tests/runtimes/compatibility.rs
+++ b/tests/runtimes/compatibility.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ async fn runtime_integration_tokio() -> DagResult<()> {
 
     let a = dag.add_task(Value(10));
     let b = dag.add_task(Value(20));
-    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&a, &b));
+    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((a, b));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
diff --git a/tests/runtimes/quirky.rs b/tests/runtimes/quirky.rs
index 6e8f0f4..9bf6a1a 100644
--- a/tests/runtimes/quirky.rs
+++ b/tests/runtimes/quirky.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #![allow(unused_must_use)]
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::DagRunner;
+use dagx::{DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::task::SpawnExt;
 use futures_executor::ThreadPool;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ fn test_async_executor_basic() {
         let y = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 20 }));
         let sum = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|(a, b): (i32, i32)| async move { a + b }))
-            .depends_on((&x, &y));
+            .depends_on((x, y));
 
         dag.run(|fut| executor.spawn(fut)).await.unwrap();
 
@@ -54,15 +54,15 @@ fn test_async_executor_complex_dag() {
         let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
         // Create a diamond pattern
-        let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 5 }));
+        let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 5 })).into();
 
         let left = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-            .depends_on(&source);
+            .depends_on(source);
 
         let right = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 3 }))
-            .depends_on(&source);
+            .depends_on(source);
 
         let sink = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|(l, r): (i32, i32)| async move { l + r }))
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ fn test_async_executor_parallel_tasks() {
         assert_eq!(counter.load(Ordering::SeqCst), 10);
 
         // Verify results
-        for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+        for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
             assert_eq!(dag.get(task).unwrap(), i as i32);
         }
     };
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ fn test_async_executor_deep_chain() {
         let start = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 0 }));
         let mut current = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 1 }))
-            .depends_on(&start);
+            .depends_on(start);
 
         for _ in 1..50 {
             current = dag
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ fn test_pollster_basic() {
         let x = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100 }));
         let doubled = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-            .depends_on(&x);
+            .depends_on(x);
 
         dag.run(|fut| async { pollster::block_on(fut) })
             .await
@@ -186,12 +186,12 @@ fn test_pollster_complex() {
         let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
         // Fan-out pattern
-        let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 7 }));
+        let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 7 })).into();
 
         let tasks: Vec<_> = (0..5)
             .map(|i| {
                 dag.add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x * i }))
-                    .depends_on(&source)
+                    .depends_on(source)
             })
             .collect();
 
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ fn test_futures_executor_basic() {
         let y = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 25 }));
         let product = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|(a, b): (i32, i32)| async move { a * b }))
-            .depends_on((&x, &y));
+            .depends_on((x, y));
 
         let spawner = ThreadPool::new().unwrap();
 
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ fn test_futures_executor_threadpool() {
             .await
             .unwrap();
 
-        for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+        for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
             assert_eq!(dag.get(task).unwrap(), (i * i) as i32);
         }
     });
@@ -281,15 +281,15 @@ fn test_futures_executor_diamond_pattern() {
     futures_executor::block_on(async {
         let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-        let a = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 8 }));
+        let a: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 8 })).into();
 
         let b = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x + 2 }))
-            .depends_on(&a);
+            .depends_on(a);
 
         let c = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x - 2 }))
-            .depends_on(&a);
+            .depends_on(a);
 
         let d = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|(x, y): (i32, i32)| async move { x * y }))
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ fn test_async_executor_stress() {
 
         dag.run(|fut| executor.spawn(fut)).await.unwrap();
 
-        for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+        for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
             assert_eq!(dag.get(task).unwrap(), i as i32);
         }
     });
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ fn test_sync_tasks_on_async_executor() {
 
         let x = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 5 }));
         let y = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 7 }));
-        let sum = dag.add_task(SyncAdd).depends_on((&x, &y));
+        let sum = dag.add_task(SyncAdd).depends_on((x, y));
 
         dag.run(|fut| executor.spawn(fut)).await.unwrap();
 
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ fn test_sync_tasks_on_pollster() {
         let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
         let x = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 21 }));
-        let doubled = dag.add_task(SyncDouble).depends_on(&x);
+        let doubled = dag.add_task(SyncDouble).depends_on(x);
 
         dag.run(|fut| async { pollster::block_on(fut) })
             .await
diff --git a/tests/runtimes/smol.rs b/tests/runtimes/smol.rs
index 5351266..6d6ad27 100644
--- a/tests/runtimes/smol.rs
+++ b/tests/runtimes/smol.rs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ fn test_basic_dag_smol() {
 
         let x = dag.add_task(Value(2));
         let y = dag.add_task(Value(3));
-        let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&x, &y));
+        let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((x, y));
 
         dag.run(smol::spawn).await.unwrap();
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ fn test_parallel_execution_smol() {
 
         dag.run(smol::spawn).await.unwrap();
 
