We're thrilled to introduce **Task Actions** - a powerful new feature that automatically sets up your work environment when you start a timer. No more manually opening tabs, launching apps, or finding that link you need. Just start your timer and get straight to work. **The problem**: You spend the first 2-3 minutes of every work session opening the right browser tabs, finding URLs in notes, launching communication tools, and getting your workspace ready. **The solution**: Task Actions detect URLs, keywords, and patterns in your tasks and automatically execute them when you start working. --- ## What's New ### ⚡ Automatic URL Opening Add any URL to your task title or notes, and it opens automatically when you start the timer. **Example:** ``` Review PR https://github.com/company/repo/pull/123 ``` Start the timer → GitHub opens automatically → You're reviewing code in seconds. **Supported schemes:** - Web URLs (http, https) - Note-taking apps (Obsidian, Notion, Roam, Bear) - Communication tools (Slack, Teams, Zoom) - Development tools (VS Code) - And dozens more! ### 💬 Smart Communication Launching Launch all your communication tools with a single keyword: **Generic launch:** ``` Check comms ``` → Opens Gmail, Slack, Basecamp (all your configured tools and an intentional timer to stop it from consuming your whole day!!) **Specific tools:** ``` Do Gmail Check Slack Open Basecamp ``` → Opens just that tool (and your intentional timer). **Setup once, use everywhere:** Configure your tools in Settings → Communication Tools, then use "comms" in any task. ### 🧘 Quick Ritual Access Jump into your rituals with simple keywords: ``` Do shutdown → Shutdown ritual Do wrap → Weekly planning ritual Begin well → Begin well ritual ``` Perfect for end-of-day routines or weekly reviews. ### 🎯 Visual Indicators **Lightning bolt icon (⚡)** shows which tasks have actions: ![[Flow Start Button With Actions.png]] **In active timer**, click ⚡ to re-run actions: ![[Flow Active Task Actions 1.png]] ### 🎮 Keyboard Shortcuts **Skip actions when needed:** - **Shift + Click**: Start timer, skip actions this time - **`Cmd+Click` (Mac) / `Ctrl+Click` (Windows/Linux)**: Open duration modal - **`Shift+Cmd+Click` (Mac) / `Shift+Ctrl+Click` (Windows/Linux)**: Open modal, actions disabled --- ## Use Cases ### 🖥️ **Software Development** **Before:** 1. Start timer 2. Open GitHub PR link from somewhere 3. Open JIRA ticket 4. Open local dev environment 5. *Finally* start coding **After:** ``` Fix bug #1234 - https://github.com/repo/issues/1234 https://jira.com/browse/DEV-1234 ``` Start timer → Everything opens → Start coding immediately. **Time saved: 2-3 minutes per task** ⏱️ --- ### ✍️ **Content Creation** **Before:** 1. Start timer 2. Find Google Doc link in email 3. Open notes app 4. Open research tabs 5. *Finally* start writing **After:** ``` Blog post - https://docs.google.com/doc/123 obsidian://vault/drafts ``` Start timer → Everything opens → Start writing immediately. **Time saved: 2-3 minutes per task** ⏱️ --- ### 🎨 **Design Work** **Before:** 1. Start timer 2. Find Figma link 3. Open Slack for feedback 4. Open reference images 5. *Finally* start designing **After:** ``` Homepage design - https://figma.com/file/abc123 check Slack ``` Start timer → Everything opens → Start designing immediately. **Time saved: 2-3 minutes per task** ⏱️ --- ### 📊 **Project Management** **Before:** 1. Start timer 2. Open JIRA board 3. Open team calendar 4. Check Slack for updates 5. *Finally* start planning **After:** ``` Sprint planning - https://jira.com/board/123 https://calendar.google.com check comms ``` Start timer → Everything opens → Start planning immediately. **Time saved: 2-3 minutes per task** ⏱️ --- ## Real Impact: Time Savings **Average time saved per task: 2-3 minutes** If you start 10 timers per day: - **Daily savings**: 20-30 minutes - **Weekly savings**: 1.5-2.5 hours - **Monthly savings**: 6-10 hours - **Yearly savings**: 75-125 hours **That's 3-5 full workdays saved per year!