BMAD-METHOD/zoo/docs/brief.md

Project Brief: Terminal Todo App

Project Overview

Project Name: TermTodo
Version: 1.0
Date: 2025-07-07
Status: Planning Phase

Executive Summary

TermTodo is a lightweight, fast, and efficient terminal-based todo application designed for developers and power users who live in the command line. The application prioritizes speed, simplicity, and seamless integration with existing terminal workflows while providing robust task management capabilities.

Vision Statement

To create the most efficient terminal todo app that enhances developer productivity by eliminating context switching between GUI applications and the command line environment.

Problem Statement

Current Pain Points

• Context Switching: Developers lose focus switching between terminal and GUI todo apps
• Bloated Solutions: Existing todo apps are feature-heavy and slow to load
• Poor CLI Integration: Most todo apps don't integrate well with terminal workflows
• Sync Overhead: Cloud-based solutions add unnecessary complexity for local task management

Target Opportunity

Create a fast, local-first todo application that feels native to terminal users while providing essential productivity features without bloat.

Objectives & Success Metrics

Primary Objectives

1. Speed: App launches and executes commands in <100ms
2. Simplicity: Core functionality accessible through intuitive commands
3. Integration: Seamless workflow integration with git, editors, and shell scripts
4. Reliability: Zero data loss with robust local storage

Success Metrics

• Performance: Sub-100ms command execution time
• Adoption: 1000+ GitHub stars within 6 months
• Usage: Daily active usage by 100+ developers
• Satisfaction: 90%+ positive feedback on usability

Target Audience

Primary Users

Developer Power Users

• Daily terminal users
• Prefer keyboard-driven workflows
• Value speed and efficiency over visual polish
• Work with multiple projects simultaneously

System Administrators

• Manage multiple servers and tasks
• Need quick task tracking between systems
• Prefer scriptable/automatable solutions

User Personas

"Terminal Tom" - Senior Developer

• 8+ years experience
• Uses vim/emacs, tmux, custom shell setups
• Manages 3-5 projects simultaneously
• Values minimalism and efficiency

"DevOps Dana" - Infrastructure Engineer

• Manages CI/CD pipelines
• Juggles multiple environments
• Needs quick task capture during incidents
• Prefers automation-friendly tools

Scope & Features

Core Features (MVP)

1. Basic Task Management

   • Add, edit, delete tasks
   • Mark tasks as complete
   • List tasks with filtering

2. Organization

   • Project-based task grouping
   • Priority levels (high, medium, low)
   • Due date support

3. Search & Filter

   • Text search across tasks
   • Filter by status, priority, project
   • Tag-based organization

Advanced Features (v2.0+)

1. Workflow Integration

   • Git branch integration
   • Editor plugin support
   • Shell completion

2. Automation

   • Recurring tasks
   • Template tasks
   • Bulk operations

3. Reporting

   • Productivity metrics
   • Time tracking
   • Export capabilities

Out of Scope

• Web interface
• Mobile applications
• Cloud synchronization
• Collaborative features
• Complex project management

Technical Requirements

Technology Stack

• Language: Rust (performance, single binary distribution)
• CLI Framework: Clap (argument parsing)
• Storage: SQLite (local, reliable, queryable)
• Configuration: TOML files

Performance Requirements

• Startup Time: <50ms cold start
• Command Execution: <100ms for all operations
• Memory Usage: <10MB resident memory
• Storage: Efficient SQLite schema design

Platform Support

• Primary: Linux, macOS
• Secondary: Windows (WSL)
• Distribution: Single binary, package managers

Implementation Strategy

Development Phases

Phase 1: Core MVP (4 weeks)

• Basic CRUD operations
• SQLite storage layer
• Command-line interface
• Unit test coverage

Phase 2: Organization (3 weeks)

• Project grouping
• Priority and due dates
• Search and filtering
• Integration testing

Phase 3: Polish (2 weeks)

• Shell completion
• Configuration management
• Documentation
• Performance optimization

Risk Mitigation

• Technical Risk: Rust learning curve → Start with simple CLI, iterate
• Market Risk: Existing solutions → Focus on speed and terminal integration
• Adoption Risk: Discoverability → Leverage dev community, GitHub

Timeline & Milestones

Key Milestones

Phase	Deliverable	Timeline	Success Criteria
1	MVP Release	Week 4	Core features functional
2	Beta Release	Week 7	Organization features complete
3	v1.0 Release	Week 9	Production ready
4	Community Growth	Week 20	1000+ GitHub stars

Critical Path

1. SQLite schema design
2. Core command structure
3. Performance optimization
4. Documentation and examples

Team & Stakeholders

Core Team

Solo Developer (Primary)

• Full-stack development
• Design and architecture
• Testing and documentation

Advisory Stakeholders

• Developer Community: Feedback and feature requests
• Beta Users: Early testing and validation
• Open Source Community: Contributions and maintenance

Budget & Resources

Development Resources

• Time Investment: 20 hours/week for 9 weeks
• Infrastructure: GitHub (free), domain name ($15/year)
• Tools: Development environment, testing tools

Total Investment

• Development Time: ~180 hours
• Direct Costs: <$50
• Opportunity Cost: Personal projects, learning time

Success Factors

Critical Success Factors

1. Performance First: Every feature decision evaluated for speed impact
2. Developer Experience: Intuitive commands that feel natural
3. Terminal Native: Feels like a built-in shell command
4. Community Building: Engage early adopters for feedback

Potential Risks

• Over-engineering: Feature creep beyond core use cases
• Performance Degradation: Complex features slowing core operations
• Adoption Challenges: Difficulty reaching target developers

Next Steps

1. Technical Spike: Rust CLI framework evaluation (Week 1)
2. Database Design: SQLite schema and migration strategy
3. Core Architecture: Command structure and data flow
4. MVP Development: Begin core feature implementation

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This project brief will be reviewed and updated at each milestone to ensure alignment with objectives and market feedback.