-        for (i, task) in tasks.iter().enumerate() {
+        for (i, task) in tasks.into_iter().enumerate() {
             assert_eq!(dag.get(task).unwrap(), i * 2);
         }
     });
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ fn test_complex_dependencies_smol() {
 
         let a = dag.add_task(Value(10));
         let b = dag.add_task(Value(20));
-        let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&a, &b));
+        let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((a, b));
         let double = dag
             .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
             .depends_on(sum);
diff --git a/tests/task_patterns/combined.rs b/tests/task_patterns/combined.rs
index e7126f4..e670fbb 100644
--- a/tests/task_patterns/combined.rs
+++ b/tests/task_patterns/combined.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ async fn test_all_three_task_patterns() {
     let y = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 3 }));
 
     // Pattern 1: Stateless addition
-    let sum = dag.add_task(StatelessAdd).depends_on((&x, &y)); // 5 + 3 = 8
+    let sum = dag.add_task(StatelessAdd).depends_on((x, y)); // 5 + 3 = 8
 
     // Pattern 2: Read-only multiplication
     let doubled = dag.add_task(ReadOnlyMultiplier(2)).depends_on(sum); // 8 * 2 = 16
@@ -102,9 +102,9 @@ async fn test_parallel_execution() {
 
     // All three tasks should have run
     assert_eq!(counter.load(Ordering::SeqCst), 3);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&t1).unwrap(), 1);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&t2).unwrap(), 2);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&t3).unwrap(), 3);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(t1).unwrap(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(t2).unwrap(), 2);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(t3).unwrap(), 3);
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ async fn test_task_fn_with_captured_state() {
     let base = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 5 }));
     let scaled = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(move |x: i32| async move { x * multiplier }))
-        .depends_on(&base);
+        .depends_on(base);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
diff --git a/tests/task_patterns/readonly.rs b/tests/task_patterns/readonly.rs
index f2407b1..0764c3f 100644
--- a/tests/task_patterns/readonly.rs
+++ b/tests/task_patterns/readonly.rs
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ async fn test_readonly_state_with_input() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let input = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 5 }));
-    let result = dag.add_task(ReadOnlyMultiplier(7)).depends_on(&input);
+    let result = dag.add_task(ReadOnlyMultiplier(7)).depends_on(input);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -76,13 +76,13 @@ async fn test_readonly_state_multiple_uses() {
         offset: 5,
     };
 
-    let result1 = dag.add_task(config).depends_on(&input1);
+    let result1 = dag.add_task(config).depends_on(input1);
     // Note: Can't reuse config because it was moved, so create another
     let config2 = ReadOnlyConfig {
         multiplier: 3,
         offset: 5,
     };
-    let result2 = dag.add_task(config2).depends_on(&input2);
+    let result2 = dag.add_task(config2).depends_on(input2);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
diff --git a/tests/task_patterns/stateless.rs b/tests/task_patterns/stateless.rs
index 9b7fc84..912f087 100644
--- a/tests/task_patterns/stateless.rs
+++ b/tests/task_patterns/stateless.rs
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ async fn test_stateless_basic() {
 
     let x = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 10 }));
     let y = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 20 }));
-    let sum = dag.add_task(StatelessAdd).depends_on((&x, &y));
+    let sum = dag.add_task(StatelessAdd).depends_on((x, y));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ async fn test_stateless_single_input() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let input = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 21 }));
-    let doubled = dag.add_task(StatelessDouble).depends_on(&input);
+    let doubled = dag.add_task(StatelessDouble).depends_on(input);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -128,9 +128,7 @@ async fn test_stateless_multiple_inputs() {
     let text = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { "test".to_string() }));
     let flag = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { true }));
 
-    let result = dag
-        .add_task(StatelessFormat)
-        .depends_on((&num, &text, &flag));
+    let result = dag.add_task(StatelessFormat).depends_on((num, text, flag));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -166,7 +164,7 @@ async fn test_stateless_mixed_with_stateful() {
     let y = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 3 }));
 
     // Stateless multiplication
-    let product = dag.add_task(StatelessMultiply).depends_on((&x, &y));
+    let product = dag.add_task(StatelessMultiply).depends_on((x, y));
 
