Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Todo.txt

Track your tasks and projects in a plain text file, todo.txt. A todo.

Todo.txt

Todo.txt Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether Todo.txt is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • Todo.txt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-15

Features & Specs

  1. Simplicity

    Todo.txt uses a plain text format that is easy to read, edit, and manage with any text editor.

  2. Portability

    Because it is a plain text file, it can be used across different platforms without compatibility issues.

  3. Customizability

    The format is flexible, allowing users to create their own conventions for priorities, projects, and contexts.

  4. Tool Compatibility

    There are numerous tools, apps, and scripts designed to work specifically with the Todo.txt format.

  5. Longevity

    Plain text files are not likely to become obsolete, ensuring long-term access to your data.

  6. Low Resource Usage

    Todo.txt requires minimal system resources, making it fast and efficient.

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Videos

My Todo.txt Workflow

Todo.txt - Todo List Manager - Linux CLI

Todo.txt Workflow

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about Todo.txt and what they use it for.
  • Ask HN: Who Uses a Todo.txt?
    I've gone full circle at least two or three times in my life when it comes to todo apps. Where I end up every time I tried all apps and processes is a todo.txt file, based on the http://todotxt.org file format. Now AI agents happily contribute to it as well :-). Is anyone else in that boat? - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • A comprehensive Sublime Text plugin for managing todo.txt files
    I built this plugin because I'm a huge fan of todo.txt files. Just plain text, no databases, no complex formats, no vendor lock-in. And pairing that simplicity with Sublime Text's blazing speed helps me tremendously with keeping my ADHD in check. If you want to learn more about the todo.txt format, you can check: http://todotxt.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Ask HN: What kind of TUI would you use if it existed?
    Ooooh... You just gave me an idea :). A TUI for http://todotxt.org/. That way, there's no lock-in and people can easily use their existing todo.txt to try the TUI. I'm looking for a TUI idea to explore Ratatui, so maybe this is it right here! - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • I tried every todo app and ended up with a .txt file
    There is a format called todo.txt that works follows very readable syntax (like your own example) and has some minimal bells and whistles if you want it to: http://todotxt.org/ As an alternative: I started using org-mode 5 years ago and have never looked back. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • I built a native Windows Todo app in pure C (278 KB, no frameworks)
    If text files are your world, then http://todotxt.org/ might be for you. I'm currently using "pter". - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Calendar.txt
    A very similar idea and philosophy - http://todotxt.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Calendar.txt
    For a few years, I evolved a slightly-modified Todo.txt format for this purpose, to represent both tasks and appointments. http://todotxt.org/ https://www.neilvandyke.org/todotxt/ In some ways it worked well, but there were a few drawbacks, and eventually I switched to native calendar programs on desktop and mobile. Drawbacks I personally felt: * In the text file, recurring tasks didn't show up when I looked into... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Show HN: My Command Line Todo List
    Reminds me of how I started my foray into plaintext task management: - http://todotxt.org - https://taskwarrior.org - https://www.taskpaper.com - https://notational.net Eventually, I decided multi-platform sync and mobile access were more important than the CLI. (Also I have the browser open more than the CLI.) In addition, I found a single line per task was not enough (that's why I started looking into TaskPaper... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What products other than Obsidian share the file over app philosophy?
    FSNotes for macOS and iOS is one I used for a little while. https://fsnot.es/ todo.txt is another thing that comes to mind. http://todotxt.org/ And of course pretty much all of *nix. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • My productivity app is a never-ending .txt file
    Since at least 2012 I've also been using a text file format from http://todotxt.org/ and more recently I wrote a program that takes a crontab-like list to pre-generate entries on a daily, by-day-name (every Sunday for example), and I also pull in a list of holidays from gov.uk, so they are also populated. [^1]: ( - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Tell us about your project that's not done yet but you want feedback on
    It's a web app implementing the todo.txt format (see http://todotxt.org/). It's an exercise to learn frontend currently, I doubt I could successfully monetize it. Would appreciate any feedback! - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Looking for a note taking app with inline tags.
    That format is really similar to todo.txt format, worth taking a look at http://todotxt.org/ (which in turn has application links). Source: about 3 years ago
  • Using Acme with Inferno's Shell as a pkm tool
    For todo and schedule I use todo.txt (http://todotxt.org/) a plain file managed by scripts which build agenda and plumber to keep track of unique keys. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Looking for PC and mobile "to do list" software
    The ToDo.Txt format makes it easy to use across devices/software, but this is really limited to ToDos. Source: about 3 years ago
  • TaskTXT The Todo List for Hackers
    Good idea, something similar to todotxt.org. But no 1) iPhone app 2) you need to sigh up and keep your notes at developers servers 3) subscriptions?! Come on! Source: over 3 years ago
  • Wish to start cli apps development
    There are a couple different routes you can go down. If your goal is to learn CLI stuff, it's hard to beat using shell-scripting for a simple app like a todo manager. Storing them in a plain-text file, a little sed/grep/awk and you're well on your way. For inspiration & hints, you might check out https://todotxt.org However, you can rapidly hit performance issues and limitations on available tooling if you... Source: over 3 years ago
  • I recently tried this "One Thing" extension that lets you put text in the menubar. Pretty handy!
    You could use this to set the text to the output of some arbitrary command or the contents of some file etc. For example to set it to the first line of your todo.txt file:. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Best to do app for a college student
    What also could work for you is http://todotxt.org/, its basically a text file or two if you want to keep track of some tasks, it already comes with two types of labeling but also key value tags, which you can use to filter based on your different desired levels. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Anyone know a good FOSS GUI todo app?
    Yes, I'm aware. Sounds like you aren't familiar with todo.txt? todo.txt. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • How would you try to get an overview of you'r entire project to make sure that everything is going into the right direction? Optimize on a system level instead of detail level.
    Obsidian was also great, and very minimalist at its base. You just make connections between notes and topics, and go from there. It uses markdown, it's fully customizable and extendable, with the simplicity of something like todo.txt (e.g. Editing notes outside of the app is completely fine). Source: almost 4 years ago
  • [OC] Doit - A todo manager that you didn't ask for, but needed !
    Maybe a format like http://todotxt.org/ would be a good fit. That way it would be compatible with other editors. Source: about 4 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of Todo.txt

