Best To-Do List Software?

JojoLinkyBob writes "Greetings, Council of Slashdot. I am curious what everyone here recommends as their favorite organizational software. Specifically, I am trying to find a simple freeware/open-source todo list manager. In the past, I've dabbled with TreePad, Shadow Plan, Mantis, and various virtual sticky- note apps ..all with mixed success. Currently, I'm back to my old-school ways of scribbling my todo's on the back of each Daily Dilbert Calendar page, which sadly means today is June 23 :)"

Don't name names!

[Marc Desrochers]

Now that MS has a To-Do list patent, shouldn't we keep quiet about this and not give them people to sue?

Low-tech

[Joe the Lesser]

And by low tech I mean Notepad.exe.

=)

Hardware based approach

[jrrl]

If I don't do something I am supposed to, my wife whacks me on the back of the head. Works great!

-John.

Post-it papers on my monitor!

[SpaceTux]

Perfect for passwords too!

Found your problem

[ALecs]

Currently, I'm back to my old-school ways of scribbling my todo's on the back of each Daily Dilbert Calendar page, which sadly means today is June 23

Switch to The Far Side [thefarside.com] - their desk calendars are much bigger and can accommodate many more notes. *grin*

Bugzilla

[Aliencow]

Might be a bit overkill but I love it.

MS Project

[Anonymous Coward]

We use MS Project to manage our to do lists.

Sincerely,
Duke Nukem Forever - Dev Team

It's called a "wife"

[Anonymous Coward]

It remembers birthdays, anniversaries, mother's day, plus when you should do all the chores around the home, and it's instantly updatable without effort on your part.

Re:Low-tech

[Skater]

Edlin!

Notepad...sheesh! You people have it easy!

--RJ

It's patented!

[Adhemar]

Specifically, I am trying to find a simple freeware/open-source todo list manager.

You do know that the TODO-list is patented [slashdot.org], don't you?

All your base to do are belong to MS.

Re:It's called a "wife"

[winkydink]

Almost all versions are closed source and very expensive.

the best to-do list manager is analog

[Greg@RageNet]

I find the best to do list manager is a yellow legal pad. You never have to worry about the batteries running down on it; it won't lose your data due to a system crash; accessable even when you don't have internet access; it features an intuitive user interface (dubbed a 'pen'); it's ease-of-use is well documented; and best of all it is compatable with open standards such as english, french, and japanese.

One caveat, it's not freeware; it could be as expensive as a dollar, but you'll recoup that quickly with the electricity savings.

-- Greg

Re:What's wrong with Old School?

[RockClimbingFool]

the pencil and paper will not remind you when its time to be somewhere or do something. or tell you your busy when you try to set up another meeting.

Re:It's called a "wife"

[Anonymous Coward]

Um, this is slashdot. Post something that he at least has access too.

Re:Post-it papers on my monitor!

[Bobzibub]

Put them under your keyboard you crazy fool!

Re:Low-tech

[BW_Nuprin]

I scribble my todo lists in Paint. That way I can draw cartoon characters with it. Its more, I dunno, cheery :)

Todo:
Program vertex shader
Fix bug in network code
Fix 8 bugs reported by bug testers, 2 of which affect game
*picture of smiling bunny*
Put bullet in head

Re:It's called a "wife"

[deadlinegrunt]

And not to mention the vendor lock-in.

Some of the EULA's you have conform to as well, I mean sheesh...

Re:Why not create it yourself?

[BoRictor]

That reeks of work. So why don't *YOU* do it and I'll just d/l it off you when it's done. Oh and if you can code this in around an hour.. heck I'll even give you 2, I will gladly donate some money for your efforts! thanksbye!

Re:Low-tech

[Anonymous Coward]

I store everything in something really simple - my mind. Wait, that didn't sound quite right.

Re:Post-it papers on my monitor!

[Anonymous Coward]

*sigh*
I set up my dad's office today with a wifi network, and he wrote down the WEP key on a stickey note on his monitor. I stared and said "wow.. I've read about you in a lot of security books"

PINE - Postpone message

[GillBates0]

PINE works great for me. I write myself a todo list and "Postpone" it (Ctrl-O). This way PINE asks me if I want to continue my Postponed message, or write a new one. That acts as a gentle reminder everytime I send a new message - which is often enough.

Here're a couple of screen shots:
PINE 4.58 MESSAGE INDEX Folder: INBOX Message 2,444 of 2,444 ANS
.
.
Continue postponed composition (answering "No" won't erase it)?
Y [Yes]
^C Cancel N No

N 127 Jun 18 xxx xxxx (4422) To Do list

You missed the most important steps!!

[Haydn Fenton]

Profit

Re:Palm Desktop worth a look

[name773]

ah, that's right, there are no text editors whatsoever for any open source operating systems.
that's so bloody easy to forget, you'll have to forgive the ac above you

Re:the best to-do list manager is analog

[crmartin]

3x5 cards. You get all the advantages abouve, plus they're random-access.

shameless plug

[ColonBlow]

TaskMaster [qsoftworld.com] is free. um...for thirty days.
*shrugs* you'll be out of this 'organized' phase of yours by then anyway.

Re:Post-it papers on my monitor!

[foidulus]

Even better than post it notes, get a CRT monitor and burn your to-do list on it, may not be the most efficient way, but everytime you look at your computer, your todo list is stqaring you down.

Can't do that. It's patented.

[IGnatius T Foobar]

Sorry folks, you're not allowed to do TODO lists. That has been patented by Microsoft [slashdot.org].

Perhaps you should consider circumventing the patent by making a list of "Stuff I gotta remember not to forget" ?

Oh Yeah!

[Bingo Foo]

...I was going to get around to compiling a list of them one of these days...

You are so busted.

[loteck]

because, as we all know, Microsoft patented the to-do list [slashdot.org], as previously discussed. Bill will be calling soon, no doubt. Hope your last name isn't Rowsoft ;)

Re:I wish I could help you...

[name773]

then hope your shrink has a piece of paper and a pencil :)

Re:Apple's iCal software

[pjt33]

The first thing you should put on your lists is "Make list". That way you get something to check off as done almost immediately.

Re:Palm Desktop worth a look

[Anonymous Coward]

I've been meaning to check out Palm Desktop, but keep forgetting to do it.

Re:What's wrong with Old School?

[Khan Fused]

Why do I want my notes and reminders in digital format instead of post-its stuck everywhere? Simple.

My. Handwriting. Sucks. Dead. Babies. Through. A. Straw.
_______________

It costs $2.00

[Mustang Matt]

Go buy a broken palm pilot off ebay. License requirements fullfilled.

Re:data managers

[Boronx]

I use tdl. I've got it rigged so that my most urgent tasks appear in bright colors the moment I login. My eyes have trained themselves to completely bypass this list. I see it every morning, but I haven't read it in months.

A todo list is only as good as the one who uses it.