Python script to create a bullet journal in an plain textfile with Markdown formatting
This project is not about software in the first place. It is about the idea of using the concept of a bulletjournal in a plain textfile. The second idea is to use markdown-formatting. Thus, the bulletjournal-file could be used with a markdown-editor or copied into a CMS like yellow. In addition to templates, there is a python script to create templates on your own.
Keys need 4 spaces prefix to be formatted
. task [2]
X done
> postponed
O event
! adds priority
Example: daily tasklist:
. check yesterday's list
> call webmaster
x [1] Write README.md for bulletjournal.md
x! Present for Peter
o Peter's birthday party
view | templates | script |
---|---|---|
future log | no | no |
year | yes | yes |
month | yes | yes |
daily tasklist | yes | yes |
projects | no | no |
indexnumbers: [1] | no | no |
See templates/
Use the script in a terminal like this:
$> python bjmd.py > mybulletjournal.txt
- Use this script to create a bullet journal textfile for a whole year.
- The Language of textfile follows the locale of your OS.
- See standard-output.md of bjmd.py when options are unaltered on a system with locale EN.
- Settings (that you may change in the script, of course):
- prefix = 4 blanks before day in shortlist
- suffix = 2 blanks after weekday list
- this year or specified year
- include keys and their meaning on top
- include calendarmatrix (off, needs manual correction)
- reversemonth = list order is December to January
- reverseday = list order is last day of week to first day of week
- set first day of week (MONDAY)
- Why is the default list order descending? It's because Soren Kierkegaard said, that life must be lived forwards, but can only be understood backwards. Moreover, in a textfile it seems easier to work upwards. But you may change the script easily.
- What are the advantages of bulletjournaling in a textfile? You may: search the full text, copy and paste, replace, delete. Moreover, you don't have to estimate how many pages you need to spare for a project or list.
- What are the limitations of bulletjournaling in a textfile? Obviously, you need a laptop or smartphone. Then, in a file there are no pagenumbers for an index. And there is no color-coding.
- Use linux command 'cal' to create calendars as text