Side projects die in spreadsheets. They die in half-filled Notion databases you set up on a Saturday and never opened again. They die in GitHub issue trackers that were never meant to hold a vague idea like "maybe add dark mode someday." What actually keeps a side project alive is a wall — a place where every half-baked idea, every blocked task, and every "ship this weekend" commitment is visible at a glance, not buried three clicks deep.
This article is for developers who want exactly that: a visual sticky-note board that moves as fast as their thinking, handles files and reminders without switching apps, and doesn't require a 45-minute onboarding session before it's useful. We'll define what makes a developer-focused visual wall worth using, then show why TaskLoco earns a permanent spot in that shortlist.
What to Look for in a Visual Wall for Side Projects
A visual wall — sometimes called a kanban board, sticky-note board, or idea wall — is any tool that lets you arrange discrete units of information spatially so you can see relationships, priorities, and gaps without reading a list. For developers tracking side projects, the format matters because side projects are non-linear: you're juggling a feature idea, a bug you found at 11pm, a domain name you want to grab, and a half-written README all at once.
Before any specific tool enters the picture, three criteria separate genuinely useful visual walls from ones that get abandoned after two weeks:
- Speed of capture. If creating a note takes more than two seconds, you won't do it mid-flow. The best walls let you hit a keyboard shortcut or tap once and type immediately — no template, no required fields, no project selection first.
- Visibility without maintenance. A wall only works if you don't have to curate it constantly. Good tools surface what's stale, let you move things with a drag, and don't require you to "close" tasks ceremonially. You should be able to glance at the board and immediately know what's next.
- Attachments and context — not just text. Side projects generate artifacts: screenshots of a UI you liked, a PDF spec, a photo of a whiteboard sketch. A wall that only holds plain text forces you to keep a second system for files, which defeats the purpose. The best visual walls let a note hold its own evidence.
With those criteria in mind, here's how TaskLoco fits the picture for developers who want a visual wall that actually sticks.
The Wall Itself: Fast Capture, Real Spatial Layout
TaskLoco's core metaphor is exactly what it sounds like: sticky notes on a wall. You can create a note, type your thought, and drag it wherever it belongs in seconds. There's no project hierarchy to navigate first, no required due date, no mandatory assignee. For a solo developer with a side project, that frictionlessness is the whole product.
Notes on the wall aren't just colorful squares. Each one is a container. You can write a full task description, attach files (screenshots, zipped builds, design exports — up to 10GB of storage on Premium), and set a reminder that fires as a push notification directly to your phone and computer, deep-linking straight back to that note when you tap it. That last part matters more than it sounds: when Saturday-morning-you finally has a free hour, a notification that drops you directly onto the right note — not into an inbox — is the difference between actually doing the thing and losing the thread.
The Chrome extension extends this to the browser. When you find a Stack Overflow answer you need to revisit, a GitHub issue for a library you're evaluating, or a design reference on Dribbble, one click captures the page as a note on your wall. No copy-pasting URLs into a separate notes app, no bookmarks folder you'll forget to check.
Files, Reminders, and the Calendar View: When the Side Project Gets Serious
Most visual walls fall apart the moment a side project gets real momentum. You start accumulating design mocks. You make a promise to ship something by a specific date. You add a collaborator — a friend who's helping with the backend, a designer who's doing the UI for a cut of the revenue. Suddenly your sticky-note tool either has no file handling, or its sharing model is confusing enough that you give up and fall back to Slack DMs and Google Drive folders.
TaskLoco Premium handles this without adding complexity. File attachments live on the note they belong to. Attach a Figma export to the UI note, a build script to the deployment note, a contract PDF to the collaboration note. You're not creating folder hierarchies — you're keeping context with the task. Storage starts at 10GB and can be expanded in tiers if a project generates large assets.
Reminders work as push notifications — delivered to your phone and computer — and each one deep-links back to the original note. Optional email notifications are available at no extra charge. Optional SMS is an add-on. The mechanism is intentionally direct: the reminder brings you back to the exact note, not a generic inbox.
The calendar view in Premium lets you see all your dated notes and tasks in a monthly or weekly layout. For a developer who wants to ship a beta by a specific date, seeing the wall and the calendar in the same tool — without exporting to Google Calendar — closes a real gap. Team sharing is also included: shared notes work like emails, where the recipient can clone the note and own their copy. No permission systems, no access levels to configure.