** 🎉 --- ## How It Works ### 1. Create Task with Actions Add URLs or keywords to your task: ![[Flow task with actions.png]] ### 2. Notice Lightning Bolt The ⚡ icon shows actions are detected: ![[Flow Action with Tasks.png]] ### 3. Start Timer Click Start execute automatically. All your URLs open, tools launch, and you're ready to work! (If you want to start a task without starting the actions, hold Shift+Click and it will skip the actions.) ### 4. Get to Work Your environment is set up. Focus on what matters. --- ## Smart & Safe ### 🛡️ Built-in Security Task Actions are designed with security in mind: **Blocked dangerous URLs:** - ❌ `javascript:` (XSS attacks) - ❌ `data:` (embedded code) - ❌ `file:` (local file access) **Content Security Policy:** - Prevents inline script execution - Blocks external script loading - Protects against XSS attacks **URL validation:** - Communication tools validated at save time - Malicious URLs logged and blocked - Clear error messages --- ### 🎛️ You're in Control **Actions run once per timer:** - No duplicate tabs on page refresh - No repeated launches on pause/resume - Click ⚡ to manually re-run if needed **Easy to skip:** - Hold Shift while clicking Start - Actions disabled for that start - Normal behavior next time **Transparent:** - All actions visible in task title/notes - Lightning bolt shows actions detected - No hidden behavior --- ## Platform Support ### 🌐 Web Browser - Works in all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) - URLs open in new tabs - Custom schemes prompt for app opening - Popup blockers may need allowlist ### 💻 Desktop App - Smoother experience with native integration - URLs open in default browser - Custom schemes launch apps directly - No popup blocking issues --- ## Configuration ### Communication Tools Setup **One-time setup for huge time savings:** 1. Go to **Comms** to setup your communication tools. 2. **Add your tools** using our easy add buttons. ![[Flow Comms.png]] 3. **Use anywhere** with simple keywords: - `check comms` → Opens all tools - `do Gmail` → Opens just Gmail - `check Slack` → Opens just Slack ![[Flow Action Check Comms.png]] --- ## Examples to Try ### Getting Started (Easy) **Example 1: Single URL** ``` Read article https://example.com/article ``` **Example 2: Multiple URLs** ``` Research topic https://google.com/search?q=topic https://scholar.google.com ``` **Example 3: Communication tools** ``` Morning standup - check comms ``` ### Intermediate **Example 4: Mixed actions** ``` Client meeting prep - https://zoom.us/j/123 check comms https://docs.google.com/doc/123 ``` **Example 5: Custom schemes** ``` Update notes - obsidian://vault/project-notes https://github.com/repo/issues/123 ``` **Example 6: Specific tools** ``` Email catch-up - do Gmail do Calendar ``` ### Advanced **Example 7: Complete workflow** ``` API development session https://github.com/company/api/issues/45 https://notion.so/api-spec vscode://file/path/to/api check Slack ``` **Example 8: Design workflow** ``` Homepage redesign https://figma.com/file/designs https://dribbble.com/shots/similar obsidian://vault/design-notes do Slack ``` **Example 9: Content creation** ``` Blog post: Getting Started with X https://docs.google.com/doc/draft https://unsplash.com/s/photos/topic obsidian://vault/blog-ideas https://grammarly.com ``` --- ## Tips for Power Users ### 💡 Tip 1: Task Templates Create reusable task patterns: **Daily standup:** ``` Title: Daily standup Notes: check comms https://calendar.google.com https://notion.so/standup-notes ``` Copy → Paste → Modify date → Done ### 💡 Tip 2: Recurring Tasks with Actions Add actions to recurring tasks: ``` Monday weekly planning - https://notion.so/week https://calendar.google.com Friday