How do you track your TODO programs?

Question

I am one of those people who can’t do anything without a to-do list. If it is not listed, it does not exist.

Notepad Method:

When I program, I opened a notepad with a to-do list for my current project. I will constantly reinstall them based on priority, and I cross them out and transfer them to the completed section when I finish this specific task.

Code Comments:

Some programmers will adopt the source code of their projects:

// TODO: Fix this completely atrocious code before anyone sees it 

In addition, I know that there are some tools that show you a list of all TODOs in your code.

Site task tracker

• Remember milk
• Backpack
• Manymoon
• Voo2do
• Gmail Tasks
• Teuxdeux
• Todoododo
• Ta-da list ... and more

What did you find the best way to track your to-do lists for multiple projects?

Answer 1

Like others, I retell them about my code, but I also use the warning directive to generate a compiler warning:

 #warning TODO: Implement foobar 

That way, I can still find “TODO,” but they also scream at me whenever I build.

Answer 2

Pen and paper.

Combined with the brilliant PocketMod, it is absolutely perfect. Amazing TODOs are worthy of satisfaction!

Answer 3

I can’t speak for other IDEs, but Eclipse will search for the project source files for TODO comments (as well as FIXME and XXX ) and create tasks for you in the task view.

This leads to intriguing situations when you check the presentation of tasks, double-click the TODO task and read the comment:

 // TODO: Add this functionality. 

Eclipse will also add TODO comments when creating specific blocks of code, such as implementing methods, catch blocks for exceptions, etc.

Answer 4

TODO (and others) comments are great for Visual Studio and ReSharper :

To-Do Explorer http://www.jetbrains.com/resharper/features/screenshots/40/navigation_todoexplorer.png

Answer 5

Although I have not tried it, I really like the idea of tests like todos . What else needs to be done if the test fails?

Answer 6

Personal Abstract Todos

I use Tomboy Notes or a document to make a quick list of high-level abstract tasks. Often, when I talk to my manager, I just need to record everything.

Specfic Todos Source Code

I use the built-in TODO: / @ todo comment marker in my code, and then use the Netbeans plugins, which give me a list of todos launches throughout the project. Since Netbeans can aggregate todo tokens from multiple projects, it doesn't matter how many different projects I run.

Ellipsis Tasks / Todos

As soon as I have to track todays more than I do, I move on to project management software, such as OpenProj, MS Project, etc. Also, if errors or feature requests are included in todos, I use our bugtracker. Other todos can also be managed by customer support.

Answer 7

NextAction , from TimeSnapper

Answer 8

I am using ToDoList from AbstractSpoon. It allows you to split your ToDo list into projects and can even be used by several users for larger projects using a shared network drive.

Answer 9

I use Pen and Paper to write notes. I also use TODO / FIXME tags in code that is highlighted in yellow in Vim and tracked by the TODO extension in Komodo.

One of the most useful additions for me is to use Samurize to paste a simple text file on my desktop ( http://lifehacker.com/software/plain-text/geek-to-live--incorporate-text-files-onto-your -desktop-213280.php ). I have 3 virtual desktops and it lives on my email desktop, where I finish the first every morning. It contains a text file with the elements I need to do, and it rarely works more than a week in advance.

Wednesday, 2/11/2009
- Paragraph 1
- Point 2
Thursday 2/12/2009
- Point 3

I am using Executor, which has the keyword "todo", which automatically opens gvim with this file when I want to edit / add / delete elements. This makes it about 3 keystrokes to open it and is ready for modification. It helps me remember Monday morning production steps before I will be buried in email and at meetings. As soon as I edit, it will be reflected on the desktop.

Obviously, for longer and more detailed things, I rely on Roundup, Outlook reminders, etc., but it was a convenient way to write things down so they wouldn't get lost in the shuffle.

Answer 10

I use inline TODO: comments, since Visual Studio will track them for me, of course, I still have to look at the list of tasks to see them. I cannot count the number of times I found TODO comments: while looking at the code that I thought was completed.

Answer 11

For each task in the project, create a new entry in the problem tracker ( Bugzilla for me).

• The big advantage is that you can keep track of all the changes made by the problem identifier.
• You can inform clients or project members about the status of their task.
• You can create a new type of error, for example, task, todo, or query function.
• This is a central decision. There are no local things ...

Our development team has a rule that says: "Never change any code without a corresponding entry in the problem tracker. Never!"

Answer 12

I would make a clear difference between FIXME and TODO. FIXME is critical and needs to be fixed before commit / release. TODO may live a little longer, but should be cleaned up in the end.

Answer 13

A simple text file (TODO) at the top level of the cvs / svn project area works for me for simple projects.

