Tired of Cluttered Productivity Apps? This One’s Just a Text Document | WIREDSkip to main contentTHE WIRED APP IS HEREDOWNLOAD NOW »MenuWIREDSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuWIREDAccountAccountNewslettersBest Android PhonesBest Robot VacuumsBest 2-in-1 LaptopsBest SoundbarsDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoLivestreamsWIRED StoreSearchSearchJustin PotGearSep 19, 2026 6:30 AMTired of Cluttered Productivity Apps? This One’s Just a Text DocumentThe totally free macOS app Tasks.txt makes up for missing features with sheer elegance.Photo-Illustration: Wired Staff; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyI've spent decades testing, reviewing, and (most importantly) using different to-do list applications. It's a career, yes, but it's also a bit of an obsession.And I think we can all admit that most of these apps are way too complicated. A to-do list is just a list. Humans have been making lists for thousands of years, long before computers existed. Paper works well, but so does a stone slate if that's what you've got handy.It's possible that you, a modern human, absolutely need a to-do list application with bells and whistles—due dates, recurring tasks, sharing features, and maybe even an AI integration. But there's a good chance all you need is the digital equivalent of a piece of paper: A simple list of things that need to get done.And that's what Tasks.txt, a totally free Mac app, offers. From Ukrainian programmer Yevhen Kharkivskyi, this tool is based on the todo.txt system developed by Gina Trapani. It's a complete alternative to a to-do list app that is based on a single text file.The important thing here, though, is that it offers more than just a text file. This is a well-executed app. Open Tasks.txt and you'll see a simple list broken down into three categories: Done, Next, and Backlog.Screenshot: Justin PotThe general idea is to use "Next" for the tasks you want to accomplish today and "Backlog" for the things you want to do later. The "Done" section is populated as you check things off, then cleared out at the beginning of every day.It's possible to use this application using only the keyboard, which I love. Open the window and you can just start typing tasks—your cursor is already active in the text box at the bottom. Hit Enter and your task will be added either to Backlog or Next, depending on what you choose in the drop-down menu to the right of your text box. Press the Tab key to switch from the text box to your task list. You can use the arrows to change which task is currently selected. Pressing the Enter key adds a note below the name of a task, and Cmd+Enter marks a task complete. You can also move tasks up and down the list using Cmd+Up/Down.There are no unnecessary controls or interface elements in your way. You can open this application, decide what you need to do, then get to it. And you aren’t stuck using keyboard shortcuts—using the mouse is just as intuitive, if that's what you prefer.The to-do list is the heart of the app, but there's also an Archive and Scratchpad tab. The Archive includes every task you’ve completed in the past—everything from the Done section is moved here at the end of each day. The Scratchpad is just a blank text document you can use for keeping notes.All of this, notably, is stored in a couple of text documents. You can find these documents in the app’s settings and open them with any text editor. It's pretty easy to look at the document and figure out what's going on.Screenshot: Justin PotYour task list isn't in some database in the cloud—it's on your computer, in an open, human-readable format. This simplicity means you can easily grab your tasks to use in some other application later, if that's what you want.And Tasks.txt makes it clear that your tasks are completely private. "There is no account, no cloud sync, no telemetry, no analytics, no crash reporting," the website states. "There are no servers. Nothing leaves your machine." This is a rarity in the modern age, where every piece of software is trying to hold your data hostage to sell a subscription. This alone makes this an app worth considering.Mostly, though, I just think it's a well-implemented app that gets the basics extremely right. It won't work for everyone, sure, but it might work perfectly for you.CommentsBack to topJoin the discussionCommentsBack to topTriangleYou Might Also LikeIn your inbox: Maxwell Zeff's dispatch on the business of AIWhy normal people aren’t using AI agentsBig Story: How data centers broke American politicsHackers stalked me by hijacking a cheap pink plastic watchSpecial edition: The WIRED guide to expanding your mindJustin Pot is a freelance journalist who writes tutorials and essays that inform and/or entertain. He loves beer, technology, nature, and people, not necessarily in that order.  ... 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The article evaluates the concept of productivity applications, arguing that many existing to-do list applications are overly complicated, suggesting that a simple list is sufficient for managing tasks. The author posits that humans have managed lists for millennia, implying that a digital task manager should prioritize simplicity, much like a physical note or slate. The central focus of the discussion is Tasks.txt, a free macOS application that offers an elegant alternative to complex productivity software by operating based on a single text file, derived from the todo.txt system developed by Gina Trapani and created by Ukrainian programmer Yevhen Kharkivskyi.

Tasks.txt structures tasks into three distinct categories: Done, Next, and Backlog. The operational philosophy of the application is centered around using the "Next" section for tasks planned for the current day and the "Backlog" for future tasks, with the "Done" section accumulating completed items which are cleared at the start of each new day. The application emphasizes efficiency through keyboard-driven interactions, allowing users to input tasks, select locations for them, mark tasks as complete using command shortcuts, and reorder items simply with arrow keys. This design avoids unnecessary interface elements, allowing the user to focus solely on task management.

Beyond the core task list, the application incorporates additional organizational features, including an Archive tab for storing all previously completed tasks and a Scratchpad tab for general note-taking. Importantly, the data for all these features is stored in simple, human-readable text documents on the user's local computer, rather than relying on cloud-based databases. This local storage architecture is a critical feature, as it ensures complete privacy; the application explicitly states that it contains no account features, no cloud synchronization, no telemetry, no analytics, and no crash reporting, meaning no data leaves the user's machine. This commitment to local storage addresses concerns regarding data security and privacy in the contemporary software landscape.

The structure of Tasks.txt demonstrates a deliberate focus on minimalism and transparency, enabling users to easily review their tasks and the status of their completed work by simply viewing the underlying text files with any standard text editor. By storing data in an open, portable format, the application facilitates the ease with which tasks can be migrated or utilized in other software applications if desired. Ultimately, the review concludes that while the application may not suit every user, it is a well-executed example of prioritizing essential functionality and user privacy, offering a highly streamlined experience for those who favor simplicity over feature proliferation.