How it works

From the brief to done, in five steps

Every project has the same shape: a goal and a deadline, parts that people own, tasks inside them, and a library of everything it collects. Here's how a project gets that shape, and how it ends.

Step 1 of 5
Paste the brief
Starting a project asks what you're making, by when, and which kit fits. Then paste the brief, or drop in the PDF, Word or text file. Numbered items and “Step 1” headings become parts, the items under them tasks, and the items under those steps. Dates become due dates and checkpoints, and rules like “max 12 pages” become steps. It's read in your browser by plain rules, and nothing is sent until you create the project.
Step 2 of 5
Get a dated plan
A draft plan appears: the brief's parts, tasks and steps, or the kit's, dated back from the deadline, with the kit's final part waiting for the rest. A date that has already passed is kept and marked. Rename, reorder and remove until it fits, and write down what you won't do; nothing is saved until you say so.
Step 3 of 5
Divide it
Put a name on each task, or decide later; a part can have an owner too. Suggestions come from people's strengths and the hours they can give, each with its reason, and they're only suggestions. Anyone not yet in the project can be invited from its People page.
Step 4 of 5
Do the work
Today shows what needs you across every project, each with why: a review asked of you, changes to make, something overdue, then this week and later. Each project shows your next step with one button. Stuck? Mark it Needs help. When a part's tasks are done, ask someone to review it.
Step 5 of 5
Finish
When every part is done, the Overview offers to archive the project. It's kept, read-only, and no longer counts toward your plan's active projects, until the space's retention period ends, with an email two weeks before. Export the sources as BibTeX, RIS or a reference list, and download your own data from Account.