{"id":13572217,"url":"https://github.com/slowernews/hamster-system","last_synced_at":"2025-04-04T09:32:03.143Z","repository":{"id":21974883,"uuid":"25299702","full_name":"slowernews/hamster-system","owner":"slowernews","description":"Ultra-simple framework to organize your life.","archived":false,"fork":false,"pushed_at":"2024-12-31T16:26:29.000Z","size":801,"stargazers_count":325,"open_issues_count":0,"forks_count":15,"subscribers_count":8,"default_branch":"master","last_synced_at":"2024-12-31T17:25:51.094Z","etag":null,"topics":["budget-management","file-management","folder-structure","gtd","life-organiser","productivity","task-management"],"latest_commit_sha":null,"homepage":"","language":null,"has_issues":true,"has_wiki":null,"has_pages":null,"mirror_url":null,"source_name":null,"license":null,"status":null,"scm":"git","pull_requests_enabled":true,"icon_url":"https://github.com/slowernews.png","metadata":{"files":{"readme":"README.md","changelog":"CHANGELOG.md","contributing":null,"funding":null,"license":null,"code_of_conduct":null,"threat_model":null,"audit":null,"citation":null,"codeowners":null,"security":null,"support":null,"governance":null,"roadmap":null,"authors":null}},"created_at":"2014-10-16T11:47:28.000Z","updated_at":"2024-12-31T16:26:32.000Z","dependencies_parsed_at":"2024-01-14T03:51:36.086Z","dependency_job_id":"e101c919-8b0b-4a89-bbeb-c5cbd294fcf4","html_url":"https://github.com/slowernews/hamster-system","commit_stats":null,"previous_names":[],"tags_count":2,"template":false,"template_full_name":null,"repository_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/slowernews%2Fhamster-system","tags_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/slowernews%2Fhamster-system/tags","releases_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/slowernews%2Fhamster-system/releases","manifests_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/slowernews%2Fhamster-system/manifests","owner_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/owners/slowernews","download_url":"https://codeload.github.com/slowernews/hamster-system/tar.gz/refs/heads/master","host":{"name":"GitHub","url":"https://github.com","kind":"github","repositories_count":247153756,"owners_count":20892730,"icon_url":"https://github.com/github.png","version":null,"created_at":"2022-05-30T11:31:42.601Z","updated_at":"2022-07-04T15:15:14.044Z","host_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub","repositories_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories","repository_names_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repository_names","owners_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/owners"}},"keywords":["budget-management","file-management","folder-structure","gtd","life-organiser","productivity","task-management"],"created_at":"2024-08-01T14:01:16.768Z","updated_at":"2025-04-04T09:31:58.127Z","avatar_url":"https://github.com/slowernews.png","language":null,"funding_links":[],"categories":["Others"],"sub_categories":[],"readme":"# Hamster system\n\nBoost productivity and reduce stress by organizing your documents, workflow and personal budget with an ultra-simple system loosely inspired in [GTD](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done), [Todo.txt](https://github.com/todotxt/todo.txt), OBTF (One Big Text File), [Bullet journal](https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/advice/finally-understand-how-to-keep-a-bullet-journal/) (notes on paper), spreadsheets, index cards, inbox zero and desktop zero.\n\n### So, how can you start?\n\n- [hamster folder](#hamster-folder---organize-your-documents): organize your (digital) documents\n- [hamster flow](#hamster-flow---organize-your-workflow): organize your workflow\n- [hamster budget](#hamster-budget---organize-your-money): organize your money\n- [TLDR - what does this stuff solve?](#tldr)\n\n\n\n\n---\n## Hamster folder - organize your documents\n\n*'Every document belongs to a project'.*\n\n### Container\n\n- root folder: **YOUR NAME**\n\n        First of all create a folder in a partition of your disk.\n        ALL your stuff will be stored here.