A terminal-first task manager backed by markdown files.
One command. All your tasks, from inbox to done.
Tasks as plain .md files with YAML frontmatter — readable in the CLI, Obsidian, and any text editor. No database, no sync, just files you can git track.
- Quick capture —
tk add "thing"drops it in inbox,--nowor--nextto skip ahead - GTD status flow —
inbox → todo → next → now → donewithbacklogfor someday items - Projects — group tasks under initiatives, batch edit in your editor, track on dashboard
- Board view —
tk boardopens your entire pipeline in$EDITORfor fast reorganization - Due dates —
tk add "ship it" --due 5surfaces tasks automatically when deadlines approach - Goals & focus — track deadlines with progress bars, keep top-of-mind items visible
- Interactive picker — fzf-powered loop to process tasks without re-running commands
- Dashboard — bare
tkshows focus, goals, active projects, and today's tasks - Agent-friendly —
--jsonoutput on every list command
Requires Go 1.21+ and fzf.
git clone https://github.com/nickhudkins/tk
cd tk
make installConfig at ~/.config/tk/config.yaml:
root: ~/path/to/your/tasks
focus_items: 3
due_soon_days: 3tk add "fix auth redirect loop"
tk add "ship v2" --due 14 --tags api
tkinbox → todo → next → now → done
↕ ↕
backlog archived
tk now <id> / tk next <id> set status directly. tk done <id> marks done. tk backlog <id> parks for later.
tk add "title" # capture to inbox
tk add "title" --due 5 # due in 5 days
tk add "title" --due 2026-03-15 # due on specific date
tk add "title" --now --tags cli # add to now with tags
tk add "title" -P my-project # add to a project
tk show 42 # view task details
tk edit 42 # open in $EDITOR
tk edit 42 -s next --due 3 # set status + due without editor
tk edit 42 -P my-project # assign to project
tk copy 42 # copy file path to clipboard
tk delete 42 # delete permanentlytk now 42 # set to now (w)
tk next 42 # set to next (n)
tk backlog 42 # park for later (bl)
tk done 42 # mark done (d)
tk archive 42 # shelve task
tk p0 42 # set priority (p0/p1/p2)tk list # all active tasks (ls)
tk list --due # tasks with due dates, nearest first
tk list --status next # filter by status
tk list -P my-project # filter by project
tk list --stale # stale tasks
tk list --sort priority --desc # sort options: id|created|updated|title|status|priority
tk list --backlog # backlog tasks
tk now # show now tasks (w)
tk next # show next tasks (n)
tk backlog # show backlog tasks (bl)
tk stats # status breakdown + trends
tk actions # next action per task (v)
tk search "auth" # search by title/body (s)
tk export # markdown overviewtk pick # fzf picker with actions (i)
tk pick -P my-project # pick within a project
tk plan # multi-select → move to now
tk board # edit all tasks in board view (b)tk focus # show focus items (f)
tk focus edit # edit .focus.md
tk goals # show goals (g)
tk goals edit # edit .goals.yaml
tk tags # list tags with counts
tk tags add 42 code # tag a task
tk review # review stale + backlog tasks
tk project # list projects (proj, pr)
tk project add slug Title # create a project
tk project slug # show project tasks by status
tk project edit # batch edit project tasks in $EDITOR
tk project status # set project status via fzf| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--json |
Structured output |
--due |
Filter to tasks with due dates |
--inbox |
Inbox only |
--all |
Include done/archived |
--stale |
Stale tasks only |
--status <s> |
Filter by status |
--sort <field> |
Sort by id, created, updated, title, status, priority |
--desc |
Reverse sort |
--show-updated |
Show relative update age |
-P, --project <slug> |
Filter by project (add, edit, list, pick) |
Bare tk shows your daily view:
Focus
- Ship small, ship often
Goals
Ship v2 API 12/20 endpoints ████████░░░░ 18 days to go
Launch blog 3 days to go
Active Projects
website-redesign Website Redesign (2 now, 3 next, 4 todo)
Due Soon
1. #42 [todo] Fix auth bug p0 #api due tomorrow
Now (Mon Feb 24)
1. #51 Review open PR ‹website-redesign›
2. #60 Deploy staging
Inbox: 3 Todo: 12 Next: 4 Now: 2 Done: 28
tk pick opens an fzf picker that loops — process your whole list without re-running commands.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Enter |
Edit in $EDITOR |
Tab |
Multi-select |
Ctrl-E |
Set status (opens picker) |
Ctrl-D |
Mark done |
Ctrl-O |
Archive |
Ctrl-B |
Move to backlog |
Ctrl-X |
Delete |
Ctrl-R |
Set priority |
Ctrl-T |
Add tag |
Ctrl-P |
Assign to project |
Ctrl-F |
Cycle status filter |
Ctrl-G |
Cycle tag filter |
Esc |
Exit |
tk stats shows status distribution, completion and creation trends over the last 7 days, and health metrics.
Use --days 14 to extend the trend window.
Group related tasks under a project. Projects have their own status: todo → next → done.
tk project add website-redesign Website Redesign --next
tk add "Fix auth" -P website-redesign --now
tk project website-redesign # view tasks by status bucket
tk project edit website-redesign # batch edit in $EDITOR
tk project edit # fzf pick project, then edit
tk project status # fzf pick project + statusProjects with status next appear on the dashboard. Tasks show their project as ‹slug› in list views.
Project tasks are stored in .projects.yaml:
- slug: website-redesign
title: Website Redesign
status: nexttk board (alias b) opens all active tasks in $EDITOR organized by status:
# tk board
### now
- [42] Fix auth endpoint #api p0 ‹website-redesign›
### next
- [43] Write API docs ‹website-redesign›
### todo
- [44] SEO audit
### inbox
### backlog
### done
### deleteMove lines between sections to change status. Add new lines to create tasks. Move to ### delete to permanently remove. Save and quit — tk diffs and applies changes.
Each task lives at <root>/NNN.md:
---
id: 42
title: Fix sidebar toggle bug
status: todo
priority: p0
tags: [code, chromium]
due: 2026-03-15
project: website-redesign
created: 2026-02-23T10:30:00-08:00
updated: 2026-02-23T10:30:00-08:00
---
Notes, links, whatever you want here.
- [ ] Write the migration script
- [x] Test with staging data
- [ ] Deploy to productionTrack deadlines and measurable progress in .goals.yaml:
- title: Ship v2 API
deadline: 2026-03-15
metric: endpoints
current: 12
target: 20
- title: Launch blog
deadline: 2026-03-01Edit with tk goals edit. Shows on dashboard with progress bars and countdown.
~/.config/tk/config.yaml:
| Key | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
root |
— | Task storage directory |
editor |
nvim |
Editor for tk edit |
focus_items |
3 |
Number of focus items shown |
due_soon_days |
3 |
Days before due date to surface on dashboard |
stale_warn_days |
28 |
Days before stale warning |
stale_critical_days |
56 |
Days before critical stale warning |
demo |
false |
Hide dashboard content |
Personal tool built for my own workflow. Feel free to fork and adapt.