A CLI tool for organized note-taking with enhanced markdown tasks and time tracking. Designed for developers who prefer markdown files and git-based workflows.
- Enhanced markdown tasks with due dates, estimates, tags, and priorities
- Smart time tracking with structured logs written to your markdown files
- Template-based note creation for different contexts
- Advanced task filtering and smart views (summary, focus modes)
- Full-text search with tag filtering
- Git integration for version control
- Lightweight and fast - just markdown files
# Get started in 30 seconds
notes init # Set up your notes folder
notes create daily # Create today's daily note
notes tasks # View your tasks
notes time start "task text" # Start tracking time on a task
# Get help when you need it
notes --help # Basic help and getting started
notes help tasks # Detailed help for task management
notes help time # Detailed help for time trackingnotes init # Initialize folder structure
notes create <type> [title] # Create a new note
notes list # List existing notes
notes tasks [options] # Show tasks with filters
notes status # Show changed notes and todos
notes time <command> # Time tracking (start/stop/status)
notes search <query> [#tags] # Search notes by content/tags
notes save [message] # Commit changes to gitdaily- Daily notes (auto-dated)project- Project documentationmeeting- Meeting notesdesign- Technical design documentslearning- Learning notes and tutorials
Standard markdown tasks work normally, but this tool adds powerful enhancements:
- [ ] Basic task
- [ ] Task with due date due:2024-12-31
- [ ] Task with estimate est:2h #urgent
- [ ] Task with tags #urgent #work #backend
- [ ] URGENT high priority task !!!Priority keywords: urgent, critical, important = high priority
Tasks feature intelligent defaults and multiple view modes:
notes tasks # Smart defaults (context-aware or focus mode)
notes tasks --summary # Overview with counts and top 5 critical tasks
notes tasks --focus # Show only overdue + today's tasks
notes tasks --full # Detailed view of all tasks
notes tasks --all # Override smart defaults, show everythingCombine filters for precise task lists:
notes tasks --tag urgent # Filter by tag
notes tasks --priority high # Filter by priority (high/medium/low)
notes tasks --overdue # Show only overdue tasks
notes tasks --today # Show only tasks due today
notes tasks --file daily/ # Filter by file pattern
notes tasks --sort priority # Sort by priority, due, or file# Show all urgent tasks that are overdue
notes tasks --tag urgent --overdue
# Show high priority tasks sorted by priority
notes tasks --priority high --sort priority
# Show all tasks due today in daily notes
notes tasks --file daily/ --today
# Show work-related medium priority tasks
notes tasks --tag work --priority mediumTrack time spent on tasks with structured markdown logs that remain human-readable.
notes time start "Fix authentication bug" # Start timing a task
notes time pause # Pause current timer
notes time resume # Resume paused timer
notes time stop # Stop timer and save entry
notes time status # Show current timer status
notes time report [period] # Time reports (today, week, month)When you work on tasks, time tracking creates structured logs in your markdown:
- [ ] Implement user dashboard due:2024-01-25 est:4h #frontend
Time log:
• 2024-01-15 09:30-10:45 (1h15m) - Initial component setup
• 2024-01-15 14:00-15:30 (1h30m) - API integration
Remaining: ~1h15m
- [x] Fix login validation est:1h #backend
Time log:
• 2024-01-14 10:00-11:00 (1h) - Debug and fix
Total: 1h (on estimate!)Tasks show time tracking information in all views:
📋 Focus: Overdue & Today's Tasks
─────────────────────────────────────────────────
├─ 🔴 Fix authentication bug (due today) [1h30m/2h] ~2h (L45)
├─ 🟡 Add error handling [45m worked] ~1h (L67)
└─ ⚪ Update documentation [2h completed] ~1h30m (L89)
- Task finding: Partial text search automatically finds tasks to track
- Persistent timers: Timers survive app restarts and system reboots
- Progress tracking: Visual indicators show worked time vs estimates
- Clean integration: Time logs don't clutter your markdown files
# Start working on a task
$ notes time start "Fix auth"
⏰ Started timer for: Fix authentication bug
Location: projects/auth.md:L45
# Check what you're working on
$ notes time status
🕐 RUNNING: Fix authentication bug
Elapsed: 1h23m • Location: projects/auth.md:L45
# Take a break
$ notes time pause
⏸️ Paused timer for: Fix authentication bug
Elapsed time: 1h23m
# Finish up
$ notes time stop
⏹️ Stopped timer for: Fix authentication bug
Time logged: 1h45mThe notes CLI features a progressive help system that shows you information when you need it:
notes --help # Overview and quick startShows essential commands and getting started steps without overwhelming details.
notes help create # Note types and creation
notes help tasks # Task views and filters
notes help time # Time tracking system
notes help markdown # Enhanced markdown syntax
notes help search # Search and filteringGet detailed help for specific features when you need to dive deeper.
Error messages include relevant help suggestions, and commands show usage when called incorrectly.
go build -o notesThis POC was built by Claude Code.