wrap-up - check comms and do wrap ``` Automatic setup every week! ### 💡 Tip 3: Project Context Bundles Keep all project links together: ``` [Project Alpha] Work session https://jira.com/board/alpha https://github.com/company/alpha https://figma.com/file/alpha-designs https://docs.google.com/folder/alpha check Slack ``` One task, entire project context loaded. ### 💡 Tip 4: Context Switching Helper Reduce context-switching time: ``` Switch to Backend work https://github.com/company/backend vscode://file/path/to/backend https://notion.so/backend-docs do Slack ``` Everything you need, instantly. ### 💡 Tip 5: Meeting Preparation Get ready for meetings in one click: ``` 1:1 with Sarah - https://zoom.us/j/123 https://notion.so/1on1-sarah check comms ``` Zoom opens, notes open, comms ready. --- ## Migration & Adoption ### For Existing Users **Your existing tasks work the same:** - No changes to tasks without URLs or keywords - Add actions gradually as you create new tasks - No migration needed **Try it incrementally:** 1. Start with one task with a URL 2. Add "check comms" to a few tasks 3. Build up your communication tools config 4. Explore custom schemes for your apps **You'll wonder how you worked without it.** ### For New Users **Task Actions work out of the box:** - Just add URLs to your tasks - Configure communication tools in Settings - Start timer and watch the magic **Learn as you go:** - Lightning bolt ⚡ shows actions detected - Tooltips explain keyboard shortcuts - Help docs available in app --- ## Known Limitations ### Current Limitations **Action execution:** - Actions run once per timer (by design) - Manual re-run available via ⚡ button - No preview before execution (coming in Phase 2) **URL limits:** - Maximum 10 actions per task (prevents tab overload) - Popup blockers may need allowlist - Browser-dependent behavior for custom schemes **Mobile:** - Optimized for desktop (web and Electron) - Mobile support coming soon --- ## Feedback & Support ### We Want to Hear From You! **Found a bug?** - Report it in our [Support Forum](https://community.maketimeflow.com/c/support/7) - Please include a task example and expected behavior **Have a feature idea?** - Share it: [Feature Requests](https://community.maketimeflow.com/c/general/4) - Tell us your use case, we'd love to hear about it **Need help?** - Email: [email protected] - Help docs: In-app → Help → Task Actions --- ## Credits **Designed with input from:** - Power users who requested workflow automation - Beta testers who refined the UX - Security experts who reviewed the implementation **Built by the MaketimeFlow team with ❤️** Special thanks to our beta testers for their invaluable feedback! ## Getting Started Today ### 3-Minute Quick Start **Minute 1:** Create a task with a URL ``` Test task - https://github.com ``` **Minute 2:** Start the timer → GitHub opens **Minute 3:** Click ⚡ to re-run → GitHub opens again **You're now a Task Actions user!** 🎉 ### 10-Minute Deep Dive **Minutes 1-3:** Configure communication tools - Settings → Communication Tools - Add Gmail, Slack, or your tools **Minutes 4-6:** Create task with mixed actions ``` Morning routine - check comms https://calendar.google.com ``` **Minutes 7-9:** Try keyboard shortcuts - Shift + Click to skip actions - `Cmd+Click` (Mac) / `Ctrl+Click` (Windows/Linux) for duration modal **Minute 10:** Read more in Help docs **You're now a Task Actions power user!** 🚀 --- ## Closing Thoughts Task Actions represents our commitment to helping you **focus on what matters** by automating the busy work of setting up your environment. Every 2-3 minutes saved per task adds up to **hours of saved time per week**. More importantly, you reduce the friction of starting work, making it easier to **maintain flow state** and **accomplish more**. We're excited to see how you use Task Actions to supercharge your productivity!