MILESTONE: KaDo List Now Runs on KaDo List
Putting the Trust Back In “Trusted System”
It’s been a while back but I remember reading about the point when the crew working on Subversion moved their code base over from CVS to Subversion. (If you’re not the geeky type, Subversion and CVS are kind of like Time Machine for code.) Their own source control system was now being hosted on itself. Nice. I think I made the switch on my own source control server within a few days, knowing that if they trusted their own project with it, then I could probably trust it to host my projects too. And these guys weren’t marketers. They were programmers. Definitely power users. They did not disappoint. I feel the same way about the news that Apple is now building Leopard on systems running Leopard. When a marketer tells you their product is ready, take it with a grain of salt. Their product may still have serious bugs, yet they are under the gun to drum up sales and get media attention. But when a developer says they are eating their own dog food so to speak, I take note.
Cheers!
Now that KaDo List has reached this defining point, it seems that a post is in order. Now, I’m not saying that because I’m a developer, I automatically deserve a higher amount of trust than some random marketing person. I’m just stating that, for what it’s worth, my new trusted system for managing my Projects and Actions (including the KaDo List project itself) is now KaDo List. It is stable, crash free, and lightning fast. Putting the trust back in Trusted System.
What does this mean? It means that I can trust it with all of my “stuff.” It means that the system finally hit that point where it has that “Wow!” feeling. It happened innocently enough, while I was unit testing the filters and actions inside the inbox. That’s when the “YES!” moment snuck up behind me and dumped ice down my (very smooth Urban Outfitters) shirt. As I was clicking through each inbox item, one-at-a-time thanks to the filter for showing the top item only, clicking along, converting “stuff” to Projects and Actions, deleting unactionable items, all with a single click, it hit me. “I can use this right now for my trusted GTD system. It has hit the mark!” At that point, beer cans were popping open in slow motion, fresh out of the ice packed cooler, spraying cool mist for miles. Beautiful women were swishing their hair around (also in slow motion) as they looked toward the impressive zeros and ones emanating from Xcode (taken ladies, sorry…). Coltrane stepped up to take an extra chorus and exhaust every last bit of energy left in the audience. People were throwing kittens(!?). It was crazy, chaotic, and magnificent. Sure, I was just at my desk coding, but it felt great.
The Beta Approaches
Getting back to reality, everything is now clicking in KaDo List and mostly cosmetic items are left to complete. This serves as the ideal point to drop the axe on any needless features that might serve to complicate the clean interface. I will soon unleash the beta in two phases. The first will be the app on its own, possibly only to the private beta tester list. The second release will be the app plus the beta for its web app sidekick.
Thanks to feedback from my last screenshots post, and some keen advice from a fellow CocoaHead in St. Louis, I have decided that KaDo List is now officially a code name. The real name for the app now reflects the true spirit of the experience. It will be announced along with the beta release on this blog.
Justin wrote:
Thanks for the update on your project and I can’t wait to see a beta. Could I be added to the beta list please?
Posted on 10-Sep-06 at 11:34 pm | Permalink
Jon wrote:
Sure thing, Justin. I already had you on the beta list from the previous post :-)
Posted on 10-Sep-06 at 11:40 pm | Permalink
RogerW wrote:
Wow sounds very interesting. Please give us a hint on the web side kick as well.
I’ve been looking for something like this for some time, fiddeling around w programs like EasyTask etc. One thing that would be very helpful is the ability to sync with iCal – BUT for me it would be perfect if I could choose just to sync certain projects/cointexts or (even better) just the next action item. Any plans for this?
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 1:34 am | Permalink
Brab wrote:
I forgot if I asked to beta, but I’d love to.
Did you already think about synchronization (with iCal for instance) or is this for the future (or for never)?
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 2:37 am | Permalink
Andy Fragen wrote:
Congrats on the milestone Jon. I can’t wait to start putting KaDo List through its paces.
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 11:09 am | Permalink
Anand wrote:
This looks like the answer to my gtd too bloated with entourage prayers. Would love to be a beta tester. Keep up teh awseom work.
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 4:51 pm | Permalink
Jon wrote:
@Roger:
iCal syncing is definitely on the list but isn’t currently in the 1.0 code. Perhaps it should be. Out of curiosity, how to you like to use iCal? For your main ToDo interface? Syncing with .Mac? Syncing with a PDA of some sort? (Oh, and your web hint is just around the corner.)
@Brab:
You’re on the list. iCal syncing is in the future for sure (Leopard seems to have lots of potential with Mail and iCal). I’m just trying to decide if it is a 1.0 feature.
@Andy:
I can hardly sit still just thinking about releasing this thing!
@Anand:
Thanks! You’re on the list.
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 9:34 pm | Permalink
Robb Irrgang wrote:
Would love to betatest as well. I’ve tried every GTD-esque app out there and found them all lacking…hoping that your app gets it right!
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 10:00 pm | Permalink
Jon wrote:
@Robb:
Thanks. You’re on the list.
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 10:04 pm | Permalink
Essl wrote:
If there is still room I would also love to test. I’ve tested for Adobe and for some smaller software developers. I love how clean and mean your app looks and I’m hoping it stays that way!
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 11:06 pm | Permalink
Jon wrote:
@Essl:
Thanks! Clean and mean is my intention. You’re on the list.
Posted on 11-Sep-06 at 11:12 pm | Permalink
laurel wrote:
I’m stlll interested; hope I’m still on the list! And I’m excited that you’re getting closer–congratulations. I’d vote for iCal sync from the beginning, btw.
