3 ms·
He uses a text file for his TODO list so that mankind will be able to read it in 1000 years! I wish my work were that important. When I was younger and first u
by frou_dh 16y ago
He uses a text file for his TODO list so that mankind will be able to read it in 1000 years! I wish my work were that important.
When I was younger and first using a computer, I would "Open with Notepad" all sorts of files to see if anything about the structure was readable. That's why I liked text files then, these days I like them because they are often indicators of the mindset of simplicity.
- al_james 16y agoAssuming they still use ASCII (or an ASCII extended character set) in those days.
- harpastum 16y agoAs long as people still use English (or letter-based languages), ASCII would be pretty straightforward to decipher — especially compared to a straight binary dump.
- sprout 16y agoActually he uses it, I imagine, so that he will be able to read it next year. I haven't even tried to use any todo apps, (the text file has always served me well) but what experience I have with proprietary formats is that they're a poor choice for storing data, since either they're poorly designed or the designer is constantly redesigning them and invalidating your data.
- frou_dh 16y agoThat's why the statement was doubly odd, because todos are pretty transient. I like Things for Mac myself because it automates repeating and scheduled todo items, and has a distinction between completable projects and areas of upkeep. A programmer can leave any time they want by processing its XML file.