Two Scoops
My Oblique Strategies widget just suggested that I “change ambiguities to specifics.” While this certainly applies to getting things done, it can also apply to communicating software plans and progress. And, speaking of news scoops, I was recently interviewed by Ed Arnold regarding Actiontastic, GTD, the open source announcement, etc. and would like to link the article and say thank you for taking it easy on me.
The Scoop: Actiontastic
Actiontastic is going to continue on its announced open source path. If you’ve been wondering about the source code release, it is still on the way but involves more than the simple mechanics of publishing some code. The goal is to make it GPL and that involves rewriting GPL-incompatible third party code prior to release.
It occurred to me today that instead of targeting a source release that matches the existing free version, I might do better to remove some of the third party code in question and replace it with something that could be used by interested developers sooner rather than later. Then, when everything is up to par, the source code base and the binary releases could move in sync with one another. I still have some thinking and experimenting to do in this regard so I will keep you posted on the progress as it happens.
The Scoop: Actionatr
The real news is that Actionatr will not only be running in your browser as planned, but also on the desktop and not just on the Mac. It will also run on Windows and Linux. This is all thanks to the previously blogged REST architecture on the server plus Adobe’s Flex and Apollo technologies. One way (Flash Lite) or another (J2ME a la the Gmail app for the BlackBerry) or another (in the browser), Actionatr will also be running on mobile phones.
I believe strongly that a ToDo list that isn’t available anytime, anywhere, online or offline, is a step backward from a folded sheet of paper in your pocket. Conversely, a ubiquitous set of checkboxes and idea capturing tools will be a welcome step forward…at least in my little world.
The important pieces of this are already running on my trusty laptop and communicating with each other. Screenshots will be posted as soon as the UI gets a little more love.
gaba wrote:
Thank you, Jon, Actiontastic is fantastic, I use it all the time, and can’t wait to use Actionatr (which I am sure will work great on the iPhone as well).
I totally agree on “availability anytime”, that’s why I can’t take OmniFocus 1.0 seriously.
Keep up the good work and please set up some way to make donations to you.
Posted on 04-Jun-07 at 3:54 am | Permalink
Andy wrote:
Ho ho - can’t wait for the screenshots :o)
Posted on 04-Jun-07 at 12:47 pm | Permalink
T grier wrote:
Thanks for the update Jon.
I am looking forward to the Web based.
I have to use a WIN comp at work and I had being away from my mac and your GTD app.
T
Posted on 04-Jun-07 at 11:52 pm | Permalink
Ed wrote:
I am really excited about Actionatr. Thanks for the interview link Jon anyone here will probably find it pretty mundane, but if any of you are trying to explain Actiontastic to friends and family, the interview may be a good place to start.
Posted on 05-Jun-07 at 10:57 am | Permalink
phil wrote:
you are doing a great job. Thanks for putting actiontastic together and even more for bringing actionatr up to speed. can’t wait for that.
Posted on 13-Jun-07 at 4:43 am | Permalink
Jon wrote:
@Everyone:
Thank you for the kind words. The beta is getting closer and I can’t wait to share it.
Posted on 13-Jun-07 at 10:00 am | Permalink
Frustrated Developer wrote:
Hey. Every thought of releasing the code that you do have and letting smart developers help you port the \”3rd party\” code? This is taking way to long and obviously you can\’t do it yourself in a timely manor as you are busy. Let us help you improve the application which we enjoy and use daily.
Posted on 15-Jun-07 at 2:11 am | Permalink
Jon wrote:
@Frustrated:
I’m happy to hear that you are enjoying the software and hope that it will continue to help you stay organized.
Regarding the source release, please check the links in the post regarding the GPL and GPL-incompatibility. Actiontastic will be released under the GPL and that means that it simply cannot be released with this third party code. I do trust that there are smart developers that could help me with the code, but I have to get past that first step on my own so as not to forfeit the “pay it forward” aspects of the GPL. That means a slightly longer wait in the short term, but the long term benefits of doing it right are clear.
I hope this explanation was helpful and look forward to releasing the code as soon as I can.
Posted on 15-Jun-07 at 7:36 am | Permalink
Michael Tuminello wrote:
wow. I was just looking at alternates because I was convinced that whatever you came up with would not take the mobile phone (Nokia N75 in my case) into account. I was very glad to hear you say “I believe strongly that a ToDo list that isn’t available anytime, anywhere, online or offline, is a step backward from a folded sheet of paper in your pocket.”, and couldn’t agree more.
