hnb: Quick, clever and clean

I probably shouldn’t mention two task managers in a row, mostly because one may overshadow the other.

But it was yesterday’s run-in with yokadi that made me pick up hnb again.

Not that I had ever really put it down, if I may extend that idiom. But working with task managers and list utilities, like yokadi, remind me of what I like about hnb.

To wit:

1. Completely visual. Everything is on the screen, both data and controls, with a drop-down menu for more obscure utilities. A command-line interface to the heart of hnb is there too.
2. Very fast navigation. Jumping between nodes is done with arrow keys, in a very intuitive manner. If you have ever worked in an outline fashion, you’ll love this. Want to keep an entire node open at a time? Try the plus key.
3. One- and zero-button add and edit. Edit a note? Hit enter and go to work. Add a note? Just start typing. hnb is even smart enough to skip to a similar node as you type, so there’s your bookmarking system. When your text differs from anything else at that level, it pops out a new line, without skipping a beat.
4. Built-in calendars and tick-mark system. I don’t use the calendar system because wyrd is so strong in that department, but the to-do tick marks and sort functions are genius. True, the calendar creation is a little obtuse, but that’s minor for me.

There are lots of other reasons, most centering around tools that are just too quick and smooth to discard.

I compare that with key or even full command sequences to add items, edit them, assign priorities and hierarchies, or even just to show a list of things to do.

I appreciate the work done and the effort shown in applications like devtodo or ikog, and I understand that for some people that approach is preferable.

But I’ve had hnb on board for years now, and it’s just to quick and easy to let go.