I was looking for 'to-do' list apps for my Mac this morning and was pretty non-plussed by the usual suspects; Things, EtreTask, CheckOff etc etc..

So I made my own.

(download)

Click here to download:

Make_an_awesome_to-do_list_app.zip (357 KB)

Neat huh?

I'm using an Agile development tool called AgileZen which lets you set up an online Kanban board pretty easily (for a single user it's totally free). I then used Fluid to turn my board into a native OSX app which I can fire up from my desktop an use independently of my web browser. (Instructions below)

This rocks because I now not only have quick access to the basic 'to-do' features the other apps can provide (task ordering, prioritisation, tags), but also some of the other productivity stuff the free version of AgileZen lets you play with..

- Better task visualisation (view backlog, 'ready' tasks, stuff you're currently working on, completed tasks and archived tasks)
- Task owners/creators
- Total work time
- Charts denoting different phases of work
- Efficiency metrics

Anyway, here's how to make your own awesome (and free) desktop to-do list..

1. Sign up for a free AgileZen account
http://www.agilezen.com/pricing

2. Have a play around, read some of the hints and tips, and create your first board. This board will be your to-do list, and you can rename it later.

3. Download and run Fluid - this will turn (almost) any URL you feed it into a native desktop app
http://fluidapp.com/

4. Configure Fluid by adding the URL of your AZ board and click 'Create'

5. Fire up your new app and go to Preferences/Advanced. Select the option to 'allow browsing to any URL'

6. You're done! Log in to AgileZen through your new app and feel smug.

Plug alert: this works well for an individual - if you have a few people working with you, check out Teambox, a really cool project management tool built in Barcelona

If like me you were wondering why there is an ever-so-slight pause between the moment you click a folder in OSX and the folder showing its contents, then I have an answer. It's because in OSX (well,at least in Leopard), there is a setting called "Spring-loaded folders and windows", which actually lets you define the length of this delay. It seems slightly odd to me that anyone would want to artificially slow down their computer, but if you are so inclined (or if you want to turn the feature off altogether), then swoosh your mouse over to Finder / Preferences / General, and play around.

Turns out I was wrong. This function controls the speed at which the drag-and-dropping of folders works. Still, playing with this setting should speed up your day-to-day work. Thanks for pointing that out @abeboy!

God, I love my Mac.