I’d be happy to help on the Flash lite side if possible.
one avenue to explore, at least for symbian, is hosting a web app on the phone using the web server - check it out!
http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/features/item/Previewing_Nokias_Mobile_Web_Server.php
Posted on 20-Jun-07 at 12:02 pm | Permalink
alejandrops wrote:
I love actiontastic. I hope a new version comes soon that fixes all small anoyancees.
Posted on 20-Jun-07 at 10:09 pm | Permalink
Michael Tuminello wrote:
on the mobile side, I hope (and this is what it sounds like you will do) that you will not require a live connection to add list items and so on. I was just looking at rememberthemilk, and the fact that they do mobile access by just accessing the mobile site is not the best, IMO. I’m biased because I do most of my task entry on the subway… :-)
hope to see it soon. the last post got me all riled up. thansk!
Posted on 21-Jun-07 at 12:48 am | Permalink
Jon wrote:
@Michael:
Thanks for the interesting Symbian link. Given that Leopard will bundle Rails, I wonder if it will show up on the iPhone too? Regarding Flash lite, excellent! I would be grateful for any help in that area and will have the source out there very soon. It is a single svn project but has sub projects containing the different “surfaces” for the app — REST/web, flex, air/apollo, etc. Flash lite could be another subproject.
Posted on 21-Jun-07 at 12:52 am | Permalink
Jon wrote:
@Michael:
Ok, we’re online at the same time because your latest comment snuck in while I was writing my response to your other comment :-) Anyway, yes, Actionatr will do online/offline in all possible situations, including mobile devices. For some platforms, like the BlackBerry with J2ME, there is no doubt this could be done (and I happen to have years of Java experience, for better or worse). For other mobile platforms, some amount of digging will need to take place to determine the capabilities.
Posted on 21-Jun-07 at 12:59 am | Permalink
@Jon wrote:
thanks for responding Jon. Feel free to email me directly if I can help with anything and I’ll give it a shot. I didn’t know Leopard was going to bundle rails… one more thing to learn that I haven’t looked at yet. :-)
Posted on 29-Jun-07 at 7:29 am | Permalink
Michael Tuminello wrote:
so what up dude? 1 month from your last posting. :-)
the omni-ers are taking a we’re-mobile-because-we-have-an-iphone-website stance. weak.
Posted on 05-Jul-07 at 10:09 am | Permalink
Michael Tuminello wrote:
here’s the link: http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/04/omnifocus-plays-nice-with-iphone/
Posted on 05-Jul-07 at 10:10 am | Permalink
Jon wrote:
@Michael:
Thanks for the link. It hasn’t quite been a month since my most recent post, but we’re getting very close :-) I do have something in the works and will post info ASAP.
Posted on 10-Jul-07 at 11:26 pm | Permalink
Tim Dysinger wrote:
How about just releasing what you have that IS gpl so we can work on it? You could release the non-compatible code as binary maybe -or not at all- and we could slowly resplace it. OR maybe we’ll just live without the proprietary code.
I love this GTD app. _Let_ _me_ _work_ _on_ _it_, _please_.
Posted on 18-Jul-07 at 2:42 pm | Permalink
Michael Tuminello wrote:
Hey Jon -
You still working on this? I might have an in to get it on some phones if you are in fact doing it using the Flash platform (Flash/AIR/Flash Lite)… Drop me a line if you’re interested, and if it’s close.
MT
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 2:52 pm | Permalink
davy wrote:
I would also like to put in my two cents about the development. I have used Actiontastic since it was released and I consider it to be by far the best GTD application that there is on any platform. Looks like most of us users are getting really antsy about the next release, so I would also like to ask. Please please please let anyone help where they can with development. I’m going nuts everyday when I see that the RSS feed hasn’t updated for Actiontastic. I hope this comes out the right way, I just want to say Thank you for all of your hard work on this project, I know that you don’t have much responsibility to the users yet since there has not been any money attached to this project, but I’m hoping that maybe if enough people call out, you might understand. But again, Thank you for such a great app!
Posted on 30-Aug-07 at 10:31 am | Permalink