Giving names to Tasks

[eOvic]

Is your proposal related to a problem?

NO

Describe the solution you'd like

If you could add a feature where you can name every task you are doing and be able to see the amount of time you spent on each task and visualize each task in the stats page

[kamilprusko]

@eOvic Things are going in that direction to include task list / task names... I myself would like an simple daily agenda, and a history on a daily stats view. Currently I'm working on Flatpak and GTK4 port; implementing the task list will take a while - don't expect it to be ready this year.

[eOvic]

@kamilprusko Check this PR it solves this issue I guess #784

[kamilprusko]

Design Brief

Pomodoro Technique and GTD advocates for having a task list prepared before the start of day. The app already has a form of time-tracking - storing tasks names would be huge improvement. Not saying all needs to be implemented at once, but we need a goal for the end result.

Use cases / Scenarios

1. productivity - having a separate planning and execution phases; following a task list may improve time management; having a current task visible may work as a reminder to stick to the selected task
2. time-tracking - having a spent time summary
   a. in professional setting it could be used to track billable hours
   b. for personal use it may be valuable to see total time spent on a task
3. user does not use time tracking, just wants the timer / basic stats - app shouldn't force user to select a task
4. user does not use task list - allow opting-out, the app is already overwhelming with settings
5. user is already using other app to manage tasks - Focus Timer should sync tasks with other apps

Time Tracking

• task selector:
  • user should be able to switch tasks using a keyboard shortcut
  • it should be populated with "Today's" tasks, excluding completed tasks
  • search/autocomplete should include tasks from backlog
  • use full-text search (SQLite does support it including Universal/multi-lingual tokenizer, selecting proper language would would be preferable)
  • allow fuzzy matching (no support in SQLite)
  • it should offer a quick way to add a task
  • typing on the timer view should open the task selector
• current task name should appear next to "Pomodoro" to keep user on track, or even it should replace "Pomodoro" entirely (in notifications?)
• tasks should have tags; a tag may represent a Project / Client for tracking billable hours
• entries should be editable; we may get away with not having clean history / histogram, but if it were to be used for tracking billable hours it needs ability to override values
• allow selecting tags without selecting a task? - having tags attached to a task would be more visual, enforce a better workflow in my opinion

Task List

• extra view in the main window
• simple list - no tree structure like in Errands; a list would simplify task selection
• separate "Inbox" / "Backlog" from selected tasks to pick next ("Today" list)
• integration with Online Accounts in GNOME: ideally the list should be populated with preexisting tasks, and shared across devices
• include calendar Events? - it would give a better view of today's agenda; thing against it is that recurring events like meetings tend to have generic names and it's better to gave a clear task name

Stats

• list tasks and spent time
  • allow overriding values / editing / resetting overridden time spent to default
  • allow adding tasks not tracked via timer?
  • when listing tasks, add indicator for overridden values?
  • task names should be multiline - will help with readability on a monthly view
• break down by tags
  • it would be useful to have a breakdown by Client/Project; and by activity (meetings, development, bugfixing, testing, etc.)
  • mundane tasks typically need short and frequent breaks; tasks needing deep focus typically need fewer but longer breaks. From productivity standpoint it may be useful to have it on the overview - to help fine-tune timer settings
• session history - i'm not convinced it helps in any usecase; it's somewhat redundant with the histogram

It's open for discussion of course... at this point is more of a brain dump than a proper Design Brief. I will start working on mockups - may take 1-2 weeks.