\n\n- main folders: **PROJECT STATUS**\n\n        Inside your root folder there are 2 folders:\n\n        INBOX (folder to store your active projects)\n        ARCHIVE (folder to store your inactive projects - often organized in collections)\n\n### Project folders\n\n*[collection] #project @subproject -folders*\n\n- collection: **[ ]**\n\n        Inside ARCHIVE folder you put [collection] folders:\n        e.g: [large investor]\n\n- project (derived from twitter hashtag): **#**  \n\n        Inside INBOX, ARCHIVE or [collection] folders you put #project folders:\n        e.g: #house in portugal    \n\n- subproject (derived from twitter mention): **@**\n\n        Inside #project folders you put @subproject folders:\n        e.g: @building permit\n\n- storage folder [^1]: **-**\n\n        Inside @subprojects you put -storage folders:\n        e.g: -drawings\n\nAnd be pragmatic:\n\n        When reasonable reduce unnecessary nesting by merging folders:\n        Prefer: #project@onlyOneSubproject\n        Instead of: #project / @onlyOneSubproject\n\n        Prefix for temporary folders: _\n        e.g: _standby\n\n        Folders to keep old versions of files: +\n        e.g: -plans / +\n\n### File naming\n\n- use a system that fits your needs[^2]. Some hints:\n\n        Prefix for template / boilerplate files: $\n        e.g: $curriculum\n\n- version files by using a *modification date* suffix[^3]: **Calendar Versioning**\n\n        e.g: yourfile+20211018\n\n### Navigation\n\n- you only need one *permanent* desktop shortcut to navigate through your documents: \n\n        Shortcut to INBOX folder\n\n        A shortcut to ARCHIVE is optional - only inactive projects are there.\n\n- and/or a launcher-file finder[^4]. \n\n\n\n\n---\n## Hamster flow - organize your workflow\n\n*'Manage a collection of inputs'.*\n\n- One text file[^5] and a paper notebook collect all inputs:  \n    - actionable inputs (*Tasks*) are managed in the paper notebook. Non-urgent tasks eventually move to the *Calendar* section of the text file[^6].\n    - non-actionable inputs are managed in the (markdown) text file. Hints:\n        - One long file is easier to manage than many short files.[^7] See it as a *flat wiki* and use built-in search for navigation.\n        - This file is not *write-only*: progressively summarize and *tree-shake* it each time you iterate your notes. You'll leverage your excitement instead of forcing discipline.\n        - Ideally, notes are organized by *project*, not by category. It can be a catalyst for action and reviews.\n        - Only store things that surprise you, not stuff you already know.\n\n- Tasks listed in the *Calendar* section of the text file have a due date: **[ ]**\n\n        Dates are inserted before the task description (allowing chronological sorting):\n        \n        e.g. inserting a scheduled date: [year-month-day=hour]\n        [2021-11-29=9h] Doctor appointment\n\n        e.g. inserting a trigger/fuzzy date: [date \u003e\u003e]\n        [2021-10-10 \u003e\u003e] Waiting for client feedback after this date\n\n        e.g. inserting a deadline date: [date \u003c\u003c]\n        [2021-10-22 \u003c\u003c] Pay electricity bill until this date\n\n        e.g. without knowing the due date: [soon] or [someday]\n        [soon] Call Mom\n        [someday] Bungee jumping with friends\n\n- Resuming (check also [screenshots](#screenshots)):\n\n        on a paper notebook:\n            Tasks (collection of tasks to be done ASAP)\n\n        on a text file with 2 sections:\n            Calendar (collection of tasks that can/must wait)\n            Notes (collection of thoughts and bookmarks)\n\n### Screenshots\n\n- *Calendar* section on Sublime text editor.[^8]\n\n![superfolder-workflow-screenshot](https://github.com/galfarragem/superfolder/blob/master/examples/superfolder-workflow_screenshot-example.png)\n\n- Easy text-editor navigation with markdown (adaptable to [YAML](https://www.json2yaml.com/convert-yaml-to-json) for data serialization).\n\n![superfolder-workflow-screenshot-2](https://github.com/galfarragem/superfolder/blob/master/examples/superfolder-workflow_screenshot-example2.png)\n\n\n\n\n---\n## Hamster budget - organize your money\n\n*'You may not need a personal budget'.