Tasks

Tasks are the fundamental work units in Kanman. Each task represents a specific piece of work that needs to be done.

What is a Task?

A task is:

• A single work item
• Something you can mark as done
• Part of a project
• Optionally broken into subtasks

Task Properties

Task Status

Every task has one of three statuses:

Changing Status

Click the status icon to cycle through statuses:

Open → In Progress → Done → Open

In Kanban view, drag tasks between columns to change status.

Creating Tasks

Quick Add

1. Expand a project
2. Click + Add task (or press T)
3. Type the task name
4. Press Enter

With Details

1. Create the task
2. Click on the task to open the detail view
3. Add description, subtasks, lane assignment
4. Click outside or press Escape to close

Bulk Add

Add multiple tasks quickly:

1. Click + Add task
2. Type a task and press Enter
3. Continue typing and pressing Enter
4. Click outside when done

Task Limits

Tasks count across all boards and projects.

Task Detail View

Click any task to open the detail panel:

Header

• Title: Click to edit inline
• Status: Click to change
• Close: Click X or press Escape

Description

Add rich text details:

• Formatted text (bold, italic, lists)
• Code snippets
• Links
• Checklists (separate from subtasks)

Subtasks

Break complex tasks into steps:

• Add unlimited subtasks
• Check off as you complete them
• Subtask progress shown on task card

Project Assignment

Move tasks between projects:

1. Click the project dropdown
2. Select a different project
3. Task moves immediately

Workflow Lane

In Kanban mode, assign to a specific lane:

1. Click the lane dropdown
2. Select a lane (must match current status)
3. Task appears in that lane

Task Operations

Editing

Inline editing: Click the task name in the list to edit

Full editing: Click the task to open detail view

Reordering

Drag tasks to reorder:

• Within a project
• Between projects (task moves to new project)
• Between status columns (in Kanban view)

Duplicating

1. Open task detail view
2. Click the menu (⋯)
3. Select Duplicate
4. Copy is created with “(copy)” suffix

Deleting

1. Open task detail view
2. Click Delete button
3. Or swipe left on mobile

Deleted tasks go to trash for 40 days.

Task Animations

Kanman provides visual feedback for status changes:

• Completing: Task briefly highlights green
• Starting: Task briefly highlights blue
• Reopening: Task briefly highlights gray

These can be disabled in Settings > Preferences > Reduced Motion.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Best Practices

Actionable Names

Start with a verb:

• ✅ “Design homepage mockup”
• ✅ “Review pull request #123”
• ✅ “Email client about deadline”
• ❌ “Homepage”
• ❌ “Client email”

Right-Size Tasks

Tasks should be:

• Completable in one sitting (hours, not days)
• Specific enough to know when done
• Small enough that subtasks aren’t needed for most

Use Descriptions Wisely

Add descriptions for:

• Tasks requiring context
• Tasks with acceptance criteria
• Tasks you might forget details about

Subtasks for Complex Work

Use subtasks when:

• Task has multiple distinct steps
• You want to track partial progress
• Others need to see the breakdown

Workflow Integration

Status in Simple View

Tasks show status icons indicating their current state:

• ○ Open (not started)
• ◐ In Progress (being worked on)
• ● Done (completed)

Status in Kanban View

Tasks appear in columns based on their status:

Desktop Mobile

Drag between columns to change status.

Related Topics

• Subtasks - Break down complex tasks
• Kanban View - Visual task management
• Keyboard Shortcuts - Work faster
• API: Tasks - Manage tasks programmatically