How to Build a Color-Coded Customizable To-Do List App

Create a powerful productivity tool with this customizable to-do list application featuring color coding. Users can easily organize, prioritize, and track tasks using an intuitive interface. The app combines sleek design with robust functionality to help users stay on top of their responsibilities.

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Simple Summary

A customizable to-do list application with color coding, offering users a visually appealing and efficient way to organize tasks and boost productivity.

Product Requirements Document (PRD)

Goals:

  • Develop a user-friendly to-do list application with color coding functionality
  • Provide customization options for task organization and visualization
  • Ensure cross-platform compatibility and responsive design
  • Implement secure user authentication and data storage

Target Audience:

  • Professionals, students, and individuals seeking an efficient task management solution

Key Features:

  1. User registration and authentication
  2. Create, edit, and delete tasks
  3. Assign color codes to tasks for easy categorization
  4. Customizable task views (list, calendar, kanban board)
  5. Task prioritization and due date assignment
  6. Reminders and notifications
  7. Search and filter functionality
  8. Data synchronization across devices

User Requirements:

  • Intuitive interface for quick task entry and management
  • Ability to categorize tasks using color codes
  • Flexible organization options (lists, projects, tags)
  • Seamless synchronization between devices
  • Secure storage of personal task data

User Flows

  1. Task Creation:

    • User logs in
    • Navigates to "Add Task" screen
    • Enters task details (title, description, due date)
    • Assigns color code
    • Saves task
  2. Task Management:

    • User views task list
    • Filters tasks by color or category
    • Edits task details or marks as complete
    • Reorders tasks by priority or due date
  3. Settings Customization:

    • User accesses settings menu
    • Customizes color palette for task categories
    • Adjusts notification preferences
    • Saves changes and returns to main screen

Technical Specifications

Frontend:

  • React for web application
  • React Native for mobile apps
  • Redux for state management
  • Styled-components for styling

Backend:

  • Node.js with Express.js
  • PostgreSQL for data storage
  • JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for authentication
  • RESTful API design

Additional Tools:

  • Axios for API requests
  • Jest and React Testing Library for testing
  • ESLint and Prettier for code formatting

API Endpoints

  • POST /api/auth/register
  • POST /api/auth/login
  • GET /api/tasks
  • POST /api/tasks
  • PUT /api/tasks/:id
  • DELETE /api/tasks/:id
  • GET /api/users/:id/settings
  • PUT /api/users/:id/settings

Database Schema

Users Table:

  • id (PK)
  • username
  • email
  • password_hash
  • created_at
  • updated_at

Tasks Table:

  • id (PK)
  • user_id (FK to Users)
  • title
  • description
  • due_date
  • color_code
  • status
  • created_at
  • updated_at

Settings Table:

  • id (PK)
  • user_id (FK to Users)
  • color_palette
  • notification_preferences
  • created_at
  • updated_at

File Structure

src/ ├── components/ │ ├── Task.js │ ├── TaskList.js │ ├── ColorPicker.js │ └── Navbar.js ├── pages/ │ ├── Home.js │ ├── Login.js │ ├── Register.js │ └── Settings.js ├── api/ │ ├── auth.js │ ├── tasks.js │ └── settings.js ├── utils/ │ ├── colors.js │ └── dateHelpers.js ├── styles/ │ └── globalStyles.js ├── App.js └── index.js public/ ├── index.html └── assets/ └── images/ package.json README.md

Implementation Plan

  1. Project Setup (1-2 days)

    • Initialize React project
    • Set up version control (Git)
    • Configure ESLint and Prettier
  2. Backend Development (3-4 days)

    • Set up Node.js and Express server
    • Implement database schema and connections
    • Create API endpoints for tasks and user management
  3. Frontend Development (5-7 days)

    • Develop main components (TaskList, Task, ColorPicker)
    • Implement state management with Redux
    • Create pages for Home, Login, Register, and Settings
  4. Authentication (2-3 days)

    • Implement user registration and login functionality
    • Set up JWT for secure authentication
  5. Task Management Features (4-5 days)

    • Develop CRUD operations for tasks
    • Implement color coding functionality
    • Add sorting and filtering options
  6. User Settings and Customization (2-3 days)

    • Create settings page
    • Implement color palette customization
    • Add notification preferences
  7. Testing and Refinement (3-4 days)

    • Write and run unit tests
    • Perform integration testing
    • Bug fixes and performance optimization
  8. Deployment Preparation (1-2 days)

    • Set up production build process
    • Configure deployment environment

Deployment Strategy

  1. Choose a cloud platform (e.g., Heroku, AWS, or DigitalOcean)
  2. Set up separate environments for staging and production
  3. Configure environment variables for sensitive information
  4. Set up a CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions or GitLab CI
  5. Implement automated testing in the deployment process
  6. Use Docker containers for consistent deployments
  7. Set up monitoring and logging (e.g., Sentry, Logstash)
  8. Implement database backups and recovery procedures
  9. Use a CDN for static asset delivery
  10. Configure SSL certificates for secure connections

Design Rationale

The color-coded to-do list app is designed with a focus on user experience and productivity. React was chosen for its component-based architecture, allowing for reusable UI elements and efficient rendering. The use of a Node.js backend with PostgreSQL provides a scalable and reliable foundation for data management. Color coding is a central feature, as it allows users to quickly categorize and prioritize tasks visually. The implementation of customizable settings ensures that the app can be tailored to individual user preferences, enhancing its utility across different use cases. The mobile-first approach with React Native ensures a consistent experience across devices, catering to users who need to manage tasks on the go.