gtg-contributors team mailing list archive

[Bertrand Rousseau <bertrand.rousseau@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, Apr 1, 2012 at 11:59 PM, Bertrand Rousseau
<bertrand.rousseau@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Sat, Mar 31, 2012 at 11:07 AM, Alex <alba@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Hey everyone,
>>
>> You may have noticed, that i edited the GTG/Design Wiki Page and tried to
>> get some structure in the design process. The first, and current, step would
>> be 'Collect Information'. I think this is very important to build some
>> design-goals, so all the redesign efforts are headed in the right direction.
>
> Hi Alex,
>
> Thanks a lot for taking this initiative, this will be very valuable!
>
> I tried to answer your questions in the most sincere way, so that I
> often discuss some aspect of GTG. However I would stress the fact
> that, as I could understand, discussing specific aspects is *not* the
> aim of this mail. The aim is to collect information, in order to
> identify specific points on which we should work, and set priorities.
> So let's not discuss the suggestions or ideas too much (or at least
> not in this thread), since it would make it harder for us to keep
> focus on the design process.

I realize that I'm not clear in this part: I'm not talking to Alex
specifically, but to everyone in this mailing-list

>
>> So, i have some questions for you:
>>
>> 1. What do you think are the 'killer-features' of GTG? (Where are it's
>> strenghts compared to other task managers? On which particular feature
>> should we focus on the design process? etc.)
>
> adaptivity: GTG doesn't impose much to the user when defining a new
> task and organizing them. It's particularly exemplified by the task
> editor which allows text-based task description/definition. As such,
> most people can organize themselves the way they feel fit for them.
> Using tags as a universal mean to categorize your tasks was also
> designed for this reason. Most other task manager are more
> restrictive, so you often feel contrived by the organization scheme
> they impose.
>
> I would also say "simplicity" (as opposed to Lotus Notes-like
> complexity), but I must admit that:
> 1. most modern task managers target this "simplicity", so it's
> actually a requirement, and
> 2. the growing number of GTG's features has brought some confusion
> which, I suspect, has also rendered GTG not that simple anymore
> compared to the first versions.
>
>> 2. Where do you think, GTG extends? (Is there any point, on which GTG starts
>> to annoy you, because of it's behaviour?)
>
> Some annoyances:
>
> 1. no support for "projects" (a concept that is very similar to the
> "goals" defined in our manifesto). I personally like to define goals
> and to group tasks under them. It's a kind of task context that I like
> to consider when scanning my tasks, and GTG has no support for it.
> Sure, I can define a "projects" tag that would host my project, but it
> feels hackish. I often wonder if "project" should not be considered as
> a first-class citizen in GTG. We have discussed this aspect several
> times in the past, but we never really reached a satisfying proposal
> to implement projects, I think. In the meantime, it's been decided not
> to support them.
> 2. lack of stability: this is improving, thanks the amazing work of
> our developers and contributors (I particularly think about Izidor and
> Lionel), but GTG still feels buggy. I wonder sometimes if we shouldn't
> identify a very limited number of core features and thrives make them
> rock-solid.
> 3. lack of performance: this is also improving a lot, but we're still
> lacking behind. When you start using GTG heavily, and have many tasks,
> GTG starts to feel very slow.
>
>> 3. Do you think GTG does accomplish all it's  primary goals?
>>
>> Does GTG make sure you never forget anything and you never miss a deadline?
>
> It sure can help to figure what task have deadlines, and identify
> which deadline is the closest by sorting task the appropriate way.
>
> However, since all tasks are displayed as a simple list, it requires
> interpretation. I miss some kind of "radar view" that would give some
> insight on questions like "how busy will my life be this week", "what
> task should arrive to completion in the coming days?", etc. Much like
> a month-view in a calendar can directly tell you if you're going to
> have busy weeks or not.
>
>> Does it help you to focus on the most relevant tasks depending on your time,
>> place and deadlines?
>
> Tags should do that, but I wonder if it's not a bit too flat. Having
> an intermediate level for projects, places, specific times could maybe
> help.
>
>> Does GTG help you to know why you need to perform a task and does GTG give
>> you the feeling, that you really make progress towards your goals?
>
> Subtasks are made for that. The present hierarchical tree presentation
> of a subtask do an ok job at linking a task to its related goal (=
> parent task). However, as it has been pointed out, as GTG does not
> impose a strict policy on subtask definition, it can lead to "abuse",
> cf. [1].
>
> [1] https://lists.launchpad.net/gtg-contributors/msg00769.html
>
>> Does GTG encourage you to do what needs to be done?
>
> Context-specific views allows to focus on a subset of task, which
> generally helps not to feel overwhelmed, and to reduce
> procrastination.
>
> Work view helps to focus on tasks that don't have any prior
> requirements. It displays the list of what you can actually do *right
> now*. IMHO, that increases focus, and helps to reduce procrastination.
>
> There are other things we could do, like for instance stronger
> integration into GTG for task/time tracking (already somewhat done
> with the hamster plugin): a user could pick a task and tell GTG "I'm
> doing this now". GTG could then switch in a specific task-tracking
> mode. This would increase user dedication to the task (he/she declared
> to do something), which could help to reduce procrastination in turn.
>
>>
>> 4. What are 'must-have' features for modern Taskmanagers?
>
> current:
>
> - Implement simple but powerful task management process ('inbox',
> classification, selection, action)
> - Cloud synchronization (tasks are accessible from anywhere, anytime).
> - Context-aware focus: you focus only on what's relevant to you (more
> signal, less noise).
>
> upcoming:
>
> - Context-aware reminder: e.g. your phone remind you to do something
> when you're in a certain place.
> - Collaboration support: your tasks are seamlessly integrated in your
> (professional) social network
>
>>
>> Maybe we could also make a little survey, and ask some users, about GTG. I
>> think, the guys at omgubuntu.co.uk would help us out to reach some
>> (possible) users. If you like the idea, we should make a small list of
>> questions, based on our own findings.
>
> I agree, that's an excellent suggestion.
>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Bertrand Rousseau



-- 
Bertrand Rousseau