Been using for quite some time and it's really great for small to medium project management. And the fact that it's open source is also really great.

TheMugs

I've used it before in a previous incarnation. Honestly, it seems rather potent for your To Do's and Nested Tasks. However, I believe it was rather overkill for what I need it for. I also needed to be able to access my list from everywhere. I see that on the go management is being addressed, but even then I don't know if I'll be inclined to go back to it. Give it a try though if you're looking for thorough listings, though I believe there is something rather similar in Firefox's Extension listings for reminders.

mithrandiryod

I think I should add that even if it look complicated, it's really easy to use. It's just that it have a lot of options, but you really don't have to use them.

At work, we usually just set a name, a priority and a person allocated to do the task.

TheMugs

Sounds like I'd spend more time adding and configuring tasks than I would ticking them off...

Looks awfully complicated.

Storkme

I like nested tasks feature of ToDoList the most. But in general this program is overcomplicated. In most cases I prefer more simple approach like this: [productivity-science.com]

ProductivityScience

Does anybody have any recommendations for other programs to use? I'm looking for a good ToDoList program, but this does seem way to complicated. Basically all I want is one that sort of runs like WoW quests - it's lightweight, can turn transparent on my desktop, I can change the color of the tasks to match the level of necessity, and it stores all finished tasks in a bank for later viewing. Is there anything out there that exists like that, or somewhat close to it?

Kokichi

I've been using ToDoList for about six months now and overall I like it. It is simpler to use than it may appear...I just ignore the options that I don't care about. My main gripe is the print layout. I suppose I haven't played around enough with the stylesheet templates, but that does seem like a lot of extra work for something that should be simple.

scottbn22

As scottbn22 and TheMugs have said, it may look complicated, but you don't have to set ALL the options, just the one you need. In my case, I do need most the options since I'm working on a small team, and this + syncing with my group is awesome.

Danny

Bravo on your choice of ToDoList. I have been using it for a couple of years now, and use it for absolutely everything. I have evaluated many other to-do list managers, both programs and Web services, for my utilities blog, but I always come back to ToDoList, and recommend it to others. You can read my review of an earlier version of ToDoList way back in post #12 of my blog.

JonathansToolBarAndGrill

I love this app! Been using it for about 9 months and I'm stuck on it. Works great on a thumb drive and once you use it, you won't find it to be "overkill". Synching with other apps will be nice but not critical.

speed1961

@OX4: Tea takes longer to brew and steep. I'm glad I had ToDoList to help me realize what a slacker Billy is. ;-)

speed1961

This looks like a great program for micro-managers. "Billy, I have here that you were going to get coffee for 3.5 minutes. You in fact got tea. What's going on here?"

OX4

For the bare essentials, try this software that doesn't believe in managing todo lists

Win [widefido.com]
Mac [hogbaysoftware.com]

nerdly

I use ToDoList and it is very easy to use. The only thing that has to be entered when you add a task is a description.

The sample screen above shows things more complicated than they have to be. You can have a very simple list that isn't nested. If you want to simplify the display, you can turn off most of the columns that are being shown.

In terms of accessing your list from anywhere; it runs nicely off a USB drive.

ks42

@primer: I like that it has all your options in front of you at all time. No hiding! I need all your functions in my view. I also like the fact that this program has priorities, a feature which MyLifeOrganized, my favorite to-do list app for pc and ppc, lacks.

As far as the to-do list apps that's there with me at all times all the time - that problem won't be resolved, for my case, until they make UMPC's a bit more affordable. The OQO is the closest to the design that would suffice as it ALMOST fits into your pocket, but it's a loud roaring monster and costs more than my car.

So, still on paper & usb drive for the time being.

ewonk

i tried this out way back when i was digging for a decent Todo list program, and uninstalled it soon after trying it. It's clutterware to an extreme degree - absolutely every option is in front of you at all times (and no method of disabling any of them is available), so just opening the program sends your eyes on a long tapdance around the screen. Also, i found most of the fields and options to be unnecessary.

If you arrive at your todos via a massive multivariable calculus method, this may be for you, but for the average joe, i doubt the amount of time it takes to maintain your list through this program makes it worth the download.

primer

@mithrandiryod: If you load ToDoList on multiple machines, you can sync the data files using FolderShare for "anywhere" convenience. OR...as has been said, use it portably and keep it on a stick for "anywhere" convenience!

mrthermister

@primer: I been using ToDoList for a week, can hide the non-used options.

farja

Nice implementation, but hard for most people to work at so many sub-levels.

