7 ms·

Taskwarrior is a time and task management tool (terminal)

77 points by adulau 15y ago

deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
gcb 15y ago
seems good. but one of the best features of a console app is to simply copy/paste some sample session... they only have one screenshot of the calendar... i installed it in ubuntu and am still fiddling with the website looking for how to add tasks. Also, as guy who sent some humble patches so that remind, pscal, can work with exchange file formats and pscal can download holidays from google calendar, I'm questioning if that shouldn't only be a front end for remind.
- BasDirks 15y ago
  You want to add a task? task add "this is the task description"
  - gcb 15y ago
    i got that far with the help, but had a mind fart when trying to add a dead line... help just says: task add [tags] [attrs] desc... Adds a new task. anyway, my point was not asking for support. it was to remember people that create console apps, that the best feature the application have, is that you can do what the application is supposed to do (e.g. create one simple task, one complex one, show the calendar, mark one as done, show the calendar again) and simply copy and paste, not matter how long, on the first page of your project.
urlwolf 15y ago
The calendar in the screenshot is misleading; the power of this tool comes from: (1) being always available (who doesn't have a terminal open?) and (2) having a powerful command language. It's the only todo tool that I actually use. It removes the friction of having to have a web-based one open, find the window/tab, click on the appropriate textbox, etc. The devs listen to comments, and think carefully new features. I was added to the list of contributors for 2.0 just because of an idea I suggested. Very active project. Cannot recommend enough. Our startup uses it instead of a whiteboard.
- pdelgallego 15y ago
  > It's the only todo tool that I actually use. It removes the friction of having to have a web-based one open, find the window/tab, click on the appropriate textbox, etc. That is the same reason why I use org-mode in emacs. I dont even need to change the window. I just type in the minibuffer the todo item and voila, added to my plain text org file.
- mikle 15y ago
  > (who doesn't have a terminal open?) Really? 1. Every non programmer / IT guy in the world. 2. Some of the programmers (me included) who do not work with Linux environments or who abstracted the terminals using some other tool.
  - minhajuddin 15y ago
    Well this tool is clearly not for you guys :) Actually guys who like the terminal try to abstract everything to use the terminal (taskwarrior is a perfect example of this). Of course all this is subjective and based on personal taste.
adulau 15y ago
Looking for a minimal time-sheet management software at work, I found taskwarrior. I was looking for something reasonable to use (not one of those "web 2.0" interfaces where you have to click on five different links to just stop/start a task). Taskwarrior seems very handy especially when you are all day long in your terminal and don't want to interfere with your work for doing some "reporting". But there is a missing way to get the time spent on a task/project. It seems to be a recurring request: http://taskwarrior.org/boards/6/topics/79 http://taskwarrior.org/boards/6/topics/79 but I haven't found any feature doing it. Beside that, it seems quite nifty.
- urlwolf 15y ago
  You could try 'task X start' and 'task X stop', this is what we use to see how long things take. but yes, no reporting...
  - evangineer 15y ago
    Nice one, for more on this see the Active Tasks section in the tutorial: http://taskwarrior.org/projects/taskwarrior/wiki/Tutorial http://taskwarrior.org/projects/taskwarrior/wiki/Tutorial
- dorian-graph 15y ago
  I feel as if I have tried near every to-do, GTD, or similar type app on the desktop and web and there is one feature that is always, without fail, missing and one that usually is. The first is the ability to allot to a task how long it should take (E.g. Buy milk - 15m, Create wireframe for client x - 30m). The only place I have ever seen it, as far as I can recall, is Action Method. The second is the one you mentioned. Admittedly they are both quite similar though there is a distinct difference in usage.
  - losvedir 15y ago
    Not to be "that guy", but have you tried org-mode? It has an "effort estimate"[1] feature, which lets you estimate how long you think a task will take. It's also got good time clocking features, so you can compare how close you were. I don't use it to estimate my effort, so not sure how effective or useful it is in practice. [1] http://orgmode.org/manual/Effort-estimates.html http://orgmode.org/manual/Effort-estimates.html
david_shaw 15y ago
I've used Taskwarrior (`task`) since last summer to manage my to-do list. I'm a big fan of simple, console-based tools, so Taskwarrior was right up my alley. Best of all, since I have Taskwarrior on my Linode, I can SSH in to view, add or complete tasks from any computer or even my phone! If you're looking to finally start doing your to-do list, Taskwarrior can be a great aid.
