Tracks is an open-source web application for managing tasks in a manner consistent with David Allen’s Getting Things Done®. It is built in Ruby on Rails, and several people host installations for users who don’t want to set up their own instance.
I have been working on Tracks since March 2008, and I’ve become one of the core contributors. From time zone support to SMS todo creation to bug fixes, I’ve worked on many aspects of Tracks.
During the Fall 2009 semester, I am working under the Rensselaer Center for Open Source re-writing the JavaScript layer using jQuery and more unobtrusive JavaScript. You can track my progress at my project blog.
For me, Tracks is a way to make sure I keep my Rails skills sharp. The project can always use more work, and it’s a pretty good example of a mature Rails app. It has a lot of cruft, but I’m working hard to clean things up. The chance to work with other developers all over the world is awesome, too. It’s one thing to open-source your own code, but entirely different to work on a community project. I enjoy hacking on Tracks, and I have some great plans for it in store.