Answer 14

Like others, I used the standard FIXME / TODO / XXX code in the code comments, and then I can find the list of tasks in my IDE using their various tools. I also use the hudson task scanner plugin to track everything since I am attached to graphs.

Answer 15

I created a build task that extracts // TODO: lines from my code files and generates a report that I include in the city of the team. This gives you a quick way to see any exits in a project without checking it.

You can also use CodeTagsPlugin with Trac

Answer 16

When programming Java in Eclipse, I find it really useful, because you say "pepper my source code with comments // TODO: - mainly because Eclipse looks through everyone in the project and compiles the task list for me =) In Visual Studio, there is a panel A "task list" that I sometimes use, but I don’t find it more orderly, just having comments in Eclipse.

Answer 17

I use eclipse as an IDE that collects all TODOs into a list and shows it in outline. Very easy and convenient.

Answer 18

After searching extensively for a suitable to-do list application, I settled on mylyn, the one that comes with Eclipse.

Easy to create and manage tasks. Tasks can be imported and linked to Bugzilla or a number of other task repositories. It also has a “task context” that allows files related to the task to be allocated, and those that are not related to hiding (which is much more useful than I expected, it will be).

Answer 19

Eclipse tracks your TODOs and automatically displays them in the appropriate windows. I find it powerful enough if you don't need advanced features.

Answer 20

I really like tracks . It has a GTD flavor without becoming too regulated.

I can quickly pounce on things as I think about it, and then I don’t have to worry about forgetting after that.

Answer 21

Wow, I had this question yesterday. After some searching, I settled on the ReminderFox extension of Firefox. It is fully integrated into the browser and has pop-ups to remind you every time you open the browser if necessary.

Answer 22

I like Mylyn : it is integrated into Eclipse, works with many trackers, as well as without (local tasks) and implements new ones such as a focused user interface.

Answer 23

There is also a task scanner plugin for Hudson (in case it suits your environment). With this, you can track the number of TODO / FIXME in continuous integration build reports.

Answer 24

alt text http://www.86th.org/hudson.jpg We use the "Open Tasks Trend" feature in Hudson, it works for many languages. For our C # project, we have 3 levels of tasks, and this is achieved using various TODO: style comments.

• High priority Complies with FIXME :, HARDCODED: or HACK:

• Average Priority Matches at TODO:

• Low priority Meets MEH: or CODEREVIEW:

Then Hudson will take this list and trend graph, as shown in the figure, will also sort, filter the list of tasks, and he will display messages on the web page with links that will lead you to a line in the source code on Hudson.

In addition, we can easily set points of interest for code reviews with CODEREVIEW: and print, print a nice short list.

Answer 25

I use Sandglaz and place my todos in three columns now, then later (a bit like their blog , but only one line) ... and its simple and quick to use. I am a freelancer, so I work on several projects at the same time, so it works for me.

I use pending tests only to remind myself to write tests. I use rspec, so it has it.

Answer 26

For C ++ projects (native / ATL):

 #ifndef _TODO_H_ #define _TODO_H_ #pragma once // from atldef.h: #ifndef _ATL_STRINGIZE #define __ATL_STRINGIZE(_Value) #_Value #define _ATL_STRINGIZE(_Value) __ATL_STRINGIZE(_Value) #endif // put x in quotes, no need to use #pragma! #define __TODO(x) __pragma(message(__FILE__"("_ATL_STRINGIZE(__LINE__)") : TODO: "x)) #define __WTF(x) __pragma(message(__FILE__"("_ATL_STRINGIZE(__LINE__)") : WTF?! "x)) // prefer to use ISO-formatted date #define __BUGFIX(date, x) __pragma(message(__FILE__"("_ATL_STRINGIZE(__LINE__)") : BUGFIX: "#date" "x)) #define __CHANGE(date, x) __pragma(message(__FILE__"("_ATL_STRINGIZE(__LINE__)") : CHANGE: "#date" "x)) #endif _TODO_H_ 

Look for something similar for C #.

Answer 27

doxygen can track such problems

Answer 28

One of our source code modules is completely littered with inline #pragma todo lines. The build output is dirty, so we can never tell when new compiler warnings will appear. Some of the Todons have been there for years, and the original developer has long left the company.

Answer 29

I use emacs org-mode to track not only TODO codes, but my whole life. It works as an extremely powerful outliner with some spreadsheet and calendar features. I use mercurial for lightweight versioning and easy replication between different machines.

This works surprisingly well.

Answer 30

When I have many many Todo, I found it futile to keep track of them. You get hundreds of todons that cannot be executed.

Write only what the boss asks you and do what brings the greatest benefits every day.

I have the following list. I wrote what I am doing upstairs now, and the things that I need to fix in order to finish it. My next list can be made in hours or days usually.