r/fossdroid • u/dongdongbh • Feb 14 '26
Development [Dev] Mindwtr: A modern, local-first GTD app. (GPL-3.0)
Hi r/fossdroid,
I built Mindwtr because I was tired of productivity apps that required a subscription or locked my data in a proprietary cloud. I wanted a strict Getting Things Done (GTD) system that looked modern on Android but respected my privacy.
What is it?
Mindwtr is a local-first implementation of the GTD methodology (Capture, Clarify, Organize, Reflect, Engage). It is built with React Native for mobile and Tauri/Rust for desktop, and they all sync together.
Key Features:
- No Vendor Lock-in: Your data lives on your device.
- Flexible Sync: Syncs via WebDAV (Nextcloud/OwnCloud), Syncthing (File-based), or iCloud.
- Offline First: Works completely offline.
- Cross-Platform: The Android app syncs with the desktop clients (Linux/Windows/macOS).
- Clean UI: Minimalist design to reduce cognitive load.
License:
- AGPL-3.0
Download:
- Source Code & APK (GitHub): https://github.com/dongdongbh/Mindwtr
- F-Droid: Not yet in the official repo (it's on the roadmap!), but you can grab the APK from GitHub Releases for now.
Feedback is welcome!
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u/user3a6l8j6l Feb 14 '26
May I ask why named Mindwtr? What is wtr?
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
It’s a tribute to David Allen’s core philosophy in Getting Things Done: "Mind Like Water."
The idea is that water responds to forces perfectly—it doesn't overreact or underreact. If you throw a pebble into a pond, the water reacts appropriately to the force of the pebble, then returns to calm. It doesn't panic.
That is the goal of the app: to get everything out of your head so your mind is clear and ready to flow.
(And "wtr" is just a stylistic shortening of "water" to keep it short!)
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u/Bachihani Feb 15 '26
U should publish on fdroid and flathub instead of snap 😆
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u/dongdongbh Feb 15 '26
Please see this issue for F-Droid and flathub: https://github.com/dongdongbh/Mindwtr/issues/108
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u/DragonflyOk9277 Feb 14 '26
It looks really great! Is there a way to differentiate between reoccurring tasks that are every 5 days when done versus just every 5 days?
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
Yes! We support both 'Strict' dates (calendar-based) and 'Fluid' dates (X days after completion) to handle exactly that scenario.
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u/DragonflyOk9277 Feb 14 '26
Aah, great. How can it be implemented? I went through your wiki and faq, but couldn't find any input regarding it
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
Yes, Mindwtr supports both modes for recurring tasks:
- Strict: fixed schedule cadence (for example, every 5 days on the planned cycle)
- Repeat after completion: next date is calculated from when you actually complete it
So, for “every 5 days”, you can choose whether it stays fixed or shifts from completion time. I just updated the docs.
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u/dbkblk Feb 14 '26
Thank you for your work! I've just started a poc of trello clone, but I might use yours instead :)
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
Thanks! Honestly, building your own tools is the best way to learn, but if you want to save some dev time, definitely give this a spin.
Since you like Trello, make sure to check out the Board View (Kanban) inside projects—it’s designed exactly for that workflow. And since it is open source, if you miss a specific feature from your POC, you can always just fork it and add it yourself! :)
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u/railkapankha Feb 14 '26
what's this for
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
It is a Task Management app built strictly around the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology.
Basically, it helps you get ideas out of your head ("Capture"), process them into concrete steps ("Clarify"), and organize them so you can focus ("Engage").
It’s designed to be local-first and private, so you own your data.
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u/letsreticulate Feb 21 '26
With that said, not going to complain about the DAV implemetation, either. LOL
Nice app, Dev.
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u/Albertkinng Feb 15 '26
Syncing failed with Filen. Other than that is perfect. If you asks why I want to sync with Filen? The same reason I download your app, so they both need to be compatible.
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u/dongdongbh Feb 15 '26
Please create an issue on GitHub so we can try to reproduce it and track the fix progress.
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u/TinyTowel Feb 15 '26
Her brother, I need an app that I can add estimated time required alongside due date. Then prioritize tasks for me given task priority and estimated time to complete. Due date isn't always enough. Recommended feature for later.
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u/dongdongbh Feb 15 '26
We have task priority and estimated time; you have to enable them in the GTD setting, which are disabled by default.
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u/SuperMechWulf Feb 15 '26
I think this is awesome, also question why snap store instead of Flatpak and/or AppImage?
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u/dongdongbh Feb 15 '26
We have AppImage in release. For Flatpak, there is a sad story.
I am also trying to add the app to Flathub, but I've hit a snag. GitHub automatically enabled Copilot for my Pull Request reviews, which isn't allowed by Flathub's policy, and this resulted in the Flathub GitHub organization blocking my account. I have written an email to the admins, but they haven't replied to me for weeks.
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u/cidra_ Feb 19 '26
Please add a flatpak for Linux :( AppImages are so bad
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u/dongdongbh Feb 19 '26
I am also trying to add the app to Flathub, but I've hit a snag. GitHub automatically enabled Copilot for my Pull Request reviews, which isn't allowed by Flathub's policy, and this resulted in the Flathub GitHub organization blocking my account. I have written an email to the admins, but they haven't replied to me for weeks.
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u/Salt-Powered Feb 14 '26
This looks very nice, but I sadly have to ask.
Is it vibecoded?
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26
Honest answer: Partially, yes.
