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()

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