     // Stateful counter
     let counted = dag.add_task(Counter::new(10)).depends_on(product);
@@ -185,7 +183,7 @@ async fn test_stateless_chain() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     let start = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 0 }));
-    let step1 = dag.add_task(StatelessInc).depends_on(&start);
+    let step1 = dag.add_task(StatelessInc).depends_on(start);
     let step2 = dag.add_task(StatelessInc).depends_on(step1);
     let step3 = dag.add_task(StatelessInc).depends_on(step2);
 
@@ -206,7 +204,7 @@ async fn test_stateless_parallel() {
     let tasks: Vec<_> = (1..=5)
         .map(|i| {
             let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i }));
-            dag.add_task(StatelessSquare).depends_on(&source)
+            dag.add_task(StatelessSquare).depends_on(source)
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -229,7 +227,7 @@ async fn test_stateless_with_string_types() {
     let hello = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { "Hello, ".to_string() }));
     let world = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { "World!".to_string() }));
 
-    let greeting = dag.add_task(StatelessConcat).depends_on((&hello, &world));
+    let greeting = dag.add_task(StatelessConcat).depends_on((hello, world));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
diff --git a/tests/timing/concurrent_access.rs b/tests/timing/concurrent_access.rs
index 641ea9e..bc72735 100644
--- a/tests/timing/concurrent_access.rs
+++ b/tests/timing/concurrent_access.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Tests for concurrent access patterns and race conditions
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ async fn test_concurrent_result_retrieval() -> DagResult<()> {
                 tokio::time::sleep(tokio::time::Duration::from_millis(1)).await;
                 i as usize
             }));
-            (&task).into()
+            task.into()
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ async fn test_simultaneous_dag_building_and_execution() -> DagResult<()> {
         let mut tasks: Vec<dagx::TaskHandle<i32>> = Vec::new();
         for i in 5..50 {
             let task = dag_build.add_task(task_fn(move |_: ()| async move { i }));
-            tasks.push((&task).into());
+            tasks.push(task.into());
             tokio::time::sleep(tokio::time::Duration::from_millis(1)).await;
         }
         building.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ async fn test_simultaneous_dag_building_and_execution() -> DagResult<()> {
     let additional_tasks = build_handle.await.unwrap();
 
     // Initial tasks should have results
-    for (i, task) in initial.iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, task) in initial.into_iter().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(dag.get(task)?, i);
     }
 
@@ -107,16 +107,18 @@ async fn test_concurrent_dependency_resolution() -> DagResult<()> {
     let resolution_counter = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
 
     // Create a source task
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn({
-        let counter = resolution_counter.clone();
-        move |_: ()| {
-            let counter = counter.clone();
-            async move {
-                counter.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
-                42
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn({
+            let counter = resolution_counter.clone();
+            move |_: ()| {
+                let counter = counter.clone();
+                async move {
+                    counter.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                    42
+                }
             }
-        }
-    }));
+        }))
+        .into();
 
     // Create many tasks depending on the same source
     let dependents: Vec<_> = (0..100)
@@ -129,7 +131,7 @@ async fn test_concurrent_dependency_resolution() -> DagResult<()> {
                     val + i
                 }
             }))
-            .depends_on(&source)
+            .depends_on(source)
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -166,6 +168,7 @@ async fn test_read_write_race_patterns() -> DagResult<()> {
                     i
                 }
             }))
+            .into()
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -284,7 +287,7 @@ async fn test_multiple_dag_runners_interaction() -> DagResult<()> {
             // Collect results
             let mut results = Vec::new();
             for task in tasks {
-                results.push(dag.get(&task)?);
+                results.push(dag.get(task)?);
             }
 
             Ok::<_, dagx::DagError>(results)
diff --git a/tests/timing/interleaving.rs b/tests/timing/interleaving.rs
index 4cf8d50..867c204 100644
--- a/tests/timing/interleaving.rs
+++ b/tests/timing/interleaving.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Tests for forced execution interleaving patterns
 
 use crate::common::task_fn;
-use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner};
+use dagx::{DagResult, DagRunner, TaskHandle};
 use futures::FutureExt;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ async fn test_forced_interleaving_with_barriers() -> DagResult<()> {
         .add_task(task_fn(
             |(a, b, c): (i32, i32, i32)| async move { a + b + c },
         ))
-        .depends_on((&t1, &t2, &t3));
+        .depends_on((t1, t2, t3));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap)).await?;
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ async fn test_alternating_execution_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
             }
         }
     }));
-    let mut chain_a: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&first_a).into();
+    let mut chain_a: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = first_a.into();
 
     let first_b = dag.add_task(task_fn({
         let turn = turn.clone();
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ async fn test_alternating_execution_pattern() -> DagResult<()> {
             }
         }
     }));
-    let mut chain_b: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = (&first_b).into();
+    let mut chain_b: dagx::TaskHandle<i32> = first_b.into();
 
     for i in 1..5 {
         let turn_clone = turn.clone();
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ async fn test_layered_interleaving() -> DagResult<()> {
                     i as i32
                 }
             }))
+            .into()
         })
         .collect();
 
