https://nizzlay.com • This is a web feed, also known as an Atom feed. Subscribe by copying the URL from the address bar into your newsreader. Visit About Feeds to learn more and get started. It's free. Visit website Recent posts Updated on $DATE dark both Python Nizzlay - Python I'm fascinated by *efficiency*, in a pretty broad sense of the word. You can name it tech, productivity, automation, flip-thinking, friction, whatever… I'll ramble about all of them. And I'm opinionated too, even about stuff that's not efficiency related. Zola2025-02-11T00:00:00+00:00https://nizzlay.com/tags/python/atom.xml Automatically cancelling duplicate projects in Things 2025-02-11T00:00:00+00:00 2025-02-11T00:00:00+00:00 Nizzlay https://nizzlay.com/blog/automatically-cancelling-duplicate-projects-things3/ <p>I (try to) run my whole life through <a class="external" rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://culturedcode.com/things/">Things(3)</a>, and I’ve been doing so for many years. Which means I have quite a bunch of recurring tasks and projects. Some of them recur once a year, some of them daily.</p> <p>The way recurring tasks and projects work in Things3<sup class="footnote-reference" id="fr-1-1"><a href="#fn-1">1</a></sup> is that you have a master template, in which you define when it reoccurs, and what tasks are contained in the project. Then, as soon as the moment comes, Things3 will create a new copy of that template.</p> <p>Which means one of the tricky things with daily recurring projects, is that they can quickly pile up if you didn’t get to finish them. A new copy each day.</p> <p>For recurring tasks you could easily just switch it to recur upon completion instead of a fixed daily reoccurrence. But for projects I don’t think that’s a good idea. As sometimes it can be that I did do <em>some</em> tasks from the project, but not <em>all</em> of them. In that scenario it’s good to get a fresh copy, which will contain all the tasks again.</p> <p>So I’ll stick with recurring projects, but sometimes life happens. And the system is no good if we don’t account for life happening.</p> <p>So what to do if life happens, and I end up with multiple copies of the same project?</p> <p>I <em>could</em> easily just select it, and <kbd>CMD(⌘) + Option(⌥) + .</kbd> to mark it as cancelled. But being reminded of the past failures is not a great feeling. Dealing with these kinds of emotions is part of <a class="external" rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/25/smarter-living/why-you-procrastinate-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-self-control.html">the fight with procrastination</a>, so it’s probably a good thing to prevent the guilty feelings (even if the guilt is only on the subconscious level).</p> <p>Thus, let’s automate it.</p> <p>Initially I tried using Shortcuts, since that’s all the hype. But once again I really just can’t get it to do what I want. It’s too oversimplified for me. Apparently there’s no way to compare time variables<sup class="footnote-reference" id="fr-2-1"><a href="#fn-2">2</a></sup>, so I can’t figure out which is the new project and which is the old one.</p> <p>Then I switched to AppleScript. Even installed <a class="external" rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://latenightsw.com/">Script Debugger</a> to get some actual proper tooling to figure stuff out. But here as well, the frustration got the better of me. In trying to make AppleScript look simple, they’ve actually made it very hard to use. Just give me actual syntax (and proper errors), not mysterious words that <em>could</em> be syntax.</p> <p>So, Python it is.</p> <p>In Python there’s a pretty good library for reading Things3 data. And even though I’m not a Python developer, Claude AI is pretty decent<sup class="footnote-reference" id="fr-3-1"><a href="#fn-3">3</a></sup> at it.</p> <p>For the script to work you’ll need to install the unofficial <a class="external" rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://github.com/thingsapi/things.py/">Things Python API</a>, and make sure you enable Things URLs. Click <em>Manage</em>, to grab your token.</p> <p><img src="/enable-things-urls.png" alt="Enabling Things URLs in Things3 settings" /></p> <p>Then take this code, replace the <code>THINGS-TOKEN-HERE</code> with your actual token, and save it somewhere:</p> <pre data-lang="python" class="language-python z-code"><code class="language-python" data-lang="python"><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-import z-python">import</span> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">things</span></span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-import z-python">import</span> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">subprocess</span></span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-import z-from z-python">from</span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"><span class="z-meta z-import-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-import-path z-python"><span class="z-meta z-import-name z-python">collections</span></span> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-import z-python">import</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">defaultdict</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-import z-from z-python">from</span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"><span class="z-meta z-import-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-import-path z-python"><span class="z-meta z-import-name z-python">datetime</span></span> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-import z-python">import</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">datetime</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-function z-python"><span class="z-storage z-type z-function z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-declaration z-function z-python">def</span></span> <span class="z-entity z-name z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">get_today_items</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-parameters z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-parameters z-begin z-python">(</span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-parameters z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-parameters z-end z-python">)</span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-function z-begin z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-keyword z-control z-flow z-return z-python">return</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">things</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">today</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-function z-python"><span class="z-storage z-type z-function z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-declaration z-function z-python">def</span></span> <span class="z-entity z-name z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">parse_date</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-parameters z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-parameters z-begin z-python">(</span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-parameters z-python"><span class="z-variable z-parameter z-python">date_str</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-parameters z-end z-python">)</span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-function z-begin z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-conditional z-if z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-conditional z-if z-python">if</span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-logical z-python">not</span> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">date_str</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-conditional z-if z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-keyword z-control z-flow z-return z-python">return</span> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">datetime</span><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">min</span></span> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Return minimum date if no date provided </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-try z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-try z-python">try</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-exception z-try z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> First try ISO format </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-keyword z-control z-flow z-return z-python">return</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">datetime</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">fromisoformat</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">date_str</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-catch z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-catch z-python">except</span> <span class="z-support z-type z-exception z-python">ValueError</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-exception z-catch z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-try z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-try z-python">try</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-exception z-try z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Try standard format </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-keyword z-control z-flow z-return z-python">return</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">datetime</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">strptime</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">date_str</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-separator z-arguments z-python">,</span> <span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-constant z-other z-placeholder z-python">%Y</span>-<span class="z-constant z-other z-placeholder z-python">%m</span>-<span class="z-constant z-other z-placeholder z-python">%d</span> <span class="z-constant z-other z-placeholder z-python">%H</span>:<span class="z-constant z-other z-placeholder z-python">%M</span>:<span class="z-constant z-other z-placeholder z-python">%S</span><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-catch z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-catch z-python">except</span> <span class="z-support z-type z-exception z-python">ValueError</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-exception z-catch z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-storage z-type z-string z-python">f</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">Could not parse date: </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">date_str</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-keyword z-control z-flow z-return z-python">return</span> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">datetime</span><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">min</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-function z-python"><span class="z-storage z-type z-function z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-declaration z-function z-python">def</span></span> <span class="z-entity z-name z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">cancel_item_via_url_scheme</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-parameters z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-parameters z-begin z-python">(</span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-parameters z-python"><span class="z-variable z-parameter z-python">item_uuid</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-parameters z-end z-python">)</span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-function z-begin z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">auth_token</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span> <span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">THINGS-TOKEN-HERE<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">url</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span> <span class="z-storage z-type z-string z-python">f</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">things:///update-project?auth-token=</span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">auth_token</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">&amp;id=</span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item_uuid</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">&amp;canceled=true<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-try z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-try z-python">try</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-exception z-try z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Use macOS open command to trigger URL scheme </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">result</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">subprocess</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">run</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-sequence z-list z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-sequence z-begin z-python">[</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python">open<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-separator z-sequence z-python">,</span> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">url</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-sequence z-end z-python">]</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-separator z-arguments z-python">,</span> </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"> <span class="z-variable z-parameter z-python">capture_output</span><span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span><span class="z-constant z-language z-python">True</span><span class="z-punctuation z-separator z-arguments z-python">,</span> </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"> <span class="z-variable z-parameter z-python">text</span><span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span><span class="z-constant z-language z-python">True</span><span class="z-punctuation z-separator z-arguments z-python">,</span> </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"> <span class="z-variable z-parameter z-python">timeout</span><span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span><span class="z-constant z-numeric z-integer z-decimal z-python">5</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-conditional z-if z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-conditional z-if z-python">if</span> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">result</span><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">returncode</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-comparison z-python">==</span> <span class="z-constant z-numeric z-integer z-decimal z-python">0</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-conditional z-if z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-storage z-type z-string z-python">f</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">Canceled item with UUID: </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item_uuid</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-conditional z-else z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-conditional z-else z-python">else</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-conditional z-else z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-storage z-type z-string z-python">f</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">Error canceling item </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item_uuid</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">: </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">result</span><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">stderr</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-catch z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-catch z-python">except</span> <span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">subprocess</span>.<span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">CalledProcessError</span> <span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-catch z-as z-python">as</span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-catch z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">e</span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-catch z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-exception z-catch z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-storage z-type z-string z-python">f</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">Subprocess error canceling item </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item_uuid</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">: </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">e</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-catch z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-catch z-python">except</span> <span class="z-support z-type z-exception z-python">Exception</span> <span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-catch z-as z-python">as</span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-catch z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">e</span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-catch z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-exception z-catch z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-storage z-type z-string z-python">f</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">Unexpected error canceling item </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item_uuid</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">: </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">e</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-function z-python"><span class="z-storage z-type z-function z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-declaration z-function z-python">def</span></span> <span class="z-entity z-name z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">check_and_cancel_duplicates</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-parameters z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-parameters z-begin z-python">(</span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-parameters z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-parameters z-end z-python">)</span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-function z-begin z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Get all items from Today </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">today_items</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">get_today_items</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Dictionary to store projects: {project_name: [(item, creation_date)]} </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">project_dict</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">defaultdict</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-support z-type z-python">list</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Print first item to see structure </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-conditional z-if z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-conditional z-if z-python">if</span> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">today_items</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-conditional z-if z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-constant z-character z-escape z-python">\n</span>Example item structure:<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">today_items</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-begin z-python">[</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-constant z-numeric z-integer z-decimal z-python">0</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-end z-python">]</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Collect all projects and their creation dates </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-loop z-for z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-loop z-for z-python">for</span> <span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item</span> <span class="z-keyword z-control z-loop z-for z-in z-python">in</span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-loop z-for z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">today_items</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-loop z-for z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-loop z-for z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Check if item is a project </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-conditional z-if z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-conditional z-if z-python">if</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">get</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python">type<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-comparison z-python">==</span> <span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python">project<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-conditional z-if z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">project_name</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">get</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python">title<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Try