Re: GTD, Projects, and Next Actions in org-mode

[Carsten Dominik <dominik@science.uva.nl>]

Hmmmm,

of course everything is possible.  The problem I see is how to 
implement this in a general way so that it will be useful to many 
people with slightly or strongly different ways of getting things done 
with Org-mode.  For example, if I understand you correctly, you 
consider a project OK if it has a TODO keyword, or a context tag.  
Other people might require TODO together with a context tag, because 
when they mark the entry done they do not want to remove the context 
tag.  Furthermore, you would have to have a way to specify the relevant 
context tags, so that Org-mode could find them and ignore other tags 
used for a different purpose.  Etc Etc.

So if anyone has an idea on how a general concept of vet'ing a project 
would look like, in addition to what Tim has proposed, please come 
forward.

- Carsten

On Aug 10, 2006, at 11:14, Tim O Callaghan wrote:

> Thinking of next actions this morning while cycling to work, made me
> wonder if it is possible to vet your org mode outlines.
>
> By vet, I mean check for consistency. For example, in my case, asking
> agenda to give me a list of projects that have actions associated with
> them that are not next actions. I use the concept of :proj: tag to
> denote a project (an idea which i thank whomever is stole it from), I
> then use the TODO types to denote next action, and possibly other
> context tags.
>
> An example would be:
>
> * Org Project                                                 :proj:
>   This is an example of an ok project
> *** 10 This is a next action - email about blah               :email:
> *** TODO This is an untimed next action to consider purple.
>
> * Stuck Project                                               :proj:
>   This is an example of a stuck project. No next actions though some 
> tasks.
> *** Should i nuke the site from orbit? it *is* the only way to be sure.
> *** check the batteries on the cargo lifter?
> *** check out the APC
>
> * unthought about Project                                    :proj:
>   I don't even have next actions for this project :(
>
> I would like to be able to highlight up the 'stuck project' and the
> 'unthought about project' automagically during my morning review.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Tim.