Nautilus Roam Research Extension

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

1. Install from Roam Depot
2. Configure default task duration in settings
3. Connect calendar integration if desired
4. Set up task templates for recurring work

Daily Workflow

1. Review calendar events imported to daily page
2. Add tasks with time estimates using Nautilus syntax
3. Drag tasks to time blocks in visual timeline
4. Update progress throughout the day
5. 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)