I’m asking because I’m wondering if there’s a more efficient way for me to handle my notes at work. Currently I just use a txt file in Notepad++. I use this file to track all of the stuff I have to do, such as tasks for stories I’m working on, next steps for projects, discussions I need to follow up on, questions and ideas I want to bring up, etc. The way I organize the document works pretty well for me, but I’m just curious how other people do it.
Well, there is Jira with the tickets of course, but when I’m working actively on a ticket I do two things:
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Text file in Notepad++ (something with custom markup so I have regions) or recently OneNote (just so this crap is backed up), write my hours down before putting them into the system, current ToDo things, notes, etc. till the ticket is through. Anything actually worth keeping gets puts into the Jira ticket as comment on close
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While working on the code and I need to do something before committing it I use comments. Like
// todo# do x, I’m using todo# because if I text search the code base for just todo I’ll find a hundred entries… adjust to whatever is unique to you so you find your own comments again
It’s a shit system, but has worked for me. I also write everything down so I don’t forget it, that has saved me several times.
In the past I even took my text notes and put them into an archive (with the Jira ticket linked) just if an old issue pops up and I still have my thoughts from around that time. But nowadays I do less of that because code changes too fast anyway.
Can you explain what you mean by “something with custom markup so I have regions”? How do I do regions in Notepad++?
A little trick I like: You create your own custom language in Notepad++:
- Go tab Language → User Defined Language
- Create new… button
- Name it whatever you want, txtRegions or whatever
- In the “Folding in code 1 style” area put your favorite Open and Closing symbols. For example I used
{{and}} - Close the dialog
- For your todo file, now go up again to Language → Select your custom language at the bottom
- Try it out, you can now make your own regions in your .txt file
Usually Notepad++ remembers your custom language for your file. If it should ever forget to use it (and falls back to default .txt behavior) just select your language again. Have fun! :)
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Wow. Many people have digital methods. I create jira tickets because it’s required but my actual work list I follow is handwritten in a notebook. When it gets more than 50% completed I copy the incomplete items onto a new page.
I use todo.txt format, created my own cli https://github.com/jecxjo/todo.hs
I set up tasks with priorities:
- A: tasks i am doing now/today
- B: tasks i am planning on soing this week
- C: tasks that need to be done but aren’t high priority
- D: tasks I delete if not done by the end of the month
I make sure all my tasks have a
+ProjectNameand if i have to deal with a@SpecificServiceor@EmployeeNamei note that. I will also add in things likejira:StoryNumberor other data.Due dates are rare, only when there is a hard stop. End of a sprint is not a hard stop. If i need to remind someone I’ll use due date and
@Reminder100% of the time all tasks go in my list. Nothing is left for me to remember. It goes into my list before it ends up in a Jira ticket or Conflience page. Remind me first, everyone else second.
First thing in the morning i process my list. Move tasks to A. End of the week at the end of the month I delete all the D tasks.
As for notes, i use vimwiki with automation to compile into html when files are written. I’ve also setup coworkers with an automated process using pandoc to go from markdown to html. Then i have a little a bookmark on my browser to pull it all up nice and pretty. I’ll post the scripts later, not at my computer.
Daily diary entry made every morning when i do my todo list prep, entry for each meeting. Add notes during meetings and links or other details when looking for solutions to problems.
I used a lot of the tools mentioned here, and there some great recommendations!
For me, it’s hard to beat a Markdown file for versatility.
I combine mine with a keyboard shortcut dedicated to opening it my preferred text editor.
Org-mode FTW! You only need to know emacs for it, which you can master in just a couple of measly decades.
Jokes aside, org-mode is unironically incredible. I use something called Getting Things Done (GTD). I do not regret spending some weeks truly learning about it.
Being a vim user for 30 years I’m often tempted to learn emacs purely for org mode. But then i remember emacs is evil and go back to todo.txt and vimwiki and I’m content.
There is evil-mode in emacs, just saying…
Yeah. Org mode isn’t that great 😃
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I use something called Getting Things Done (GTD). I do not regret spending some weeks truly learning about it.
Are you being sarcastic, or is there actually a tool with this name?
Its a good book to read. Highly recommend.
Also look up 43 folder by Merlin Mann.
Its a good book to read. Highly recommend.
The one by David Allen?
Yeah.
Much of it was obvious, a few new ideas. But it was good to just reinforce the whole process. It’s all about you building your own strategy so whatever works for you.
As a college student, org mode is one of the best tools I’ve ever come across.
Is there a version for neovim users?
You might also like https://github.com/nvim-neorg/neorg which is not meant to be compatible with Emacs org-mode, but rather something new that’s built around similar ideas but for Neovim. Hadn’t used it myself though, only heard about it.
Neorg is what I know of, and seems the most mature / recently updated.
Oh that looks interesting! I’ll have to check it out, thanks!
It’s not as fully-featured as the Emacs one, but yes: https://github.com/nvim-orgmode/orgmode
That’s alright, I’ll check it out. Thanks!
Same but
s/Notepad++/nvim/g. I use a markdown-like list system.+ [X] Task One + [ ] Task Two + [ ] Task Three + [X] Task Four + [ ] Task FiveI work off a ticket system , Every morning I pick a ticket that looks like it is something I know how to solve and I work on it , at lunch I talk to coworkers about my task for the day and get their input and in turn I give my input to their tasks , then with luck I have the problem solved by 5pm when I go home for the day. I might continue to work on the ticket the next day or I might update the ticket as solved or unsolved (with my notes appended to help the next person if I am genuinely stumped) as appropriate.
Issues on jira/GitHub/gitlab/whatever is used and their planning boards. Assign them to me, put them in to-do/planned and do them until they’re all closed/to be reviewed. Occasionally I will put a reminder in the reminders app of my phone with a timed alert if I mustn’t forget something rather urgently.
There are a billion ways to organize your stuff. I used org-mode a lot in the past but it’s a bit difficult to setup, especially on Windows. Nowadays, I use a mix of GTD, https://johnnydecimal.com/, Markdown (with Sublime Text), and https://taskwarrior.org/. Don’t forget calendars too (like the one on Outlook) because you can freely add meetings or things to do inside this application.
You have to find something that works for you, there is no perfect solution. You can also ask the same question on !experienced_devs@programming.dev.
Tickets and Microsoft ToDo, which you can install a an “app” via edge browser and have it in its own window.
I use notion which by default has a task list, kanban style board to manage each task. This way I can keep track of things I need to do eventually, things I’m currently working on, and stuff I’ve finished but might want to keep around for reference later.
