How Tatask works offline: a local database on every device
How Tatask keeps a full copy of your tasks on every device, syncs with Firestore, handles conflicts and deletes, and stays safe on shared computers.
Max Girkins
I build Tatask on my own and write most of this blog, mostly about planning, focus and making software alone.
Why you need one to-do list on every device, not five
Tasks scattered across notes apps, emails and paper get lost. Why one list everywhere matters, what to use each device for, and how to switch over.
How to stop procrastinating on big tasks
Big tasks get put off because they are vague, uncomfortable or both. Practical ways to get started: shrink the first step, lower the bar and plan when.
The PARA method on a task tree: projects, areas, resources, archive
Tiago Forte's PARA method sorts everything into Projects, Areas, Resources and Archive. How it works, and how to apply it to a nested to-do list.
A practical guide to the Eisenhower matrix
The Eisenhower matrix sorts tasks by urgency and importance: do, schedule, delegate, delete. How to use it day to day, with examples and traps.
Recurring tasks: how to build routines you will actually keep
How to use recurring tasks for the jobs that come round daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, so you stop carrying them in your head. With examples to copy.
How to eat the frog (and when it backfires)
Eat the Frog means doing your hardest important task first. How to choose the frog, make it small enough to swallow, and when the advice doesn't fit.
Tags vs folders: how to organise a to-do list without overthinking it
Folders give tasks one home; tags let them belong to many views. When to use each in a to-do list, and a simple setup that combines both.
How many tasks should you plan for one day?
Most people plan far more than a day can hold. How to find your real daily number, why three to five tasks is a good start, and what to do with the rest.
How to use a work breakdown structure for everyday projects
Project managers use a work breakdown structure to plan big jobs. Here is how to borrow the idea for personal projects, with rules and examples.
How to do a weekly review in 20 minutes
A 20-minute weekly review that keeps your to-do list trustworthy: clear, review, plan. With a checklist, timings and tips for making it stick.
Getting Things Done with a task tree: a practical GTD setup
David Allen's Getting Things Done, explained plainly, and how to run it on a nested to-do list: capture, clarify, organise, reflect and engage.
The Ivy Lee method: six tasks, in order, every day
The Ivy Lee method is a century-old daily planning habit: six tasks, ranked, done one at a time. How it works, why it still holds up, and how to adapt it.
How to plan your day in ten minutes (and actually follow the plan)
A simple daily planning routine: choose a short list the night before, order it, protect the first hour, and leave room for the day to go wrong.
How to break down a big project into steps you can actually start
A practical method for turning a big, vague project into small steps you can finish, with a worked example and the mistakes to avoid.
The psychology behind task hierarchies: why our brains like breaking things down
Why breaking things down into a hierarchy feels natural to our brains, and how to use that to reduce stress and get more done.
7 habits of highly productive people in 2025
Seven habits that productive people rely on, combining good digital tools with timeless techniques like deep work and planning.
Breaking down complex projects into tasks you can finish
Overwhelmed by a complex project? How breaking it into manageable tasks reduces stress, with strategies and a simple system to follow.
Stress-free productivity: building a task system that works for you
How to build a stress-free productivity system with a simple task hierarchy: break projects into steps and keep the rest out of sight.
Task management for the digital age: why hierarchical systems win
Why hierarchical task management suits the digital age, and how to use a nested to-do list to keep complex work under control.
A giant upgrade to Tatask
Tatask has been upgraded to Svelte 5. What changed under the hood, why it matters for speed, and what it makes possible next.
Why every developer should build a to-do list app
Building a to-do list app teaches you a surprising amount about software, and you'll end up with a tool shaped to how you work.
Stop trying to be productive with your phone
Use the right tool for the job, not the Swiss army knife. Why phones make poor productivity devices, and what to use them for.
Building a dynamically filterable list component in Svelte
Svelte makes a dynamically filterable list easy to build. A walkthrough of the tag filter component behind an early version of Tatask.
Context switching is the enemy of productivity, here's how to avoid it.
Context switching drains productivity, but interruptions are the default. How to stop switching and protect your focus.
Your to-do list sucks. Let's fix it.
A look at the problems with most to-do list apps, how they get in the way of getting things done, and how to fix your list.
How to stay focused in a world of distractions: think like a train
Distractions are everywhere. Think like a train: one track, few stops, steady speed. Practical ways to stay focused on one thing.
Why I built the world's 6,072,311th task management app
I'd searched for the perfect task management app for years, then gave up and built my own. Here's why, and what I wanted from it.
Transform your productivity with the method you already know but aren't applying effectively.
SMART goals are a method most people know and few apply well. How to set them properly, break them down and keep momentum.