- mlacitation 15y ago
  I use Task on my Linode too. I have the output of "task list" cronned to a text file under a virtual host. The file uses auth-based htaccess rules, and I have the unique user/pass saved in the URL bookmarked on my machine. I usually have a terminal window open, but it's nice to be able to click the bookmark bar and have it right there. I also have a widget that pulls in text files, so I can see my tasks at a glance by moving the cursor to the top-left of my screen. Taskwarrior is great. Like david_shaw said, if you're looking to finally start doing your to-do list, use Taskwarrior.
raju 15y ago
Has anyone used both Taskwarrior and org-mode? Any words of wisdom?
- RBerenguel 15y ago
  Hi, I've been an user of both. I wrote about Taskwarrior here: http://www.mostlymaths.net/2011/03/using-taskwarrior-instead-of-emacsorg.html http://www.mostlymaths.net/2011/03/using-taskwarrior-instead... I am using it more often than org-mode, mainly because it works very well in my Ben Nanonote, and org mode does not work as well. It is very good, but org-mode is more flexible (as everything in emacs is) and covers a wider range. Tw is more like the "do one thing and do it well" Linux command line style tools.
wheaties 15y ago
I had no idea what that thing was from reading the overview page. Reading some of the comments here I've got a better idea. Someone should let them know.
- m3koval 15y ago
  I had exactly the same reaction to the overview. Their introduction has a surprisingly of business-speak for a FOSS project: "Taskwarrior is an ambitious project bringing sophisticated capabilities to a simple and elegant productivity tool." It's a command-line todo list. Despite the confusing overview, it looks highly polished and to be under active development. I wonder how well the device syncing works.
  - ddeimeke 15y ago
    We changed it picking up your advice, please have a look.
BasDirks 15y ago
There is an excellent tutorial available on youtube: Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-abs0s8uis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-abs0s8uis Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuiSbMS0_5g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuiSbMS0_5g
- gte910h 15y ago
  These are significantly easier to follow than the article. Thanks.
nubela 15y ago
anyone knows if there is a way to sync this with the cloud so it can be used between computers?
- mlacitation 15y ago
  The actual task information is stored in your home directory. I use it on a Linode and stay connected all day (cloud enough for me :) ) I've seen other people use it with Dropbox, which would fulfill the syncing requirement. There's a guy on the forums that developed a RoR frontend for it too: https://github.com/theunraveler/taskwarrior-web https://github.com/theunraveler/taskwarrior-web
- arc_of_descent 15y ago
  I'm using Dropbox. And then, $ task config data.location /home/dir/Dropbox/tasks
nubela 15y ago
anyone knows if there is a way to sync this with the cloud so it can be used between computers?
programminggeek 15y ago
I'm a big fan of org-mode but mostly because emacs is great and it is useful for more than just todo lists. I end up using org-mode to organize lots of different things. It is great.
lepht 15y ago
I've been using Taskwarrior for a few weeks as my primary task manager, and I have to say it's a beautiful extension of the principles of Todo.[txt/sh]. The only thing missing for me is the ability to apply modifications to filters instead of needing to use explicit task ID lists. For example: task proj:Foo due:tomorrow Instead of: task 1,2,3,7,10-12 due:tomorrow. For oh-my-zsh users, I've got an open pull request for adding a Taskwarrior autocompletion plugin: https://github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/pull/370 https://github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/pull/370 The intelligent completion lowers the barrier to task entry even further. You may also want to try using a combination of Taskwarrior's shell mode and rlwrap, which has become my main usage method: `alias ts=rlwrap -i -r -C task task shell` Combine this with a drop-down terminal like Guake or tilda, and you've got text-based-tasklist-anywhere nirvana.
ppyu 15y ago
Here's a vi keys centric todo tool: http://cauterized.net/~meskio/tudu/ http://cauterized.net/~meskio/tudu/

77 points by adulau 15y ago

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]

gcb 15y ago

seems good. but one of the best features of a console app is to simply copy/paste some sample session... they only have one screenshot of the calendar... i installed it in ubuntu and am still fiddling with the website looking for how to add tasks. Also, as guy who sent some humble patches so that remind, pscal, can work with exchange file formats and pscal can download holidays from google calendar, I'm questioning if that shouldn't only be a front end for remind.