*\n\nDoes it worth to spend cognitive bandwidth to know that last month I spent €321,83 on groceries? I already know that I spend *around* €300. **What I crave is to feel in control of my finances.**\n\n**How to do it in a practical way? Track your net worth** in a spreadsheet:\n \n- List all your assets (cash, stocks, bonds, crypto, real estate, whatever) and sum them. List and sum your liabilities (if relevant). Every case is a case so you must build your own spreadsheet.\n- When your net worth is too risky *for your personality* get more tight.\n- When you feel confortable with your number you can loosen up a bit.\n- I used to track it every month. I've loosen up to every quarter and eventually to semiannual.[^9]\n\n\n\n\n---\n## TLDR:\n\n### What does this stuff solve?\n\nComplicated systems always fail on the long-term. Hamster-system aims to be *simple and practical*.\n\n- Hamster folder (organize your documents)\n    - Transmission of projects with a predictable structure.\n    - Prediction (with acceptable accuracy) of filenames and their location. A file finder is great when you remember the filename but less useful when you don't.\n\n- Hamster flow (organize your workflow)\n    - Mix the *good parts* of  many workflow management approaches using your favorite text editor, cloud and a paper notebook. Markdown - if necessary - can be adapted into formats like [YAML](https://learn-the-web.algonquindesign.ca/topics/markdown-yaml-cheat-sheet/) to facilitate data exchange and serialization.\n\n- Hamster budget (organize your money)\n    - *Feel in control* of your finances spending a couple of hours every quarter. Minimum overhead.\n\n### Possible painpoint?\n\nThis system doesn't have specialized apps nor I plan to add any. However, it is platform agnostic so you can easily adapt it to meet your needs.\n\n### Is this the truth?\n\nProbably not but I test new options and *tree shake* existent ones agressively.[^10]\n\n---\n\n[^1]: This is the deepest level you'll get. It's enough and keeps it simple.\n[^2]: e.g: relevant [naming system for architects](https://github.com/slowernews/archi-project). I use a great [free tool for batch renaming](https://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/#mainscreen).\n[^3]: After a long trial, Semver and then \"builds\" were deprecated. \"Modification dates\", aka [Calendar versioning (CalVer)](https://calver.org) are simpler.\n[^4]: After having tried most options for Windows (win+type, Keypirinha, Everything, Cerebro, Wox, Zazu, Launchy, FARR), I'm using [Listary](http://www.listary.com/). Pros: Launch and file search without external software, low memory usage (less than 40Mb on win7), fast and configurable. Cons: No calculator function.\n[^5]: Hosted in a cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc) if possible.\n[^6]: A full featured calendar (Google calendar, Apple calendar, etc) may pay off in \"busy\" lifestyles.\n[^7]: Try to keep it under 2K lines. If you can't, it may mean some excerpts should live independently or even in a more suitable format (e.g. spreadsheet or [public notes](https://github.com/slowernews/notebook)).\n[^8]: Hint: on Sublime press F9 (or F5 on Mac) to sort dates.\n[^9]: I will stop here. Longer timeframes imply too delayed signals.\n[^10]: Org-mode, «wiki notes» (Roam, Foam, Obsidian), Johnny-decimal, (...)\n\n\u003ca rel=\"license\" href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Creative Commons License\" style=\"border-width:0\" src=\"https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-sa/4.0/88x31.png\" /\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cspan xmlns:dct=\"http://purl.org/dc/terms/\" property=\"dct:title\"\u003eHamster-System\u003c/span\u003e by Enio Ferreira is licensed under a \u003ca rel=\"license\" href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/\"\u003eCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License\u003c/a\u003e.\n","project_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/projects/github.com%2Fslowernews%2Fhamster-system","html_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/projects/github.com%2Fslowernews%2Fhamster-system","lists_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/projects/github.com%2Fslowernews%2Fhamster-system/lists"}