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Question for software developers: how do you organize your To Do list at work?

I’m asking because I’m wondering if there’s a more efficient way for me to handle my notes at work. Currently I just use a txt file in Notepad++. I use this file to track all of the stuff I have to do, such as tasks for stories I’m working on, next steps for projects, discussions I need to follow up on, questions and ideas I want to bring up, etc. The way I organize the document works pretty well for me, but I’m just curious how other people do it.

Wox , (edited )

Deleted

Semi-Hemi-Demigod ,
@Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social avatar

I supplement team-based task management with post it notes on my monitor for the things I'm working on short term. Usually the Jira ticket number or a couple words about what needs done is enough, and putting it where I can't not see it keeps them from falling through the cracks.

Plus it's fun when my boss gives me something and I can show him the post it I made

Vlyn ,

Well, there is Jira with the tickets of course, but when I’m working actively on a ticket I do two things:

  1. Text file in Notepad++ (something with custom markup so I have regions) or recently OneNote (just so this crap is backed up), write my hours down before putting them into the system, current ToDo things, notes, etc. till the ticket is through. Anything actually worth keeping gets puts into the Jira ticket as comment on close
  2. While working on the code and I need to do something before committing it I use comments. Like // todo# do x, I’m using todo# because if I text search the code base for just todo I’ll find a hundred entries… adjust to whatever is unique to you so you find your own comments again

It’s a shit system, but has worked for me. I also write everything down so I don’t forget it, that has saved me several times.

In the past I even took my text notes and put them into an archive (with the Jira ticket linked) just if an old issue pops up and I still have my thoughts from around that time. But nowadays I do less of that because code changes too fast anyway.

BurningnnTree OP ,

Can you explain what you mean by “something with custom markup so I have regions”? How do I do regions in Notepad++?

Vlyn ,

A little trick I like: You create your own custom language in Notepad++:

  1. Go tab Language → User Defined Language
  2. Create new… button
  3. Name it whatever you want, txtRegions or whatever
  4. In the “Folding in code 1 style” area put your favorite Open and Closing symbols. For example I used {{ and }}
  5. Close the dialog
  6. For your todo file, now go up again to Language → Select your custom language at the bottom
  7. Try it out, you can now make your own regions in your .txt file

Usually Notepad++ remembers your custom language for your file. If it should ever forget to use it (and falls back to default .txt behavior) just select your language again. Have fun! :)

TitanLaGrange ,

Thanks for this tip, very useful

max ,

Issues on jira/GitHub/gitlab/whatever is used and their planning boards. Assign them to me, put them in to-do/planned and do them until they’re all closed/to be reviewed. Occasionally I will put a reminder in the reminders app of my phone with a timed alert if I mustn’t forget something rather urgently.

glad_cat ,

There are a billion ways to organize your stuff. I used org-mode a lot in the past but it’s a bit difficult to setup, especially on Windows. Nowadays, I use a mix of GTD, johnnydecimal.com, Markdown (with Sublime Text), and taskwarrior.org. Don’t forget calendars too (like the one on Outlook) because you can freely add meetings or things to do inside this application.

You have to find something that works for you, there is no perfect solution. You can also ask the same question on !experienced_devs.

thatsTheCatch ,

I’ve found Notion to be quite good. I just started with a blank page, then added the date as a heading, a smaller heading for each project, then todo boxes for each task. I tick them off as I go. Then, the next day, I copy yesterday’s todos and paste it above, change the date, then delete the crossed off items. This gives me a history log off what I did on previous days, so if I forget what I did yesterday I can just look back at what I ticked off that day.

I used to use a paper notebook but found it annoying because I couldn’t add a task in between other tasks. That’s the benefit of a computer; I can move things around

Shizu ,
@Shizu@lemmy.world avatar

Two ways:

  1. I create a jira issue or
  2. I send a mail to myself so I don’t forget the thing.

I always keep my mailbox clean so that I have an overview on what’s open.

Raulppelaez ,

Org-mode FTW! You only need to know emacs for it, which you can master in just a couple of measly decades.

Jokes aside, org-mode is unironically incredible. I use something called Getting Things Done (GTD). I do not regret spending some weeks truly learning about it.

flip ,
@flip@lemmy.nbsp.one avatar

This! Orgmode for all internal stuff, Jira for when my team needs to be in the loop.

amanneedsamaid ,

As a college student, org mode is one of the best tools I’ve ever come across.

JetpackJackson ,

Is there a version for neovim users?

cabhan ,

It’s not as fully-featured as the Emacs one, but yes: github.com/nvim-orgmode/orgmode

JetpackJackson ,

That’s alright, I’ll check it out. Thanks!

metiulekm ,

You might also like github.com/nvim-neorg/neorg which is not meant to be compatible with Emacs org-mode, but rather something new that’s built around similar ideas but for Neovim. Hadn’t used it myself though, only heard about it.

amanneedsamaid ,

Neorg is what I know of, and seems the most mature / recently updated.

JetpackJackson ,

Oh that looks interesting! I’ll have to check it out, thanks!

xigoi ,
@xigoi@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

I use something called Getting Things Done (GTD). I do not regret spending some weeks truly learning about it.

Are you being sarcastic, or is there actually a tool with this name?

MajorHavoc ,

There is, and there’s a book that describes the philosophy.

jecxjo ,
@jecxjo@midwest.social avatar

Its a good book to read. Highly recommend.

Also look up 43 folder by Merlin Mann.

Bongles , (edited )

Its a good book to read. Highly recommend.

The one by David Allen?

jecxjo ,
@jecxjo@midwest.social avatar

Yeah.

Much of it was obvious, a few new ideas. But it was good to just reinforce the whole process. It’s all about you building your own strategy so whatever works for you.

jecxjo ,
@jecxjo@midwest.social avatar

Being a vim user for 30 years I’m often tempted to learn emacs purely for org mode. But then i remember emacs is evil and go back to todo.txt and vimwiki and I’m content.

Raulppelaez ,

There is evil-mode in emacs, just saying…

jecxjo ,
@jecxjo@midwest.social avatar

Yeah. Org mode isn’t that great 😃

Raulppelaez ,

-.-

dhork ,

I worked at one company which mandated that I charge time to internal projects on an hourly basis. (And only 8 hours a day, no matter what you actually worked. :) ). So that forced me to keep a notepad with a to-do list and a weekly tally of hours worked on each project.

My current company doesn’t care to that level of detail, so sometimes I slack off on my accounting. But when I have a large list of tasks to get through, there is nothing as satisfying as crossing items off a paper list.

As far as ideas and brainstorming goes, it all goes in TextEdit on my Mac. But I have to be careful, one time I had to reboot it and ended up having to go through 50 open files named “Untitled”

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