BasDirks 15y ago
You want to add a task? task add "this is the task description"
- gcb 15y ago
  i got that far with the help, but had a mind fart when trying to add a dead line... help just says: task add [tags] [attrs] desc... Adds a new task. anyway, my point was not asking for support. it was to remember people that create console apps, that the best feature the application have, is that you can do what the application is supposed to do (e.g. create one simple task, one complex one, show the calendar, mark one as done, show the calendar again) and simply copy and paste, not matter how long, on the first page of your project.

urlwolf 15y ago

The calendar in the screenshot is misleading; the power of this tool comes from: (1) being always available (who doesn't have a terminal open?) and (2) having a powerful command language. It's the only todo tool that I actually use. It removes the friction of having to have a web-based one open, find the window/tab, click on the appropriate textbox, etc. The devs listen to comments, and think carefully new features. I was added to the list of contributors for 2.0 just because of an idea I suggested. Very active project. Cannot recommend enough. Our startup uses it instead of a whiteboard.

pdelgallego 15y ago
> It's the only todo tool that I actually use. It removes the friction of having to have a web-based one open, find the window/tab, click on the appropriate textbox, etc. That is the same reason why I use org-mode in emacs. I dont even need to change the window. I just type in the minibuffer the todo item and voila, added to my plain text org file.
mikle 15y ago
> (who doesn't have a terminal open?) Really? 1. Every non programmer / IT guy in the world. 2. Some of the programmers (me included) who do not work with Linux environments or who abstracted the terminals using some other tool.
- minhajuddin 15y ago
  Well this tool is clearly not for you guys :) Actually guys who like the terminal try to abstract everything to use the terminal (taskwarrior is a perfect example of this). Of course all this is subjective and based on personal taste.

adulau 15y ago

Looking for a minimal time-sheet management software at work, I found taskwarrior. I was looking for something reasonable to use (not one of those "web 2.0" interfaces where you have to click on five different links to just stop/start a task). Taskwarrior seems very handy especially when you are all day long in your terminal and don't want to interfere with your work for doing some "reporting". But there is a missing way to get the time spent on a task/project. It seems to be a recurring request: http://taskwarrior.org/boards/6/topics/79 http://taskwarrior.org/boards/6/topics/79 but I haven't found any feature doing it. Beside that, it seems quite nifty.

urlwolf 15y ago
You could try 'task X start' and 'task X stop', this is what we use to see how long things take. but yes, no reporting...
- evangineer 15y ago
  Nice one, for more on this see the Active Tasks section in the tutorial: http://taskwarrior.org/projects/taskwarrior/wiki/Tutorial http://taskwarrior.org/projects/taskwarrior/wiki/Tutorial
dorian-graph 15y ago
I feel as if I have tried near every to-do, GTD, or similar type app on the desktop and web and there is one feature that is always, without fail, missing and one that usually is. The first is the ability to allot to a task how long it should take (E.g. Buy milk - 15m, Create wireframe for client x - 30m). The only place I have ever seen it, as far as I can recall, is Action Method. The second is the one you mentioned. Admittedly they are both quite similar though there is a distinct difference in usage.
- losvedir 15y ago
  Not to be "that guy", but have you tried org-mode? It has an "effort estimate"[1] feature, which lets you estimate how long you think a task will take. It's also got good time clocking features, so you can compare how close you were. I don't use it to estimate my effort, so not sure how effective or useful it is in practice. [1] http://orgmode.org/manual/Effort-estimates.html http://orgmode.org/manual/Effort-estimates.html

david_shaw 15y ago

I've used Taskwarrior (`task`) since last summer to manage my to-do list. I'm a big fan of simple, console-based tools, so Taskwarrior was right up my alley. Best of all, since I have Taskwarrior on my Linode, I can SSH in to view, add or complete tasks from any computer or even my phone! If you're looking to finally start doing your to-do list, Taskwarrior can be a great aid.

