miracle2k / localtodo

.gitignore local todo files, but sync them through Dropbox.

localtodo

.gitignore local todo files, but sync them through Dropbox.

What this is

I like to use a LOCAL_TODO file for each of my projects as a whiteboard for ideas, notes on what is currently being worked on (useful when coming back to a project after some time), and things in that vein.

Because these files are not under version control, I use Dropbox to sync them across machines (this also serves as a backup).

What this script does is place such a file in a shared folder (for example, managed by Dropbox), and then links this file into the current directory.

How to use

Install via:

$ easy_install localtodo

Add the following line to your .gitignore file (or something equivalent for the respective ignore mechanism of your version control system):

/LOCAL_TODO*

The trailing wildcard will allows for multiple todo files, something this script supports.

In your project directory, run:

$ localtodo --to ~/Dropbox/todofiles
Creating new empty file ~/Dropbox/todofiles/myproject

I have established the following links for you:
    ./LOCAL_TODO --> ~/Dropbox/todofiles/myproject

Note: The --to argument is only required the first time and is cached in ~/.localtodo.

As you can see, this created a new file in your chosen folder, and created a link to it in the current directory.

By default, the name of the todo file will be inferred from the basename of the current directory. You can also specify a custom name:

$ localtodo foo
Creating new empty file ~/Dropbox/todofiles/foo

I have established the following links for you:
    ./LOCAL_TODO --> ~/Dropbox/todofiles/foo

If the todo file already exists, it will not be overridden. If a LOCAL_TODO file already exists in the current directory, it will be used and copied. So when you start working on your project on a different machine, you again run the script:

$ localtodo
Found existing file ~/Dropbox/todofiles/foo

I have established the following links for you:
    ./LOCAL_TODO --> ~/Dropbox/todofiles/foo

Multiple todo files for one project

It's possible to create sub-todos:

$ localtodo -s docs
Creating new empty file ~/Dropbox/todos/myproject.docs

I have established the following links for you:
    ./LOCAL_TODO.docs --> ~/Dropbox/todos/myproject.docs

When running localtodo, it will find all the todo files related to the current project, and link all of them into the current directory.