Script to automatically populate a today.txt file. Read more: http://johnhenrymuller.com/today.

requirements.txt

click

today.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
"""If nothing else, today I am going to %(goal)s.

I am going to do this by %(task_one)s then %(task_two)s then %(task_three)s.

If I do this and only this, today will be a good day.


















                                    Have a great day! :)
"""
from __future__ import unicode_literals
from codecs import open
import os
import shutil
import time

import click
from click.termui import style


@click.command()
@click.option(
  '-b', '--backup', type=click.Path(), default='~/today-backup',
  help='location to backup old today.txt files')
def today(backup):
  """Write tasks in progressive present tense; "doing", "eating"."""
  # set up prompt prefix
  app = style('[today] ', fg='green')

  # find out absolute path to text file
  today_path = os.path.expanduser('~/Desktop/today.txt')
  backup_path = os.path.expanduser(backup)

  if os.path.exists(today_path):
    # get time of file creation
    created_at = time.ctime(os.path.getmtime(today_path))

    # create the backup folder unless it exists
    if not os.path.exists(backup_path):
      os.makedirs(backup_path)

    # move the existing file by renaming it with creation time
    shutil.move(today_path, os.path.join(backup_path, created_at + '.txt'))

  # find out what is to be accomplished and how
  goal = click.prompt(app + 'If nothing else, today I am going to')
  task_one = click.prompt(app + 'I am going to do this by')
  task_two = click.prompt(app + '...then')
  task_three = click.prompt(app + '...then')

  # open new file for writing
  with open(today_path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as handle:

    # use docstring as template for new file, fill in blanks
    handle.write(__doc__ % dict(
      goal=goal,
      task_one=task_one,
      task_two=task_two,
      task_three=task_three
    ))

  click.echo(app + style('Have a great day! :)', fg='yellow'))


if __name__ == '__main__':
  today()

The script will also back up earlier files by renaming them with the date of file creation. For now it keeps all files on the desktop though.

Now the script backs up old today.txt files in ~/today-backup/