Todo.txt, a simple and open-source task management solution, maintains a modest yet dedicated following within the tech community. Leveraging the versatility of plain text files, Todo.txt provides a minimalist and distraction-free platform for managing tasks. With simplicity as its hallmark, it evidences a robust design philosophy encapsulated by the motto: "if you want to get it done, first write it down."

Core Features and Philosophy

The core appeal of Todo.txt lies in its simplicity; it supports basic task management needs without the bells and whistles of more intricate applications. This straightforward approach resonates well with developers and users preferring lightweight solutions and command-line interfaces. By utilizing a plain text format, Todo.txt allows for compatibility across various environments, ensuring tasks are editable with a wide array of text editors.

Accessibility and Cross-Platform Usage

Adopters praise Todo.txt for its ease of access across devices and platforms. This adaptability is particularly advantageous for users who work in diverse technical ecosystems, enabling seamless synchronization using tools like Syncthing. The platformโ€™s open-source nature further promotes community support and continuous development.

Limitations and Challenges

Despite its advantages, Todo.txt exhibits notable limitations that prospective users should consider. The absence of integrated recurring task management presents a challenge for those requiring robust scheduling capabilities. Users have noted the lack of visual calendar views and the necessity of manual task updating as practical barriers. These limitations can pose significant inconvenience to individuals who rely heavily on sophisticated scheduling and task categorizing features.

Moreover, the transition from Todo.txt to native calendar programs or other more feature-rich applications often occurs when users outgrow the constraints of a plaintext calendar system. The manual integration of email invites and the lack of sub-task organization further highlights the simplicity-driven trade-offs of this platform.

Community and Development Ecosystem

Todo.txt attracts a niche but enthusiastic user base, often intersecting with developers and individuals in the open-source community. This engagement is reflected in the continued customization, such as adaptations for combined task and calendar functionalities or integration with automation scripts.

While many within its user base celebrate its lightweight nature, others express a desire for enhanced functionalities that could expand productivity options. Third-party applications have attempted to bridge this gap; however, Todo.txt's ethos remains rooted in maintaining a lightweight, user-driven toolkit.

Conclusion

In summary, Todo.txt stands out in the task management sphere for its adherence to simplicity, serving as an ideal canvas for tech-savvy users willing to invest effort into custom solutions. While it may not fulfill requirements for more comprehensive task management systems, its elegance and ease of use attract those who prioritize minimalist and customizable solutions in their workflow. For users whose needs align with its strengths, Todo.txt serves as a reliable ally in task management, underscoring the power of simplicity in productivity software.

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