Todoist is a to-do list application that claims to be "useful, fast and easy to use". In the crowded market of task management apps, led by the likes of Ta-da List and Remember the Milk, it has to be. And, as I found out in my tests, it is.
Built with a focus on absolute simplicity, this application is a joy to use for my task lists. It allows a hierarchical structure of categories or projects - each with their own task items. Sub-projects can be collapsed to simplify the interface even more.
Default homepage ordered chronologically, showing overdue items and those for today
Each item is added to the appropriate list with just a title and a date. A variety of date formats are recognized automatically upon submission - "Next Wednesday" is just as acceptable as "20 Jun 2007", and "+5" translates to due in 5 days. Some abbreviations are also accepted: if I want a task due fortnightly on Mondays, I type "ev 2 mon". In similar fashion, priorities can be assigned directly in the title of the item by using syntax shortcuts such as "!p1" and "!p2".
Quickly add an item
Everything about this application begs for power-users. You can just use it as is, using the mouse for most options and typing as necessary to fill in the details. Just like the date and priority shortcuts, however, everything else can be done faster and faster as you get a handle on the powerful keyboard shortcuts.
The interface itself is very straightforward. Virtually all functionality is Ajaxified for speed and the display of help files and information is done via lightbox popups. There are virtually no other page loads once you've logged in. However, informative pages are available at real URLs for external reference. The downside to all that speed is that the application was not built with accessibility in mind - no JavaScript means no Todoist.
Choose 'Reorder' to move your items around by click and drag
Like all the best web applications, Todoist offers a comprehensive API that offers access to all of the basic functionality. This allows what is quickly becoming the most highly sought prize of Web 2.0 - ubiquity of access. The simplicity of the API means that a developer network is rapidly building up around the tool. Mac OSX users can access it via Quicksilver or the Dashboard widget. Todoist creator, Amir Salihefendic, has also released a widget for Netvibes and iGoogle that completely replicates the app's functionality from within your own page on those sites. There is also a Firefox extension for Gmail that allows you to delegate emails to your task lists for dealing with later. And another that allows access to Todoist from your browser status bar. Naturally, Todoist has a mobile site for quickly checking or adding items when out and about. All in all, a multiplicity of touchpoints increasingly reminiscent of Twitter.
I've made a big deal about the simplicity of this interface, but for good reason. Todoist is easier to use than Ta-da List and it's much lighter than Remember the Milk. If you're looking for the simplest, easiest way to keep track of your tasks, this might just be it.
There are downsides, of course. As mentioned above, accessibility appears not to have been considered. Another major feature some people might miss is notifications. Todoist doesn't remind you of tasks, nor does it let you know when you've missed them. You have to be using the app to keep track. It mitigates that to a certain extent by being available in more locations, but it certainly pales in comparison to Remember the Milk's comprehensive methods of notification.
Todoist is an elegant, effective and efficient application that lets you sort, arrange and prioritize tasks easily. The lack of notifications is the only major feature missing. Given it is the work of one developer, it's rapid pace of development is astonishing and I doubt notifications will be unavailable for long. I expect it to improve still further in the immediate future, particularly as more developers take advantage of the API to tie it into other applications.
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Very nice indeed. One suggestion: RSS feeds would be very effective for status updates when mulitpe users share a list.
Posted by: sameer | June 11, 2007 5:46 PMFascinating, it looks like somethign i'll be using a lot of in the future. It appears less complex than some of the other todolists out there
Posted by: Stephen | June 11, 2007 6:59 PMNice tip, thanks! I still like my to do list to be on a piece of paper on my desk - there's a certain satisfaction in crossing off the stuff, but I'll give this a go. Alerts would be damn handy.
Posted by: Paul | June 11, 2007 7:15 PMI need to work on my system because it is no good right now.I'm waiting for Omnifocus to come out since it is similar to Kinkless, which is what I use now.
Art Rogue
Posted by: Art Rogue | June 11, 2007 8:37 PMA beautifully written articulate and informative piece. thank you! unfortunately, without notifications its useless for me...
Posted by: Laurel Papworth | June 11, 2007 8:46 PMOne thing I am really missing in basecamp is calendar overlay for tasks. This seems to approximate it better.
Alex
Posted by: Alex Iskold | June 11, 2007 10:18 PMI have used todoist for over a month now and I can say "it's great". I have tried to use a number of other task management tools and found them entirely too overwhelming and bulky. The thing I love about Todoist is that it's agile, it's quick, it's simple! I hope it stays around for a long time. I'm using it for work, for my side business, for my home projects. I think the developer has done an awesome job.
Posted by: Chris | June 12, 2007 5:36 AMNice review. I agree on the lack of notifications being a barrier. Remember the Milk's skype tie in is really simple (says me).
Posted by: Mick Liubinskas | June 12, 2007 9:59 AMThanks for highlighting this app. really, really cool. i've tried any number of to-do lists and this is the best by far. i'm sure as this fellow builds a following, he'll add additional features to it. but it is very nice as it is. lots of clever little things that improve usability.
Posted by: John Kenney | June 12, 2007 1:17 PMWith the API what would be really awesome is a gtalk interface to it, and an SMS interface as well. But definitely agree with previously post about reminders.
Posted by: Julian | June 13, 2007 4:58 AMIt is possible to use Todoist without Javascript turned on: use the mobile interface at www.todoist.com/m/
This works well, although it uses a greatly simplified interface with only a 'quick add' feature for adding new tasks. It is not a gracefully-degraded version of the main AJAXified page.
Posted by: Richard | June 14, 2007 12:34 PMIt really would not hurt if these guys would read "first things first" by Stephen Covey and/or "Getting Things Done" by David Allen before they make an application like this.
Posted by: Dr. Vitalis Acupuncturist from Auckland New Zealand | June 15, 2007 12:07 AMUnfortunately sorting the list by "personal work and study" does not work.
But sorting them by the place where you actually do it does, like: computer, phone, store, etc makes it heaps more efficient. Obviously lists will be a part of a project... you need a project and category view/interface...
When will someone get it right? Or did someone and I can't find it?
Dr. Vitalis - If I understand you correctly (I'm afraid I have not yet read the books you mentioned. I shall look into them) you can do that using Todoist, and presumably a lot of other programs out there. The Work and Personal catagories listed in the screenshot are created by the user, not the program. You are free to create arbitrary projects and nest them how you like.
Posted by: [ICR] | June 16, 2007 6:50 AMICR, you can categorise the projects, but not the tasks.
Posted by: Vitalis | June 26, 2007 7:46 PMYou have to be able to categorise the tasks: for example - you need to paint a house (this is a project). And tasks of this project may be:
buy paint and brushes (category-shopping list),
check the weather forecast (at the computer list),
make sure the neighbour is aware (to phone list).
Now you will have all the shopping items in one list, all the phone calls in another list, etc. This is what makes it efficient.
If I didn't miss something, there is no way to export or backup your data in this app. Showstopper.
Posted by: Alex | July 31, 2007 11:32 AMVitalis(#14), it's a little hard to find but Todoist lets you used labels(or tags) to give you that functionality. You just enter "@phone" or "@supermarket" or whatever when you're entering and that tags it. You can then just search for @phone and it brings up all your to-dos for that tag/label. Instructions on info page under "Labels".
I just set up Todoist and it is beautifully simple but surprisingly powerful because of the ability to sub-task (great for chunking!).
Agreed though, needs export (if someone knows how to do this, please share...) and sync with Google Calendars would be good (then I could use their notifications).
Posted by: Cathy | August 5, 2007 9:43 PM