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Wylie Standage-Beier edited this page Dec 8, 2025 · 1 revision

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about TaskFlow.


General

What is TaskFlow?

TaskFlow is a terminal-based task management application built with Rust. It provides a keyboard-driven interface for managing tasks, projects, and time tracking.

Why terminal-based?

  • Fast and responsive
  • Works over SSH
  • Low resource usage
  • Keyboard-centric workflow
  • No distractions

What platforms are supported?

  • Linux (primary)
  • macOS
  • Windows (via WSL)

Installation

How do I install TaskFlow?

See Installation for full instructions. Quick version:

git clone https://github.com/username/taskflow
cd taskflow
cargo build --release

Do I need Rust installed?

Yes, to build from source. Install via rustup.

How do I update TaskFlow?

cd taskflow
git pull
cargo build --release

Data & Storage

Where is my data stored?

Default location:

~/.local/share/taskflow/

Override with --data-dir or config setting.

How do I backup my data?

Copy the data directory:

cp -r ~/.local/share/taskflow/ ~/backup/taskflow/

Can I sync across devices?

Yes, store data in a synced folder:

[storage]
data_dir = "~/Dropbox/taskflow"

Or use Git with the Markdown backend.

Which backend should I use?

Use Case Backend
Default / Starting out JSON
Manual editing YAML or Markdown
Large task lists (1000+) SQLite
Git version control Markdown

See Storage-Backends for details.

How do I migrate between backends?

  1. Export to CSV: Ctrl+e
  2. Change backend in config
  3. Restart TaskFlow
  4. Import from CSV: Ctrl+i

Tasks

How do I create a task quickly?

Press n and use Quick-Add-Syntax:

Buy groceries due:tomorrow #personal !high

How do I set a due date?

  • When creating: due:2025-12-25 or due:tomorrow
  • After creating: Press D on the task

What do the priority symbols mean?

Symbol Priority
!!! Urgent
!! High
! Medium
. Low
(blank) None

How do I delete multiple tasks?

  1. Space to select tasks
  2. d to delete selected

Can I undo a delete?

Yes! Press u to undo. TaskFlow has full undo/redo.


Projects & Organization

How do I create a project?

Press P (capital P) in the sidebar.

How do I move a task to a project?

Press m on the task and select the project.

How do I filter by tag?

Press # and select a tag, or use the tag filter in sidebar.

What's the difference between due and scheduled dates?

  • Due date: When the task must be completed
  • Scheduled date: When you plan to work on it

Time Tracking

How do I track time?

  1. Select a task
  2. Press t to start
  3. Press t again to stop

Does the timer persist if I close TaskFlow?

Yes! The timer continues and picks up where you left off.

How do I edit time entries?

Press L (capital L) to open the time log editor.

What is Pomodoro mode?

A productivity technique with 25-minute work sessions and 5-minute breaks. Press F5 to start. See Pomodoro.


Views & Navigation

What views are available?

Key View
1 Today
2 Upcoming
3 All
4 Overdue
5 Calendar

How do I search tasks?

Press / and type your search term.

How do I show/hide completed tasks?

Press v to toggle completed task visibility.


Keybindings

Where can I see all keybindings?

Press ? to open the keybindings reference.

How do I customize keybindings?

Add to ~/.config/taskflow/config.toml:

[keybindings]
quit = "ctrl+q"
new_task = "ctrl+n"

See Keybindings for full reference.

Why don't arrow keys work?

They do! But vim-style j/k are also supported and often faster.


Configuration

Where is the config file?

~/.config/taskflow/config.toml

How do I reset to defaults?

Delete the config file:

rm ~/.config/taskflow/config.toml

Can I have multiple configs?

Yes, use --config:

taskflow --config ~/.config/taskflow/work.toml

Troubleshooting

TaskFlow won't start

  • Check terminal supports colors
  • Try TERM=xterm-256color taskflow
  • Check for error messages

Colors look wrong

  • Ensure terminal supports 256 colors
  • Check theme settings
  • Try export COLORTERM=truecolor

Data seems lost

  • Check you're using the same data directory
  • Check backend setting
  • Look in ~/.local/share/taskflow/

High CPU usage

  • Try SQLite backend for large datasets
  • Check for runaway timers

See Troubleshooting for more solutions.


Features

Does TaskFlow support recurring tasks?

Yes! Press r on a task to set recurrence. See Recurring-Tasks.

Can I create subtasks?

Yes! Press a on a task to add a subtask. See Subtasks-and-Dependencies.

Does TaskFlow support task dependencies?

Yes! Press b to set "blocked by" dependencies. See Subtasks-and-Dependencies.

Can I export my data?

Yes! Press Ctrl+e to export to CSV, ICS, or other formats. See Import-Export.

Is there a mobile app?

No, TaskFlow is terminal-only. However, you can access it via SSH from mobile terminal apps.


See Also

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