Posted on 12-Sep-06 at 12:29 am | Permalink
RogerW wrote:
On iCal: Yes I vote for that to be on 1.0 as well. And while I am not updated on the upcomming Leopard to-do changes it seems like Apple as well is focusing more on the to-do side (integrating it w Mail and so on).
On .Mac: Not for me, and if it syncs w iCal those who what the .Mac syncronization can do via iCal.
On PDA:s: I do believe we are heading towards more mobility and hence mobile devices (=mostly smartphones) will have a more central role. Today I use a Treo (Palm), in a few weeks (as soon as Apple updated iSync ) I will probably use a SonyEricsson P990 (Symbian) or an Iphone (wishful thinking?). But whatever device, I need to sync it w iCal.
On Web-app: I really think you are on something there. To be able to sync the Mac app with the web-app will be a real hit and enable people to work outside their normal set-up.
Posted on 12-Sep-06 at 1:19 am | Permalink
Brab wrote:
I could live without iCal, but I would need at least a way to have a list for some contexsts on my PDA (read-only would be fine). So a simple text export (that can be triggered using AppleScript or other automatic means) and using Missing Sync folder sync would work as well.
Posted on 12-Sep-06 at 2:14 am | Permalink
Steve wrote:
I wanted to comment that I hope it is loaded with keyboard shortcuts. In programs like this I really like being able to get in and out without having to reach for the mouse to add or mark things as complete. This is especially true for being able to switch amongst projects or contexts.
Steve
Posted on 13-Sep-06 at 2:17 pm | Permalink
Jon wrote:
@laurel:
Yes, you’re still on the list.
@RogerW:
Once again, thank you so much for the detailed info. If iCal integration is not in version 1.0, it will probably be in 1.1 which would of course be a free upgrade for 1.0 users. I too am anxiously awaiting an iPhone someday! If your mobile phone has web access, then I think you’ll dig the forthcoming web app.
@Brab:
Great idea for “text syncing.” Thanks!
@Steve:
I’m with you 100%. As an old school vi user on unix, I am a fan of the keyboard-only style of app interaction (and a big reason I love Quicksilver). Shortcuts will be everywhere, so please check them all out and let me know what you think when the beta is released.
Posted on 13-Sep-06 at 10:08 pm | Permalink
Matt wrote:
Jon,
I keep trying out new programs every week and one hasn’t stuck yet. Kinkless is just too complicated to get into. Yours looks simple. I’d love to try it out when the beta is released. iCal would be great, similar to Kinkless. As Merlin said, put stuff in kGTD, but live and work in iCal.
Matt
Posted on 14-Sep-06 at 6:55 pm | Permalink
Jon wrote:
@Matt:
You’re on the list. Thanks for the input about iCal usage.
Posted on 15-Sep-06 at 12:20 am | Permalink
Matt wrote:
One more thing, I’m not sure if this is possible, but the ability to put a link to a document in your HD would be cool. So if I had a todo for a certain paper, I could put the paper right there.
Posted on 15-Sep-06 at 2:23 am | Permalink
PaulC wrote:
Could I be added to the list? I’m just reading David Allen’s book (having been turned on to it by Merlin at 43f) and have been searching for a GTD app to use on my Mac (being a recent switcher from Windows as well).
From what I’ve seen and read so far it looks great!
Posted on 15-Sep-06 at 11:31 am | Permalink
Andy Fragen wrote:
Jon,
Add me to the iCal sync people. Here’s what I do.
Essentially sync to PDA using Missing Sync. They use Sync Services. Events, Tasks, etc.
Posted on 15-Sep-06 at 7:22 pm | Permalink
Taavi wrote:
I’ve been following this project for a while. I’ve been using kGTD, but I’ve found that it’s really too buggy to use full time. Actions tend to disappear here and there. Anyway, I’m really hoping that Kado List can fill the void for me.
I was also hoping that you could add me to the beta list. As long as it’s not unstable, I can’t wait to try it out. My poor actions need someplace to go. Also, I second the iCal support.
Posted on 16-Sep-06 at 9:52 am | Permalink
nursegirl wrote:
I’d love to be a beta tester as well. What I’d love is an easy setup to print to 3×5 (assuming the printer supports it). I’d say that index card printing is the main reason that I use GTDTiddlyWiki, but there are so many other TiddlyWiki disadvantages, that I could easily see myself switching apps.
Posted on 16-Sep-06 at 8:34 pm | Permalink
RobDob wrote:
Ditto on the 3×5 cards. I can’t use my palm for note taking to save my life. I use a “Hipster” type pda for quick note taking and to lug around action lists for places away from the computer. If this program could print up nice lists for away from the computer contexts that would be great!
Posted on 17-Sep-06 at 11:31 am | Permalink
Jon wrote:
@PaulC, Taavi, nursegirl:
You are all on the list.
@Everyone:
Thanks for all of the 3×5 index card ideas and the Project Support file suggestion (Matt). These ideas have also been rolling around in my head for a while and it is nice to hear that you also think this would be helpful.
Posted on 17-Sep-06 at 2:39 pm | Permalink
David wrote:
Works great! I have one suggestion.. I’d like to be able to close the window while still keeping the app open in the dock. Oh, and I’m not too sure what the icon is. Maybe something simpler and prettier?
Posted on 29-Sep-06 at 3:01 pm | Permalink
Dee wrote:
Syncing with iCal would definitely be a plus. I also use a plugin to create todo items in iCal from mail.app and the same thing in Kado would be fantastic. So far I love it. I’m fairly new to Mac so I tend to try everything I can and the learning curve on this was zero as opposed to some others I have played with. This will remain on my “keeper” list. Tag support would be a big plus too. Thanks for your hard work - can’t wait to see the next release!
Posted on 01-Oct-06 at 8:59 pm | Permalink