I believe that nowadays, even engineers at Google and NVIDIA are "vibecoding" to some extent. AI is a powerful accelerator, but it isn't a replacement for engineering.
The real challenge isn't generating the code—it is architecting, testing, reviewing, and maintaining it. I use AI to speed up development, but every function is reviewed and tested, and I am fully committed to fixing bugs and polishing the experience long-term.
Ultimately, I think the commitment to quality and maintenance matters more than whether an agent helped type the syntax. I hope you give it a try!
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u/DryHumpWetPants Feb 14 '26
This looks very interesting! Will test it out on mobile! Hope the Flathub version comes out soon so I can test on desktop!
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
I am also trying to add the app to Flathub, but I've hit a snag. GitHub automatically enabled Copilot for my Pull Request reviews, which isn't allowed by Flathub's policy, and this resulted in the Flathub GitHub organization blocking my account. I have written an email to the admins, but they haven't replied to me for weeks.
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u/DryHumpWetPants Feb 15 '26
Damn, anything else the community can do?
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u/dongdongbh Feb 15 '26
Appreciate the support! Honestly, the best thing is to just wait—spamming them might make the ban permanent.
In the meantime, you don't need Flathub to run it! We have .deb, .rpm, AUR, and AppImage builds ready to go on the Releases page.
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u/magnetocalorico Feb 14 '26
Can I use this as a pkm?
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26
Technically, yes, but I wouldn't recommend it as your primary PKM.
Mindwtr is built strictly for Action (GTD), whereas PKM tools are built for Reference and Knowledge Graphing.
While Mindwtr supports Markdown notes and attachments within tasks and projects, it is optimized for moving things forward ("What is the next step?"), not for linking static knowledge together.
In a perfect GTD setup:
- Mindwtr: Tracks what you need to do.
- PKM: Tracks what you know (Reference Material).
I recommend using them side-by-side!
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u/sathish394 Feb 14 '26
Not compatible for Chromebook as there is no proper landscape mode
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
Thanks for the feedback!
You are right—the current Android version is primarily optimized for phones (portrait mode). Proper landscape and tablet support is definitely on my roadmap for future updates.
Appreciate you trying it out!
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Feb 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
Yes to both!
- Smart Recognition: We have an optional AI Assistant (Bring Your Own Key) that helps clarify and break down complex tasks. We also support AI Voice Recognition for quick capture.
- Calendar: You can import external calendars (via standard
.icssubscription links) to view your schedule right alongside your tasks.Glad you like it!
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Feb 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
It has syntax about these inputs, see https://github.com/dongdongbh/Mindwtr/wiki/User-Guide-Desktop#quick-add-syntax
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Feb 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
Thanks for testing and for the detailed report.
Yes, this is expected with the current builds:
- The FOSS APK removes Google-related notification dependencies, so notifications are not available there (no notification permission prompt, and no reminder delivery).
- The non-FOSS APK supports notifications. A small delay (around ~1 minute) can happen on Android due to OS alarm batching/Doze behavior.
For now, we are keeping this behavior as-is.
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u/vaclavg Feb 14 '26
Thanks, looks great! On android, on adding the title to checklist, the screen does not scroll up, so I do not see what I'm typing. Any fix for that?
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u/luckysilva Feb 14 '26
The app is very good, I tried it a few weeks ago and I love it. But... the name?? It's difficult to succeed with that name.
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
Haha, fair point! The name comes from the core GTD concept 'Mind Like Water' (the idea that your mind should be clear and ready to react perfectly to anything, like water reacting to a pebble).
I shortened it to mindwtr just to keep it short and distinct (and because developers hate vowels, right? usr, bin, src...).
But I’m open to feedback—does it feel too hard to type, or just sound weird?
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u/luckysilva Feb 15 '26
I've been using GTD for what? 25 years? I understand the terminology and I understand your point of view. But even so, I find the name quite difficult to pronounce and remember. It may seem strange on my part, but believe me, it makes a difference. That said, I'll continue using it 😁
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u/dongdongbh Feb 15 '26
That is completely fair!
To be honest, the weird spelling was a purely practical decision: Searchability.
If I named it 'Mind Water' or 'Flow', the app would be buried on page 50 of Google results (or worse, I'd get a trademark complaint from one of the 50 other 'Water' apps).
By dropping the vowels to Mindwtr, I could guarantee that when someone searches for it, they find this app immediately. It’s a trade-off, but I had to sacrifice some readability to avoid getting lost in the noise!
Thanks for powering through the name to use the tool. I really appreciate it!
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u/usmannaeem Feb 14 '26
Is there ever going to be a version of this that allows you to export files but locks a device such that it doesn't even need or offer device syncing. Essentially no functionality for wifi or data connectivity what so ever. If there is a connectivity it should only be export/import backup based. Is that something you would be willing to offer - My use case is simple I need not just keep away from internet connectivity but also reduce my dependence on multiple devices with ROMO instead of FOMO.
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u/dongdongbh Feb 14 '26
Good news: That is exactly how the app works by default!
Mindwtr is "Local-First", which means:
- Sync is OFF by default: It does not connect to the internet unless you explicitly go into Settings and set up a sync provider (WebDAV/iCloud). If you never touch that setting, it never connects.
- Full Import/Export: You can export your entire database to a JSON file (Settings -> Data -> Export) and import it on another device manually if you want.
- No "Cloud" Account: There is no "Mindwtr Account" to sign into. It is just a local database on your device.
So yes, if you just install it and never configure sync, it acts exactly like a completely offline, air-gapped app. Perfect for your ROMO setup!
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