Login

r/orgmode

▲ 65 r/orgmode

Realtime org sync between desktop/mobile with OrbitalNote

Hey all. I recently made a post about orbitalnote.org, which is a polished desktop/mobile app for org workflows I've been working on. I've also been using it as my main org client.

I love orgmode, but the one thing I could never get quite right (and man did I try), was seamless synchronization of TODOs on my desktop with my phone. I tried Syncthing/Orgzly (battery drain, unwanted org file formatting), and Git/Orgzly (constant conflicts, same formatting problems).

I really just needed a way to edit files on my desktop org client, and with zero friction, pull out my phone and tap the TODO item from an agenda list, and have it updated when I get back to my desktop.

So it's still in preview and I haven't gone through app store processes yet, but I can confidently say I've achieved that workflow with OrbitalNote, and it's the productivity system I've been using every day.

It's also E2E encrypted.

Even if you're using emacs/nvim, the OrbitalNote desktop app watches file changes and syncs to your phone, and this works today. I would also be open to packaging a headless daemon that allows the usage of this realtime sync service with your desktop org client of choice and OrbitalNote only on your phone.

Generally just enjoying this workflow and letting go of the mental frustration of having my digital life in the plaintext org file format I want, but synchronized in real time across my devices.

Thanks all.

Git repo: https://github.com/mannders00/OrbitalNote

u/matta9001 — 6 days ago
▲ 11 r/orgmode+1 crossposts

Bringing micro-timers, checklist budgeting, and monotasking focus to Org-mode (org-focus-hud)

https://i.redd.it/lacddemakyth1.gif

Hi r/emacs and r/orgmode,

If you rely on Org-mode for time tracking and scheduling, you’ve probably hit this dilemma when tackling a large task:

  1. Headlines (** TODO) are too heavy: If you break down every micro-step of a 2-hour task into subheadings, your agenda gets flooded, your outline gets cluttered, and scheduling becomes noisy.
  2. Checklists (- [ ]) lack time tracking and budgeting: Checklists are lightweight and ideal for micro-steps, but in vanilla Org they are second-class citizens. They don't support individual effort estimates, micro-timers, or roll-up budgeting.
  3. Scope creep is invisible: You start working on a 2-hour task, add subtasks on the fly, and only realize you planned 3.5 hours of work after your schedule has drifted.

To solve this, used AI to build org-focus-hud — a distraction-free, monotasking execution cockpit that bridges the gap between high-level TODO headlines and granular checklist items.

⚡ Key Features

1. Checklist Time Tracking & Micro-Timers

  • Checklist Estimates: Add time estimates directly to items (- [ ] Validate token [25m], [1.5h], [90m]). The HUD renders clean right-aligned effort badges ([0:25], [✓ 0:30]).
  • Active Focus (f or RET): Press f on any checklist item to set it in-progress (▶ [-]). It automatically clocks into the parent task and starts a live micro-timer (e.g. ⏱️ 14m / 25m) synchronized with org-clock.
  • Lockstep Pausing (p): Press p to pause both the main task clock and checklist micro-timer (⏱️ 14m / 25m (paused)). Resuming seamlessly continues elapsed time accumulation.

2. Dynamic Scope Budgeting & Deficit Warnings

  • Scope Allocation Bar: Visual ledger tracking Done, Left, and Reserve against the parent task's :EFFORT: envelope: ALLOC: [█████░░░░░░░░░░·····] 30m Done · 1h Left · 30m Reserve / 2h
  • Real-time Deficit Alert: If you decompose a task on the fly (k) and subtasks exceed the parent effort, the HUD immediately warns of scope creep: ALLOC: [████████░░░░░░░░░░▓▓] 2h 15m planned · ⚠️ +15m deficit / 2h
  • Nested Envelopes & Rollups: Multi-level checklists roll up child efforts leaf-first ([Σ 1:15], [1:15 / 1:30]) without double-counting.

3. Zero-Context-Switching Workflow

  • Automatic Milestone Capture: Marking an item complete ([X]) automatically clocks a timestamped milestone entry into your :LOGBOOK: drawer with the exact duration spent.
  • In-Cockpit Manipulation: Add items (k), edit text & estimates simultaneously (e), reorder items across body text (M-j / M-k), or indent/outdent (M-h / M-l) without leaving the HUD.
  • Quick Capture: Append work log entries (l), capture quick notes (n), add child subtasks (s), or queue sibling tasks (a).
  • Vanilla Compatible: Works out of the box with standard org-clock, :EFFORT:, and :LOGBOOK:. Seamlessly integrates with org-auto-scheduler if installed.

📦 Installation & Links

Feedback, feature requests, and workflow questions are welcome!

reddit.com
u/ssd198778 — 9 days ago