# Todo.txt: Future-proof task tracking in a file you control
Track your tasks and projects in a plain text file, todo.txt. A todo.txt is software and operating system agnostic; it's searchable, portable, lightweight and easily manipulated.
Author: Gina Trapani
Keywords: Todo.txt, To do list

# Todo.txt

## If you want to get it done, first write it down.

### If you have a file called todo.txt on your computer right now, you're in the right place.

So many power users try dozens of complicated todo list software applications, only to go right back to their trusty todo.txt file.

But it's not easy to open todo.txt, make a change, and save it—especially on your touchscreen device and at the command line. Todo.txt apps solve that problem.

### Simplicity is todo.txt's core value.

You're not going to find many checkboxes, drop-downs, reminders, or date pickers here.

Todo.txt apps are minimal, todo.txt-focused editors which help you manage your tasks with as few keystrokes and taps possible.

## On Your Phone and Tablet

Your todo.txt file isn't useful if it's not always at your fingertips. The Todo.txt mobile apps make it easy to view and update your tasks on the go.

Currently connected to Dropbox, Todo.txt Touch helps you manage your todo.txt on your touchscreen mobile device and automatically syncs your changes to all your computers.

#### iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users:

#### Android users:

Also available in the Amazon Appstore.

## At the Command Line

With a simple but powerful shell script called todo.sh, you can interact with todo.txt at the command line for quick and easy, Unix-y access.

The Todo.txt CLI supports archiving completed tasks to done.txt and priority/context tab autocompletion.

Download Todo.txt CLI »

Find out more:

- Documentation—everything you need to know about how to use Todo.txt CLI
- Mailing List—ask the Todo.txt community

## In Any Text Editor

Countless productivity apps and sites store your tasks in their own proprietary database and file format. But you can work with your todo.txt file in every text editor ever made, regardless of operating system or vendor.

The todo.txt format is a simple set of rules that make todo.txt both human and machine-readable. The format supports priorities, creation and completion dates, projects and contexts. That's all you need to be productive. See an example Todo.txt file.

### What Users Are Saying

The easiest to-do list I ever used. -Dennis

Brilliant... the "cool" factor is off the charts. -John

So simple, yet also very versatile and flexible. I love it! -mschooler93

Extremely useful and well executed. -nemof

No frills, highly effective and convenient. -Will

### Developers

Todo.txt CLI and Todo.txt Touch are proudly open source. Browse the source code for the CLI, iOS, and Android.

## Community Apps: Todo.txt on your favorite device or platform.

In addition to the official Todo.txt apps, community members have built more apps and add-ons that work with Todo.txt.

### Mobile

#### Todo.txt for Windows Phone 7

Todo.txt for Windows Phone 7 is a task manager based on the todo.txt file format, by E.Z. Hart.

#### Todo.txt Enyo

A webOS application for managing your todo.txt file written using the EnyoJS framework, by thrrgilag.

### Desktop

#### Todotxt.net

A minimalist, keyboard-driven Windows GUI for your todo.txt file, by Ben Hughes.

#### Todour

Todour is an application for handling todo.txt files on the Mac and Windows, by Sverrir Valgeirsson.

#### DoStuff

"A todo.txt client for humans" on Ubuntu (screenshots and video clip), by ximilian.

### Web

#### Todotxttdi.com

HTML5 Dropbox app with text-driven user interface (source), by David Pratten.

#### todoTxtWebUi

A web UI to use with a todo.txt file (demo), by Jason Holt.

#### Bulldog

HTML5 task manager, built on todo.txt, by Davis W. Frank.

#### Keenpin

A beautiful todo.txt web template engine.

### Plugins and Add-ons

#### Vim plugin for todo.txt

by Leandro Frietas.

#### #todo.txt IFTTT Recipe

Add items to your todo.txt file in Dropbox from Google Chat, by Nick Barrett.

#### Todo.sh Add-on Directory

A collection of add-ons, custom actions, and filters that enhance the Todo.txt CLI script, authored by community members.

### Developer Tools

#### Todo.txt Gem

A RubyGem for parsing todo.txt files, by Sam Rose.

#### Text::Todo

Perl interface to todotxt files by Andrew Fresh.

Follow @todotxt

Unless otherwise noted, Todo.txt apps published herein are authored by Gina Trapani in collaboration with Todo.txt community members and released under the GNU General Public License.

Todo.txt's icon designed by John Rowley.

The first version of the Todo.txt CLI script was originally published in 2006 on Lifehacker.

All software comes as is with no warranty. Do back up your todo.txt before you read another word. Support is available on the Todo.txt community mailing list.

Copyright © 2006-2012, Gina Trapani.Gina Trapani