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How Better Tasks works

Overview

This is a lightweight PWA that talks directly to the Google Tasks API from your browser. There is no server in between — your tasks never pass through any third-party system.

The app can be installed on your home screen and works as a standalone app on both mobile and desktop.

Navigating your lists

Open the side menu to switch between your task lists. Tap a task to edit its title, description, or move it to a different list. Use the + button to create a new task.

Mark a task done from the list by tapping its circle. Inside an open task, the circle next to the title does the same and is saved with your other edits (Cancel discards it); Done marks it done, saves and closes in one tap.

The search button (🔍) searches across all your lists at once.

Links & the back button

Where you are is always in the address bar, so any view can be bookmarked, shared, or linked to from another app:

  • #list=next-actions — the selected list, by name (case and punctuation don't matter, so #list=Next%20Actions works too). Its raw Google id also works and never goes stale.
  • #q=invoice — a search across all lists
  • #task=<taskId> — that task open for editing. No list in it on purpose: the task is found by id wherever it lives, so the link survives being moved to another list.
  • #task=new — a blank new task

They combine, e.g. #list=next-actions&q=invoice. The browser back button steps back through lists and closes an open task — saving it, like the in-app back arrow does.

Sync & local cache

On every launch and when you tap the sync button, the app fetches all lists and tasks fresh from Google. A local cache (browser localStorage) is kept so your tasks appear instantly while the network request runs in the background.

The cache is read-only — it is always overwritten by what Google returns. Google Tasks is the single source of truth.

warning_amber Data integrity — read carefully

  • Deleting a task is permanent. There is no undo. The task is removed from Google Tasks immediately.
  • Moving a task between lists is a single server-side move: the task keeps its id and all its fields, and it is never in two lists at once. If the request fails, nothing moved and your edits are still saved.
  • Completing a task updates the UI immediately (optimistic update). If the API call fails (e.g. you go offline), the change is rolled back automatically.
  • Offline writes are not supported. Creating, editing, completing, or deleting tasks requires an active internet connection. The app will show an error and revert if the request fails.
  • Clearing your browser data removes the local cache, but your tasks are safe in Google — they will reappear on the next sync.