The system has evolved over the years. The greatest thing about it is how flexible it is. When faced with new requirements (new projects, job change, etc) I can just start taking notes in a different way and see if it sticks.
I also commit it to git every 30 minutes using a cron script. Its awesome.
At the beginning of the month I duplicate the file and rename it for the new month, then I clean out just like you do.
I've tried apps, I've tried tracking systems, and this seems to work best for me for now. I can keep it open all the time in a tab of my text editor which I would have open anyway and it backs up with the rest of my files.
Not trying to knock the idea, I just can't imagine branching or reverting or being curious about the history of a to-do list. Maybe it could be cool for statistics over time.
But I'm really curious to hear how you're using it!
Pros: pushes only the differences, keeps history, can be rolled back, works offline (push fails but commit works), offers a time log of changes.
Commit messages are not needed really - the timestamp is enough and rolling back is only for exceptional events (e.g. accidentally deleting important stuff, etc.).
they can be ruthlessly minimal.
The intermediate note-to-self stuff, the reference material, the stuff that was cancelled, all can be deleted.
But you have the peace of mind that you can get it back.
This might be especially important if it is a text file you run your life with.
My neighbor needs the name of the plumber we used. What was the amount of the bill? When did I order xyz last? What was the size of the wiper blades of my car?
But how do you look that information up in git?
Hosting private repo on gitlab solves hosting.
I mark completed items with a "+" and items I won't do with a "-".
Simple and works great!
I take the last sprint's file, save a copy for the new sprint, summarize what got done to report in sprint meeting, then add the tasks for the new sprint to present at the meeting as well.
Still have JIRA tickets to track tasks in a more formal way. But the text file is far more flexible and easier to quickly edit and view everything at a glance, as well as including things that don't fit cleanly in a ticket.
I do everything in vim and it's more keystrokes to search across separate files.
I've been using one file for 2-3 years now and it's only 1mb.
"my/work/xxx/201810.notes" 34502L, 1946600B written
The datestamp is the most recent time I thought it might be useful to rotate into a new file. It was not! I find it much more convenient to have everything in a single topic-based file, although I do separate personal from work, and employers from each other.