Give bigger work its own page.
Type +kitchen on any task and Diurnal creates the project, files the task under it, and keeps count of how much is done.
Start one with +name · Progress on every task · Deadlines on your week
01 / Starting one
Start a project without leaving the page.
Add a plus sign and a name to any task, on the pad or in the capture line, and the project exists.
+name
Type +kitchen and the task goes into that project. The first time you use a name, the project is created.
New project
Or press New project on the Projects board, name it, and give it a deadline if it has one.
From a tag
Settings › Tags can turn a tag into a project. Its tasks move in, and the colour comes with them.
From your AI app
Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor can list your projects and file new tasks straight into one.
02 / The project page
Its tasks, sorted by when they're due.
Each project's tasks are grouped by when they are due, under its progress and its deadline.
Grouped by when
Today, This week, Later and Anytime, with finished tasks folded into Done.
Notes and a colour
Keep the brief at the top of the page, and pick a colour so the project is easy to spot.
Add in place
Type into the line at the bottom of the page to add a task to the project.
03 / Progress
See how far along it is from anywhere.
A small pie shows how much of a project is done, wherever its tasks appear.
On every task
Tasks in Plan show their project's pie and name under the title, and one click opens the project.
Deadlines on your week
A deadline appears at the top of its day in Weekly, with how many tasks are done.
The Projects board
One card per project, soonest deadline first, each with its progress and the next task to do.
Stalled projects stand out
A project with nothing planned for today or this week fades on the board.
04 / Finishing
Finish it, and decide about the rest.
Tick off the last task and Diurnal offers to finish the project; you can also finish one early.
Tasks still open
Mark them done, drop them, or move them back to the pad.
Out of the way
Finished projects fold away under Finished on the board.
Reopen any time
Open a finished project and reopen it if the work comes back.
05 / Questions
About projects.
The short answers.
Can a project have sub-projects?
No. Projects are one level deep on purpose, with no folders or nesting.
Can a task be in two projects?
No. A task belongs to one project at most, and it can still carry tags.
Does a deadline send a reminder?
No. A deadline marks the day on your week. Give a task a time if you want a reminder.