deadline-backward-planner

A backward planner reverses the usual way of thinking: Instead of asking "When do I start?", you ask "When must each step be finished to safely meet the deadline?". You first enter the fixed endpoint (Deadline) – with date and time – and then break your project down into specific tasks. The planner then calculates step-by-step backwards and creates a realistic schedule with start and end times for each task.

1) Set Deadline & Working Rhythm
Enter your deadline and define your working framework: work start, work end, and which weekdays you actually want to work (e.g., Mon–Fri). Optionally, you can add holidays or days off as a list in YYYY-MM-DD format. These days will be automatically skipped during backward calculation.

2) Create Tasks (Presets or Individual)
Under "Tasks", you can choose a preset (e.g., "Blog Post", "Paper", "Launch") and customize it – or create your own tasks. For each task, choose the duration (hours or days) and whether the duration should count as Workdays (only within your working hours) or Calendar Days (includes weekends and nights). This allows you to plan "Waiting for Feedback" as calendar days, while "Writing" is better planned as workdays.

3) Plan Buffer (to avoid tight spots)
Projects rarely fail on the first version – they fail due to corrections, coordination, and minor details. With the buffer, you can add a safety reserve: either as a percentage (e.g., 15% of total work time) and/or as fixed hours. The buffer is placed directly before the deadline, allowing you to be "finished" earlier and react more calmly to unforeseen events.

4) Read & Use Results
After clicking "Calculate Plan", you will receive:
• Latest start (the "I must start by now" point)
• A task plan as a table with start/end, duration, and mode
• A visual timeline showing the relative time each task takes
• Warnings if your latest start is in the past or if very little buffer remains

You can copy the plan as CSV (perfect for Excel/Sheets) or download it as an .ics calendar file. This allows you to import tasks as appointments directly into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook. And if you prefer the classic way: printing works too.

Tips for Better Plans
• Break tasks down small: "Concept" into "Outline", "Research", "Core Statements", etc.
• Plan feedback loops consciously (and assign them calendar days).
• Set a realistic workday: If you enter 8 hours, you should actually deliver 8 concentrated hours.
• Use the buffer as "stress insurance" – better too much than too little.

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