Which Version of TaskLoco Fits Where You Are Today
TaskLoco ships in three tiers, and the right one depends entirely on where your side project is right now.
TaskLoco Lite is the native iPhone and Android app — completely anonymous, no sign-in, no account, no syncing. It stores up to 20 notes as a JSON file on your device. If you want a zero-friction scratchpad that asks nothing of you and leaves no trace, this is it. It does not sync, ever. Think of it as a private whiteboard in your pocket — great for capturing raw ideas, not for managing a project with moving parts.
TaskLoco Lite Plus+ is the web app and Chrome extension — free, sign in with Google, syncs across all your devices, up to 30 notes. This is where most developers start when they want their wall available on every machine. The Chrome extension is particularly useful: one click captures any webpage as a note. Lite Plus+ has no reminders, no file attachments, and no team sharing — those are Premium features.
TaskLoco Premium removes every limit that matters once a side project is real: unlimited notes, 10GB file storage (expandable), reminders with push notifications, calendar view, and team sharing. This is the tier for the project that has a launch date.
How TaskLoco Compares
| Feature | TaskLoco | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Core metaphor | Sticky-note visual wall — spatial, drag-and-drop | Flexible blocks and databases — powerful but not spatial by default |
| Free tier | Two free tiers: Lite (20 notes, no sign-in, native app) and Lite Plus+ (30 notes, synced, web + Chrome ext) FREE | Free tier available with page and block limits |
| Speed of capture | Click or tap — type immediately. No template, no required fields, no project selection | Requires selecting a database or page type before writing |
| Chrome extension | One-click webpage capture — free with Lite Plus+ and Premium FREE | Web clipper available |
| Native mobile app | TaskLoco Lite — anonymous, no sign-in, 20 notes on device (iOS and Android) | Full-featured native iOS and Android app with sync |
| File attachments | 10GB included with Premium — files live on the note they belong to | File uploads available; storage limits vary by plan |
| Reminders | Push notifications to phone and computer; deep-links back to the original note. Optional email and SMS add-on. | Reminders available on paid plans |
| Calendar view | Built into Premium — see all dated notes and tasks in monthly/weekly layout | Calendar view available |
| Team sharing | Yes — included with Premium. Each team member requires a separate subscription — currently $9.99/month per person, but TaskLoco is offering a Charter Member special: 50% off for life, currently $4.99/month per person for the first 500 subscribers with code CHARTER50. | Full workspace sharing with permission levels and access controls |
| Setup time | Wall is ready in under 60 seconds — no templates, no schema design | Significant setup time to design the right database structure for your use case |
| Unlimited notes | Unlimited on Premium; 30 synced on Lite Plus+; 20 on Lite | Unlimited pages on all plans including free |
| Cross-device sync | Yes — Lite Plus+ and Premium sync across all devices via web app FREE | Yes — syncs across all devices natively |
| Database / custom fields | Not available — TaskLoco is note and task focused | Full database functionality with custom fields, relations, rollups |
| API / integrations | Limited integrations — focused experience | Public API with extensive third-party integrations |
| Anonymous use — no account | Yes — TaskLoco Lite requires zero sign-in, zero data shared FREE | Account required for all tiers |
| Storage expansion | Add-on tiers: 10GB / 50GB / 200GB / 1TB, stackable to 100x | Storage limits vary by plan; upgrade required for more |
| Natural language task input | Not available | Not natively available |
| Gantt / project timelines | Not available | Timeline view available on paid plans |
Who Should Use Each
Use TaskLoco if…
- You want a visual wall that's ready in under a minute — no schema design, no templates, just type and drag
- You need reminders that deep-link back to the exact note they belong to, delivered as push notifications
- You capture ideas across your browser, your phone, and your desk and want everything on one board
- You want to attach files, screenshots, and build artifacts directly to the task they belong to — not in a separate folder
- You're working with a collaborator and want to share notes without configuring permissions or access levels
- You want a free starting point with no account required (Lite) or a synced free wall across devices (Lite Plus+)
Use Notion if…
- You need a full relational database with custom fields, rollups, and linked records for complex project tracking
- You need a public API and deep integrations with your existing developer toolchain
- You want Gantt-style project timelines with task dependencies built in
- You require a full-featured native mobile app with complete sync and editing on iOS or Android
TaskLoco Premium is regularly $9.99/month per person. Right now, charter members can lock in 50% off the regular price — forever. That means $4.99/month per person today. And if our price ever goes up, you still pay half. Always.
