Ep. 328: GTD List Manager with Emacs

22 snips

Sep 17, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Matt M., a software engineer and Emacs enthusiast, shares his journey of mastering productivity through the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology. He dives deep into his custom GTD list manager designed in Emacs, highlighting its evolution and unique features. Listeners will discover how to enhance task management with advanced navigation tools and learn about the intricate coding of Emacs. Matt also reflects on how revisiting GTD concepts can transform overwhelming tasks into manageable projects.

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ANECDOTE

How Matt Found GTD Early

Matt first discovered GTD as a stressed high-school student cramming for a test and watching David Allen's talks.
He later returned to GTD in 2016 when his engineering job required better self-management and built systems around it.

INSIGHT

Emacs Is An Extensible Platform

Emacs is far more than a text editor: it's an extensible platform that people treat like an operating system.
Its configurability enables unconventional workflows but comes with a steep learning curve.

ADVICE

Use Guided Clarify Flow For Inbox

Capture quickly and then clarify with a guided flowchart to decide if something is actionable, calendar-bound, or a project.
Use short prompts to classify items as next actions, projects, someday/maybe, or calendar events immediately.

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You may have heard of a text editor called Emacs, which has been around for a long time. This is your chance to hear how Matt has used it to create a GTD list manager. He talks about how he got into GTD, and goes into plenty of detail about the system he has developed, through many iterations, using Emacs.

You can watch the entire conversation from December 2023 at GTD Connect®.

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