mlacitation 15y ago
I use Task on my Linode too. I have the output of "task list" cronned to a text file under a virtual host. The file uses auth-based htaccess rules, and I have the unique user/pass saved in the URL bookmarked on my machine. I usually have a terminal window open, but it's nice to be able to click the bookmark bar and have it right there. I also have a widget that pulls in text files, so I can see my tasks at a glance by moving the cursor to the top-left of my screen. Taskwarrior is great. Like david_shaw said, if you're looking to finally start doing your to-do list, use Taskwarrior.

raju 15y ago

Has anyone used both Taskwarrior and org-mode? Any words of wisdom?

RBerenguel 15y ago
Hi, I've been an user of both. I wrote about Taskwarrior here: http://www.mostlymaths.net/2011/03/using-taskwarrior-instead-of-emacsorg.html http://www.mostlymaths.net/2011/03/using-taskwarrior-instead... I am using it more often than org-mode, mainly because it works very well in my Ben Nanonote, and org mode does not work as well. It is very good, but org-mode is more flexible (as everything in emacs is) and covers a wider range. Tw is more like the "do one thing and do it well" Linux command line style tools.

wheaties 15y ago

I had no idea what that thing was from reading the overview page. Reading some of the comments here I've got a better idea. Someone should let them know.

m3koval 15y ago
I had exactly the same reaction to the overview. Their introduction has a surprisingly of business-speak for a FOSS project: "Taskwarrior is an ambitious project bringing sophisticated capabilities to a simple and elegant productivity tool." It's a command-line todo list. Despite the confusing overview, it looks highly polished and to be under active development. I wonder how well the device syncing works.
- ddeimeke 15y ago
  We changed it picking up your advice, please have a look.

BasDirks 15y ago

There is an excellent tutorial available on youtube: Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-abs0s8uis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-abs0s8uis Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuiSbMS0_5g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuiSbMS0_5g

gte910h 15y ago
These are significantly easier to follow than the article. Thanks.

nubela 15y ago

anyone knows if there is a way to sync this with the cloud so it can be used between computers?

mlacitation 15y ago
The actual task information is stored in your home directory. I use it on a Linode and stay connected all day (cloud enough for me :) ) I've seen other people use it with Dropbox, which would fulfill the syncing requirement. There's a guy on the forums that developed a RoR frontend for it too: https://github.com/theunraveler/taskwarrior-web https://github.com/theunraveler/taskwarrior-web
arc_of_descent 15y ago
I'm using Dropbox. And then, $ task config data.location /home/dir/Dropbox/tasks

nubela 15y ago

anyone knows if there is a way to sync this with the cloud so it can be used between computers?

programminggeek 15y ago

I'm a big fan of org-mode but mostly because emacs is great and it is useful for more than just todo lists. I end up using org-mode to organize lots of different things. It is great.

lepht 15y ago

I've been using Taskwarrior for a few weeks as my primary task manager, and I have to say it's a beautiful extension of the principles of Todo.[txt/sh]. The only thing missing for me is the ability to apply modifications to filters instead of needing to use explicit task ID lists. For example: task proj:Foo due:tomorrow Instead of: task 1,2,3,7,10-12 due:tomorrow. For oh-my-zsh users, I've got an open pull request for adding a Taskwarrior autocompletion plugin: https://github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/pull/370 https://github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/pull/370 The intelligent completion lowers the barrier to task entry even further. You may also want to try using a combination of Taskwarrior's shell mode and rlwrap, which has become my main usage method: `alias ts=rlwrap -i -r -C task task shell` Combine this with a drop-down terminal like Guake or tilda, and you've got text-based-tasklist-anywhere nirvana.

ppyu 15y ago

Here's a vi keys centric todo tool: http://cauterized.net/~meskio/tudu/ http://cauterized.net/~meskio/tudu/