Code CHARTER50 auto-applies at checkout. First 500 spots only — once they're gone, this offer is gone permanently. Act fast while spots last.
Every Premium subscription includes unlimited notes, 10GB file storage, reminders, calendar, and team sharing. Each team member requires a separate subscription. 7-day free trial — no charge until day 8. Cancel anytime.
Free Options: TaskLoco
TaskLoco Lite
- Native iPhone & Android app
- Completely anonymous — no sign-in
- Data stays on your device
- Up to 20 notes
- Free forever
TaskLoco Lite Plus+
- Web app + Chrome extension
- Sign in with Google
- Wall syncs across all devices
- Up to 30 notes
- Free forever
Lock In 50% Off — Forever
7-day free trial. No charge until day 8. CHARTER50 auto-applies at checkout.
🔒 Lock In My Charter SpotSee TaskLoco in Action
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a visual wall and why do developers use one for side projects?
A visual wall is a board where discrete pieces of information — tasks, ideas, notes, links — are arranged spatially so you can see everything at once. Developers use them for side projects because side projects are non-linear: you're bouncing between a feature idea, a bug, a domain name, and a half-written README. A list can't show you that. A wall can. The best visual walls let you capture something in two seconds and see the full picture at a glance without maintaining the board constantly.
How does TaskLoco work as a visual wall for a developer?
TaskLoco puts sticky notes on a drag-and-drop wall. Each note can hold task text, file attachments (screenshots, exports, ZIPs), and a reminder that fires as a push notification and drops you directly back onto that note. The Chrome extension captures any webpage as a note in one click. Lite Plus+ syncs the wall across all your devices for free. Premium adds unlimited notes, 10GB file storage, calendar view, and team sharing — everything a side project needs once it gets real.
Is TaskLoco free for solo developers?
Yes. TaskLoco Lite is completely free, requires no sign-in, and stores up to 20 notes on your device as a native iPhone or Android app. TaskLoco Lite Plus+ is also free — sign in with Google, sync up to 30 notes across all your devices, and use the Chrome extension to capture webpages. Neither free tier includes reminders, file attachments, or team sharing — those are Premium. $9.99/month per person (currently $4.99/month per person for first 500 charter members with code CHARTER50)
Can I use TaskLoco without creating an account?
Yes. TaskLoco Lite — the native iPhone and Android app — is completely anonymous. No sign-in, no email, no account of any kind. It stores up to 20 notes in a JSON file on your device only and never syncs to any server. If you want sync across devices, Lite Plus+ requires a Google sign-in but is still free.
How do reminders work in TaskLoco?
Reminders in TaskLoco are delivered as push notifications to your phone and computer. The key detail for developers: each notification deep-links directly back to the original note, so when you tap it, you land on the exact task — not a generic inbox. Optional email notifications are available at no extra charge. Optional SMS notifications are an add-on. Reminders are a Premium feature.
Can I attach files like screenshots and design exports to my notes?
Yes, with TaskLoco Premium. File attachments live directly on the note they belong to — not in a separate folder or drive. Attach a Figma export to the UI note, a build script to the deployment note, a screenshot of a bug to the fix note. Premium includes 10GB of storage, and you can expand that in tiers (10GB / 50GB / 200GB / 1TB, stackable) if your project generates larger assets. $9.99/month per person (currently $4.99/month per person for first 500 charter members with code CHARTER50)
Does TaskLoco work with a team if my side project grows?
Yes. TaskLoco Premium includes team sharing. Shared notes work like emails: you share a note, the recipient gets it, and they can clone it and make it their own. There are no permission systems or access levels to configure — it's intentionally simple. Each team member needs their own Premium subscription. $9.99/month per person (currently $4.99/month per person for first 500 charter members with code CHARTER50)
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TaskLoco is available on iPhone, Android, Chrome, and every web browser.