taskbook: Command-line task manager with Kanban

Manage Your Tasks Efficiently with Taskbook: A Command-line Kanban-style Task Manager

In the world of productivity tools, the simplicity of the command line can often be overshadowed by the glitz of graphical user interfaces. However, for developers and system administrators who spend a significant portion of their day in terminal windows, a command-line tool can be a super-efficient way to manage tasks. Enter Taskbook, a sleek, Kanban-style task manager designed specifically for the command line, offering a seamless way to track tasks and notes without leaving the comfort of your terminal.

What is Taskbook?

Taskbook is a command-line task manager that allows you to handle your to-dos, notes, and various tasks using a straightforward and minimalistic approach. Inspired by the Kanban board methodology, which is beloved in the agile development world, Taskbook provides a clear visual overview of your tasks, making it easier to manage and prioritize your workload effectively.

Taskbook organizes items into boards (by default, everything is under the "My Board"), and you can create as many custom boards as you need. Each task can be prioritized, marked as complete, or pending, and you can also move tasks across different boards as they progress or change in priority.

Key Features of Taskbook

Simplicity: Everything is managed through simple commands.
Kanban Boards: Visualize task status through a clear, board-style layout.
Productivity Reports: Get insights into your completed and pending tasks.
Multi-board Support: Organize tasks into customizable boards.
Data Storage: All data is stored in JSON files, ensuring portability and simplicity.

Installing Taskbook

Taskbook is easy to install and can be set up on various distros using different package managers. Here’s how you can install it on systems using apt, dnf, and zypper.

For Debian and Ubuntu-Based Systems:

To install Taskbook on Debian or Ubuntu systems, you need to install Node.js first, as Taskbook is built on it. You can install Node.js using apt, and then install Taskbook using npm (Node Package Manager). Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Update your package list: bash sudo apt update
Install Node.js: bash sudo apt install nodejs npm
Install Taskbook: bash npm install --global taskbook

For Fedora and Other DNF-Based Systems:

On Fedora or other systems that use dnf as the package manager, the steps are quite similar:

Install Node.js and npm: bash sudo dnf install nodejs npm
Install Taskbook using npm: bash npm install --global taskbook

For openSUSE and Other Zypper-Based Systems:

Similarly, if you're using openSUSE or a distro that uses zypper, you can install Taskbook by first ensuring you have Node.js:

Update your system: bash sudo zypper refresh
Install Node.js and npm: bash sudo zypper install nodejs npm
Install Taskbook: bash npm install --global taskbook

How to Use Taskbook

Using Taskbook is straightforward. Here are some basic commands to get you started:

tb - Display the board view with all tasks and notes.
tb -t My new task - Add a new task.
tb -c 1 - Mark the task with ID 1 as complete.
tb -d 1 - Delete the task with ID 1.

Conclusion

For those who live in the terminal, Taskbook offers an elegant, efficient, and straightforward way to manage tasks. Its Kanban-style approach allows easy visualization and tracking of tasks, making it an excellent choice for developers, system admins, and any CLI-enthusiast. By installing it using apt, dnf, or zypper, depending on your system, you can seamlessly integrate Taskbook into your workflow and enhance your productivity.

By offering a bridge between the simplicity of command-line operations and the organizational capabilities of Kanban boards, Taskbook represents a powerful tool for managing your professional and personal tasks directly from your terminal.