@@ -250,19 +251,21 @@ async fn test_cross_branch_synchronization() -> DagResult<()> {
     let events = Arc::new(parking_lot::Mutex::new(Vec::new()));
 
     // Branch A
-    let a1 = dag.add_task(task_fn({
-        let sync = sync_point.clone();
-        let events = events.clone();
-        move |_: ()| {
-            let sync = sync.clone();
+    let a1: TaskHandle<_> = dag
+        .add_task(task_fn({
+            let sync = sync_point.clone();
             let events = events.clone();
-            async move {
-                events.lock().push("A1");
-                sync.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
-                1
+            move |_: ()| {
+                let sync = sync.clone();
+                let events = events.clone();
+                async move {
+                    events.lock().push("A1");
+                    sync.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                    1
+                }
             }
-        }
-    }));
+        }))
+        .into();
 
     let a2 = dag
         .add_task(task_fn({
@@ -282,7 +285,7 @@ async fn test_cross_branch_synchronization() -> DagResult<()> {
                 }
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&a1);
+        .depends_on(a1);
 
     // Branch B
     let b1 = dag.add_task(task_fn({
@@ -320,7 +323,7 @@ async fn test_cross_branch_synchronization() -> DagResult<()> {
                 }
             }
         }))
-        .depends_on(&b1);
+        .depends_on(b1);
 
     // Merge
     let merge = dag
diff --git a/tests/tracing/with_tracing.rs b/tests/tracing/with_tracing.rs
index f6d9d9c..1ef3d88 100644
--- a/tests/tracing/with_tracing.rs
+++ b/tests/tracing/with_tracing.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ async fn test_tracing_with_subscriber() {
 
     let a = dag.add_task(Value(2));
     let b = dag.add_task(Value(3));
-    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&a, &b));
+    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((a, b));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ async fn test_tracing_with_complex_dag() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Create a diamond pattern
-    let source = dag.add_task(Value(10));
+    let source = dag.add_task(Value(10)).into();
     let left = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&source, &source));
     let right = dag.add_task(Multiply).depends_on((&source, &source));
     let sink = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&left, &right));
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ async fn test_tracing_inline_execution() {
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
     // Create a linear chain (should trigger inline execution)
-    let a = dag.add_task(Value(1));
+    let a = dag.add_task(Value(1)).into();
     let b = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&a, &a));
     let c = dag.add_task(Multiply).depends_on((&b, &b));
 
@@ -118,12 +118,12 @@ async fn test_tracing_multiple_layers() {
 
     // Layer 0
     let v1 = dag.add_task(Value(1));
-    let v2 = dag.add_task(Value(2));
+    let v2 = dag.add_task(Value(2)).into();
     let v3 = dag.add_task(Value(3));
 
     // Layer 1
-    let sum12 = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&v1, &v2));
-    let mul23 = dag.add_task(Multiply).depends_on((&v2, &v3));
+    let sum12 = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((v1, &v2));
+    let mul23 = dag.add_task(Multiply).depends_on((&v2, v3));
 
     // Layer 2
     let final_sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&sum12, &mul23));
diff --git a/tests/tracing/without_tracing.rs b/tests/tracing/without_tracing.rs
index 79f31b9..cf05260 100644
--- a/tests/tracing/without_tracing.rs
+++ b/tests/tracing/without_tracing.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ async fn test_basic_dag_without_tracing() {
 
     let a = dag.add_task(Value(2));
     let b = dag.add_task(Value(3));
-    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&a, &b));
+    let sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((a, b));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ async fn test_complex_dag_without_tracing() {
     let v3 = dag.add_task(Value(3));
     let v4 = dag.add_task(Value(4));
 
-    let sum12 = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&v1, &v2));
-    let sum34 = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&v3, &v4));
+    let sum12 = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((v1, v2));
+    let sum34 = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((v3, v4));
     let final_sum = dag.add_task(Add).depends_on((&sum12, &sum34));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
diff --git a/tests/type_safety/complex.rs b/tests/type_safety/complex.rs
index 19bf16b..f4c166c 100644
--- a/tests/type_safety/complex.rs
+++ b/tests/type_safety/complex.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ async fn test_complex_type_safety() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // Correct type works
-    let custom = dag.get(&custom_task).unwrap();
+    let custom = dag.get(custom_task).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(custom.value, 42);
 