I preffer a simpler method, Goals > Project > Tasks, from [www.gtdagenda.com]

dannielo

I've spent about 30 minutes trying this out, and it does look very useful. It's not the prettiest app, but it is feature-packed, and the price is right.

At work I use a homebrew task manager developed by one of our IT guys...this one looks much more useful, and the portability is the icing on the cake!

eeefresh

What would be a good team to-do manager? I want something for the office and have 5-6 people that would use it to see the status of the tasks.

holdemm

For those that think having lots of subtasks levels is overly burdensom, think of it as a form of mind mapping or planning that ends with an actionable list.

From the comments on the recent high-five, the Achilles heel was the lack of web version, as people seem to gravitate to those solutions nowadays. That keeps me from using it for personal purposes, but for work I find todolist a dream come true.

SamburgerHandwich

I've been using ToDoList for about a month now. It's the first app of its kind that I've managed to stick with for longer than about an hour. I really like the ease that tasks can be demoted or promoted and otherwise moved around the hierarchy. I also like the checkin/checkout and autoreloading features. I keep my list in my Live Mesh folder so it follows me everywhere.

Finally, the calendar plugin is pretty nifty though not overly featureful. What really amazed me was that I could export to Ganttproject or MS Project, and dependent tasks were displayed correctly.

To those who are annoyed by the visual clutter: go to View --> [Maximize Tasklists] to turn off the task property box. If you're still annoyed, right click the column header and you can reduce the number of columns that are displayed.

hmhoek

@OX4: Experience tells me you can manage badly (or should that be badly manage?) with almost any tool. The best project manager I ever met (and I have met and worked with a number of them) worked almost entirely out of a paper diary and made amazing use of post-it notes. I'd hate to take the same approach because it wouldn't work for me. ToDoList, on the other hand, has worked very well for me for more than a year. Some of the features you will encounter in it are there because I asked for them or suggested they would make a welcome addition -- that has very, very little to do with me, and a whole lot to do with how responsive Dan G, the developer of the app, is to his user base. You should give it a try -- it's a very useful app and has helped me nail more projects than I care to think about.

planetthoughtful

This is an amazing piece of software. I've been using it for several years as my todo list manager, and nothing comes close to its customizability.

I've trimmed the interface down just to the bear essentials, so it's not cluttered. And it didn't take very long to configure, either. But I can change _anything_ I want -- colors, fonts, shortcut keys, colums... anything.

I was actually surprised this wasn't featured in the Hive Five for To-do managers.

ezuk

I have placed this in My Dropbox so it is available on my computers. Added a keyword 'todo' using Executor. So to access and modify my todos, I just bring up Executor via Alt+Space, start to type 't', 'o'.. and press enter. I suggest people not to get overwhelmed by its feature-load. It's a very functional and useful software.

Sri

I am using todolist regularly each for GTD ... even wrote a blog post on how to do so ... here

[www.shafqatahmed.com]

I like the idea on how you can use folder share to sync between pcs. I use MS Live Mesh to keep it synced between laptop and office pc.

Todo list is awesome ... it is the only tool that fits my requiments. I tried almost 20 different desktop software for gtd, none I liked. Each had its own issues. This was the best one with total control with extreme keyboard shotcuts and options. The amount of customization is awesome as you can use it for gtd, todolist, project management and pogress tracking, even the developer provided the help as a todolist file. Its for those who want a raw and powerful listing software.

raasiel

Been using this tool for 3-4 years. It is in my top 5 software applications that I use the most every day. It has been actively developed with a ear out for its users.

5 Stars *****

troygates

@TheMugs: Which leads one to ask, why not do it in Excel or as spreadsheet in google docs? This really looked promising, but then it said it would generate XML output and soften my hands while I do the dishes and......feh.

I'd have to put "download and configure To Do list software" on my To Do list. Which seems sorta counterintuitive.

Of course, what this really illustrates is the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" paradigm: many folks have to do systems they like: spreadsheets, moleskines, sticky notes, writing on one's hand, etc. Had this post popped up 8 months ago, I'd have been all over this thing, and it has some really neat features. But not enough now to be superior enough to my current system. This isn't a dis on the software--it's an observation on how we all work.

DangerousLiberal

Nothing beats this software, I honestly live on it. I am shocked - SHOCKED - that this wasn't chosen in the hive5 article for task list managers a week ago.

