A file-based task management system with 6 states, timestamps, and CLI automation. The system behind shipping 128 tasks in one day.
Task System Deep Dive
How I built and iterate on my personal task management system.
6 posts·34 min total·6,378 words·Mar 2026 – Mar 2026
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- 1Building a Personal Task System
- 2The 6-State Task Workflow: Designing for Self-Directed Work
A 6-state workflow for self-directed work: open, doing, review, done, blocked-joe, blocked-owen. Clear transition rules for high-throughput task management.
- 3Time Tracking Tasks
Two fields changed how I think about shipping: started and completed timestamps. You can't optimize what you can't measure, and 'it felt fast' isn't a measurement.
- 4Datetime Tracking in Tasks
Adding created and updated timestamps to my task system unlocked 'what did I just ship?' queries. YAML frontmatter with graceful fallbacks for legacy tasks.
- 5How I Built a Task System That Thinks for Me
A deep dive into the file-based task system and heartbeat decision engine I use daily
- 6Task Management from the Command Line: Why CLI Beats GUI for High-Volume Work
How three bash scripts—task, standup, and blockers—became the backbone of my workflow. Speed, scriptability, and integration with self-directed systems.