Overview
Nautilus is a Roam Research extension designed to bring visual task planning, time tracking, and calendar integration directly into Roam's daily note-taking workflow.
Key Features
Visual Task Representation
- Tasks and calendar events displayed visually in the Roam Daily Page
- Time-blocking interface integrated with Roam's block structure
- Clear visual distinction between scheduled and unscheduled tasks
- Progress tracking visible within daily notes
Duration Management
- Tasks default to 15-minute time allocation
- Customizable duration per task or globally in extension settings
- Automatic adjustment for task duration variabilities
- Recognition that not all tasks fit rigid time estimates
Progress Tracking
- Click tasks on daily page to update progress
- Add dXX% marker where XX denotes percentage of task completion
- Visual indicators for task completion status
- Integration with Roam's native tagging and linking
Calendar Integration
- Import calendar events into Roam daily pages
- Synchronize tasks with external calendars (via RoamJS extensions)
- View scheduled time blocks alongside notes and tasks
- Unified view of commitments and work items
Integration with Roam Research
Native Roam Features
- Works with Roam's block-based structure
- Maintains Roam's bidirectional linking
- Compatible with Roam's daily notes system
- Preserves flexibility of Roam's outliner format
RoamJS Compatibility
- Works alongside RoamJS Google Calendar extension
- Compatible with SmartBlocks for automation
- Integrates with other Roam Depot extensions
Use Cases
- Knowledge workers who use Roam as their primary productivity system
- Researchers tracking time spent on various projects within Roam
- Writers scheduling writing sessions in their note-taking environment
- Students managing study time alongside course notes
- Consultants tracking billable hours while taking client notes
Installation
Available through Roam Depot (Roam Research's official extension marketplace).
Best Practices
Setup
- Install from Roam Depot
- Configure default task duration in settings
- Connect calendar integration if desired
- Set up task templates for recurring work
Daily Workflow
- Review calendar events imported to daily page
- Add tasks with time estimates using Nautilus syntax
- Drag tasks to time blocks in visual timeline
- Update progress throughout the day
- Review completed tasks and time spent
Advantages
- Keeps time tracking in your existing note-taking workflow
- No need to switch between apps for planning and execution
- Leverages Roam's powerful linking for project organization
- Maintains context between tasks and related notes
- Open source and community-driven development
Pricing
Free and open source (requires Roam Research subscription)