Enjoy writing down tasks? Sorry, I have to remember things going back a few weeks - defect numbers and change requests and complex SQL statements. I hate re-doing work, and my memory is terrible. The search is pretty good, and I can easily recall things I did last year.

Enjoy Backpack or Excel or Remember-the-Milk? Unfortunately, projects don't turn out in plain linear fashion. I may not be able to perform task B until A is out of the way, and the AbstractSpoon product happens to map things the same way as I map tasks in my head. In a tree.

I think the best feature was left off, and that is EXPORT (CRTL+E). Convert your task tree into HTML ordered list. Then print it out, and cross tasks off as you go. Or email it to your project lead, to get them off your back.

bgsu_drew

@DangerousLiberal wrote: I'd have to put "download and configure To Do list software" on my To Do list. Which seems sorta counterintuitive.

The next version will have an setup wizard to simplify first time use.

.dan.g.

Hi All

I'm the author of ToDoList and am very excited by the interest that this article has generated.

Some comments on the comments:

1. The over-complicated vs very powerful issue.

I am always trying to improve on this but it's a double-edged sword. If I hide too much for first-time users then I get heaps of feature requests for things that already exist. Perhaps a first-time wizard to let you pick the tasklist columns you want and a few other settings would be a good idea.

2. Windows-only.

It will run on Linux (under wine) with some tweaking [abstractspoon.pbwiki.com]

3. No Outlook integration.

Historically, I've been reluctant to get involved here because there are so many versions of Outlook to support, but I do agree that this is a gap that needs filling.

.dan.g.

ReminderFox has a simple to do list function. I've just started using it and so far I like it. John http://lifehacker.com/software/firefox/how-to-add-reminders-to-firefox-128497.php

LoisSilus

I have been using ToDoList for more than a year, and i must say this app rocks. There are lots of features, and couple of add-ons which enhance usability of this application beyond others.

If you are managing a small to mid size team then this is the tool for task management. It's upto you whether you do micromanagement or good team management. ;)

harsh4us

I have been using this software for a year or so. Recently, I had the people working for me begin to use it as well. We keep a shared database on our intranet and it allows check-in/check-out when you want to make changes. This way the members of my team can add/update/complete tasks and all other members are able to keep up with what has been completed.

I would have to say that for small project management, this tool works very well. Much easier than MS Project.

I would agree that it is too complex for a simple to do list, but for a group that must manage many different small projects it is very nice.

tds1

@primer: I think it was like that when I first started using it, but it has evolved a LOT. The beautiful thing about it now is it's as simple or complicated as you want it to be. The developer gives the end user so many options on what to show and what to hide. I like it simple but someone like ewonk obviously likes to see everything. Everyone is different, and this program is one of the most fluid I've seen.

You may want to give it another shot, but if you don't, I can understand. First impressions can be hard to overcome.

mjs9199

I'm more in favor of an online todo list: www.toodledo.com An usb drive Todo list is not mobile enough for me.

mvdv

Hooray for TDL finally getting the LH treatment!!

I've been using TDL for over 2 years and love it. It's actively developed and the creator is very responsive on the forum. It has customizable keyboard shortcuts - I can do everything from the keyboard. Tabbed interface for multiple documents, XML file format, open source. And I like that you can add comments to each task. You can customize this program down to the last pixel!

As others have mentioned, it's scalable. I only use the priority and name column, very minimal. Some of the screenshots are a little overwhelming, in my opinion.

Only drawbacks (for me) are:
-the lack of printing options (as someone else mentioned. I resort to printing screenshots of my tasklist)
-the task search (new version is clunky, I liked the old one. A find as you type (a la Evernote 2.x) would be awesome...

I'm still on version 5.5.7 because 5.6 took out a key feature I use. But 5.7 is supposed to bring it back!

mjs9199

Nice program, looks kind of complex. I tried usbstick based todolist, but are not mobile enough for me.

Recently I found Toodledo: completely online, iphone interface, easy-to-use. Great app.

[www.toodledo.com]

mvdv

"and it offers the feature other task managers frequently and strangely lack: the ability to track multiple levels of nested tasks" Understatement of the century! I can't believe how many to-do lists lack this feature. It's the biggest reason why I love ToDoList!

SanbornCorinthus

I have used ToDoList for long time (almost more than a year), and i am totally satisfied with this software. If you are looking for task management for some small size to mid size project then this one would be my choise. They have couple of add-ons as well. Check-out their CodeProject page. [www.codeproject.com]

harsh4us