# Checklists

Checklists provide a straightforward way to track tasks that need completing. They're simpler than kanban boards; just a list of items that can be ticked off as they're done.

### Creating a checklist

1. Open the gathering and click the **Checklists** tab
2. Click **+ New Checklist**
3. Give the checklist a name (e.g. "Kitchen prep", "Venue setup", "Post-gathering cleanup")
4. Add items to the checklist

### Checklist items

Each item in a checklist can have:

| Feature | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| **Text** | The task description |
| **Due date** | When it needs to be done by |
| **Assignee** | A member of the organiser team |
| **Notes** | Additional context or details |
| **Completed** | Whether the item has been ticked off |

When someone completes an item, the system records who completed it and when.

### Planning phases

Checklists support planning phases that align with the gathering timeline. The available phases are:

- **Three months before**
- **Two months before**
- **One month before**
- **One week before**
- **During** the gathering
- **Post** gathering

If you don't specify a phase, the system auto-detects the current phase based on the gathering dates. This is useful for filtering; you can quickly see just the items that are relevant right now.

### Tracking progress

The checklist progress view shows:

- Overall completion rate across all checklists
- Per-phase completion rates with progress bars
- A list of overdue items that need attention

This gives you a quick health check on how planning is going without needing to open each checklist individually.

### Tips

- Use checklists for recurring tasks that are the same for every gathering (e.g. "order firewood", "set up first aid kit")
- The template support means you can create a standard checklist and reuse it across gatherings
- Combine checklists with kanban boards: use checklists for simple "done/not done" tracking and kanban for more complex tasks that need discussion and assignment
- Check the overdue items list regularly as the gathering approaches