Why todo list apps suck

There are a lot of todo list apps. I am working on designing another one, because the market apparently isn't flooded enough. Actually, it is more than flooded, and here is why: Developers use todo list's. They like having apps to help them out. They try to find a good todo list app. Every todo list app is complete rubbish, and they think "I can make something better". So they do. And then it's slightly better rubbish. Some todo apps are gorgeous, others are feature filled, others are themed for specific things like weddings or travel plans. They all suck. Why is this?

I have tried about a thousand todo list apps, the one method I stuck with for over a year was this: Every morning, or the night before, I would write the day's todo's on a post it note, and stick it in my back pocket, or to my notebook in my side pocket. I would check it often, and get things done. It didn't help me manage any long projects, but it worked well for daily tasks and as a reminder. A todo list app needs to have that quick-check daily items, as well as be able to help manage long tasks. 

I am going to try really hard not to call out any individual app, unless it's in at least some positive light.

My hand writing really is this terrible

Only available in one place

People may carry their phones everywhere, but damnitall, I don't want to take my phone out or reach for my iPad when I am sitting at my computer. There are a lot of todo lists apps that are just for iPhone or iPod, not nearly as many for the web, as software, or for android devices. There are even less that are available on all of these platforms. A good todo list needs to follow the user, and sync across devices. I want an app that can sync across devices. I don't even need offline support! (but it would be nice). Existing on ones phone is essential these days, which sucks, because there are a lot of web-only todo list apps that are really good except for that one thing.

They are ugly as hell

There is a problem trying to put a host of features one-click away. You have a lot of stuff to click on. Also, a lot of todo apps still believe very strongly in the glossy button, and don't we hate that? Todo.txt may be powered by a great txt file system, but it came from a command line and it's apps are also ugly! Other apps rely on some tricky interface to separate themselves, like super-advanced post-it note emulation or a wooden theme, looking like a "real" piece of paper, and these all look like crap! The novelty wears off very quickly and then the design gets in the way. Frankly, list's arn't that hard to make look good, but they are really hard to make look great. And most apps just look OK. Completely average. Who wants that? Notable exception: Clear.

Many todo lists would look the same even on this phone

You only have one type of item

Most todo lists treat all tasks the same. Something that is either DONE or TO DO. This is a simple and not very useful way of looking at things. An essay due in 3 weeks is the same as a daily reminder to do some pushups. This is wrong! Items that are different should be treated differently. I want to create a daily item (for me, things like juggle, practice piano, exercise, stretch, etc) that automatically gets added every day. It would be nice to be able to look at stats/history of these daily items. Todo list apps should be able to work with the Don't Break The Chain technique (which I am fond of).

No Hierarchy

Todo list items are not simple. The best todo list items (that is, things that will actually help you get things done) are small single-minded tasks. There is one action to complete them. One should break apart items as much as possible, and watch their progress. Many todo list apps have one level of hierarchy: projects. There is no reason not to treat any task as something capable of having children. I may have a project a boatload of branching children tasks. Often, todo list apps get too intrusive at this step, and there are too many steps to jump through to create a project, which - inside of the todo list code - is a whole separate and frustrating process with deadlines and Gantt charts and a slew of other unused features.

Free Services that disappear

Read this blog post, written better then I could. Basically good services that are free go away because they arn't making any money. This is why I am afraid of Wunderlist, which seems to be one of the best services out there.

This is how much I hate useless features!

Filled with useless features

Wow, app, I am glad somebody thought ahead to password protect my todo app inside of my password protected app, And golly-gee I sure am glad you mark the location I create and complete my todo's! That is super-duper helpful and not bloating or slowing down your app at all!

Other Minor Annoyances

• Character limit on tasks
• Dedicated for daily tasks, no long term tasks (TeuxDeux, you are almost a winner)
• No customizing font, color, etc. Damnit, I want yellow Comic Sans!
• More than two buttons to create a tasks. 1 to open the app, the other to create task. Any more than that, and something is wrong.
• Only good for one thing - (such as just daily tasks, or project management). When somebody needs something else similar, they have to find another tool.
• Typing on a phone stinks, compared to pen and paper.
• No offline access
• Force sync on every app launch slowing you down
• Writing on paper, crossing things out, crumbling things up - it just feels better.