     // Type safety is enforced at compile time - we cannot get with wrong types
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ async fn test_generic_type_safety() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // Correct types work
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&vec_i32).unwrap(), vec![1, 2, 3]);
-    assert!(dag.get(&vec_string).is_ok());
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(vec_i32).unwrap(), vec![1, 2, 3]);
+    assert!(dag.get(vec_string).is_ok());
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ async fn test_option_result_type_safety() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // Correct wrapped types work
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&opt_task).unwrap(), Some(42));
-    assert!(dag.get(&result_task).is_ok());
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(opt_task).unwrap(), Some(42));
+    assert!(dag.get(result_task).is_ok());
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ async fn test_zero_sized_type_safety() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // Correct ZSTs work
-    assert!(dag.get(&zst1_task).is_ok());
+    assert!(dag.get(zst1_task).is_ok());
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -115,13 +115,13 @@ async fn test_type_safety_with_many_types() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // Each type works correctly
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&i32_task).unwrap(), 42i32);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&i64_task).unwrap(), 42i64);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&u32_task).unwrap(), 42u32);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&f32_task).unwrap(), 42.0f32);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&f64_task).unwrap(), 42.0f64);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&string_task).unwrap(), "42".to_string());
-    assert!(dag.get(&bool_task).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(i32_task).unwrap(), 42i32);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(i64_task).unwrap(), 42i64);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(u32_task).unwrap(), 42u32);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(f32_task).unwrap(), 42.0f32);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(f64_task).unwrap(), 42.0f64);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(string_task).unwrap(), "42".to_string());
+    assert!(dag.get(bool_task).unwrap());
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ async fn test_type_safety_single_dependency() {
     // This compiles because types match (i32 -> i32)
     let transform = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ async fn test_type_safety_tuple_dependencies() {
         .add_task(task_fn(|(x, s, b): (i32, String, bool)| async move {
             format!("{}: {} ({})", s, x, b)
         }))
-        .depends_on((&a, &b, &c));
+        .depends_on((a, b, c));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -177,9 +177,9 @@ async fn test_type_safety_different_output_types() {
         .await
         .unwrap();
 
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&int_source).unwrap(), 42);
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&str_source).unwrap(), "test");
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&vec_source).unwrap(), vec![1, 2, 3]);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(int_source).unwrap(), 42);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(str_source).unwrap(), "test");
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(vec_source).unwrap(), vec![1, 2, 3]);
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ async fn test_type_safety_with_generics() {
         .add_task(task_fn(
             |opt: Option<i32>| async move { opt.map(|x| x * 2) },
         ))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ async fn test_type_safety_with_generics() {
         .add_task(task_fn(
             |opt: Option<i32>| async move { opt.map(|x| x * 2) },
         ))
-        .depends_on(&source2);
+        .depends_on(source2);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ async fn test_large_tuple_input() {
         .add_task(task_fn(
             |(a, b, c, d, e): (i32, i32, i32, i32, i32)| async move { a + b + c + d + e },
         ))
-        .depends_on((&a, &b, &c, &d, &e));
+        .depends_on((a, b, c, d, e));
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await
diff --git a/tests/type_safety/handles.rs b/tests/type_safety/handles.rs
index 9372107..052167e 100644
--- a/tests/type_safety/handles.rs
+++ b/tests/type_safety/handles.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ async fn test_get_with_wrong_type_returns_none() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // Verify correct type works
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&int_task), Ok(42i32));
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(int_task), Ok(42i32));
 
     // The type safety is enforced at compile time
     // We cannot create fake handles with wrong types without accessing private fields
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ async fn test_handle_preserves_type() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // Get with correct types
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&string_task).unwrap(), "hello".to_string());
-    assert_eq!(dag.get(&int_task).unwrap(), 42);
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(string_task).unwrap(), "hello".to_string());
+    assert_eq!(dag.get(int_task).unwrap(), 42);
 
     // Type safety is enforced at compile time - we cannot create wrong-typed handles
 }
@@ -53,15 +53,15 @@ async fn test_type_safety_handle_reuse() {
     // Verify that handles maintain type safety across reuse
     let dag = DagRunner::new();
 
-    let source = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100i32 }));
+    let source: TaskHandle<_> = dag.add_task(task_fn(|_: ()| async { 100i32 })).into();
 
     // Use the same source handle multiple times
     let double = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 2 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
     let triple = dag
         .add_task(task_fn(|x: i32| async move { x * 3 }))
-        .depends_on(&source);
+        .depends_on(source);
 
     dag.run(|fut| tokio::spawn(fut).map(Result::unwrap))
         .await