DEM0: Respawn task in Todoist by label
What it is?
Intrducing ToRedo. This is the a javascript script that will “respawn” a closed task in Todoist. It is a vanilla .js file that has to be run manually.
Where can I get it?
What’s it do?
This script takes the last thirty completed task, filters by label, and creates new tasks with all the same attributes.
Why do I need it?
This is for long ongoing task. For example if you have a task to read “A Game Of Thrones”, but progress is not tied to a date. You can create a new task under it’s parent: “Read Next Chapter”, and add a “respawn” label. WhenEVER you complete that chapter, you can complete it, and the next time you run the script, will create a brand new “Read Next Chapter” task with all the same atrributes (including the “respawn” label)
How do I run it?
I’ve posted as a gist, you’ll need to supply you Todoist API Key and the label to filter by. It can be run in your browser.
What’s the back story?
I had a problem.
I use Todoist for productivity and for the most part it check most needs. The Todoist team has been doing a pretty good job lately of building out features that people have been asking for. For me though, I think my brain is wired to use a less feature-rich Todoist and don’t use a lot of the new features.
The one feature I’ve recently been wanting though is a respawn feature, but not by due date, but as a next action. Due dates work okay, but I find myself having to advance these “Next Action” to a new date if I don’t get it on the due day. It also leave my due dates for things that are actually tied to a date. Also, it’s a bit of a bummer, and becomes a list of things I didn’t het to that day.
My first version was a js script I ran from VS Code. I’d add task by ID manually, and run the script manually everyday. I was using the Todoist API.
My second version, I looked at the extentions in the Todoist Library. I should have started here. I’m a big fan of finding someone else who has solved my problem first. No one fit the bill.
Next, I tired IFTTT, again, almost, but no cigar. I find IFTTT a little clumsy, but it’s definitly a nice little automation tool.
I return to the script solution, which is where I landed. I moved from using the API to Todoist’s Sync API. My only gript with the API is that it takes me a couple more calls to the API then I’d like to get the label information thay I’m filter by.
At some point I’ll drop this behing a web page or create an extension.