different possible date fields </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">creation_date</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">get</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python">creation_date<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-logical z-python">or</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">get</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python">creationDate<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-logical z-python">or</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">get</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python">created<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">parsed_date</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">parse_date</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">creation_date</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">project_dict</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-begin z-python">[</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">project_name</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-end z-python">]</span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">append</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-sequence z-tuple z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-sequence z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-separator z-sequence z-python">,</span> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">parsed_date</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-sequence z-end z-python">)</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Check for duplicates and cancel older ones </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-loop z-for z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-loop z-for z-python">for</span> <span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">project_name</span><span class="z-punctuation z-separator z-target-list z-python">,</span> <span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">items</span> <span class="z-keyword z-control z-loop z-for z-in z-python">in</span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-loop z-for z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">project_dict</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">items</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-loop z-for z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-loop z-for z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-conditional z-if z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-conditional z-if z-python">if</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">len</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">items</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-comparison z-python">&gt;</span> <span class="z-constant z-numeric z-integer z-decimal z-python">1</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-conditional z-if z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Sort by creation date, newest first </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">sorted_items</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">sorted</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">items</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-separator z-arguments z-python">,</span> <span class="z-variable z-parameter z-python">key</span><span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span><span class="z-meta z-function z-inline z-python"><span class="z-storage z-type z-function z-inline z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-declaration z-function z-inline z-python">lambda</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-inline z-python"><span class="z-meta z-function z-inline z-parameters z-python"> <span class="z-variable z-parameter z-python">x</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-function z-begin z-python">:</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function z-inline z-body z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">x</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-begin z-python">[</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-constant z-numeric z-integer z-decimal z-python">1</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-end z-python">]</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-separator z-arguments z-python">,</span> <span class="z-variable z-parameter z-python">reverse</span><span class="z-keyword z-operator z-assignment z-python">=</span><span class="z-constant z-language z-python">True</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-storage z-type z-string z-python">f</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-constant z-character z-escape z-python">\n</span>Found duplicate project: </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">project_name</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-storage z-type z-string z-python">f</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">Keeping newest: Created at </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">sorted_items</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-begin z-python">[</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-constant z-numeric z-integer z-decimal z-python">0</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-end z-python">]</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-begin z-python">[</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-constant z-numeric z-integer z-decimal z-python">1</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-end z-python">]</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-comment z-line z-number-sign z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-comment z-python">#</span> Cancel all but the newest </span></span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-loop z-for z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-loop z-for z-python">for</span> <span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item</span><span class="z-punctuation z-separator z-target-list z-python">,</span> <span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">date</span> <span class="z-keyword z-control z-loop z-for z-in z-python">in</span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-loop z-for z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">sorted_items</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-begin z-python">[</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-constant z-numeric z-integer z-decimal z-python">1</span><span class="z-punctuation z-separator z-slice z-python">:</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-end z-python">]</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-loop z-for z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-loop z-for z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-storage z-type z-string z-python">f</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">Canceling duplicate from: </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">date</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">cancel_item_via_url_scheme</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">item</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-begin z-python">[</span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&#39;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-single z-python">uuid<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&#39;</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-item-access z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-brackets z-end z-python">]</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> </span><span class="z-source z-python"><span class="z-meta z-statement z-conditional z-if z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-conditional z-if z-python">if</span> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-support z-variable z-magic z-python">__name__</span></span> <span class="z-keyword z-operator z-comparison z-python">==</span> <span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">__main__<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-conditional z-if z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-try z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-try z-python">try</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-exception z-try z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">check_and_cancel_duplicates</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-constant z-character z-escape z-python">\n</span>Duplicate check completed successfully<span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-catch z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-catch z-python">except</span> <span class="z-support z-type z-exception z-python">Exception</span> <span class="z-keyword z-control z-exception z-catch z-as z-python">as</span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-catch z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">e</span></span><span class="z-meta z-statement z-exception z-catch z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-block z-exception z-catch z-python">:</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-function z-builtin z-python">print</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-storage z-type z-string z-python">f</span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-begin z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-string z-interpolated z-python"><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python">An error occurred: </span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-begin z-python">{</span><span class="z-source z-python z-embedded"><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-support z-type z-python">str</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">e</span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-interpolation z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-interpolation z-end z-python">}</span></span><span class="z-string z-quoted z-double z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-definition z-string z-end z-python">&quot;</span></span></span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-statement z-import z-python"><span class="z-keyword z-control z-import z-python">import</span> <span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">traceback</span></span></span> </span><span class="z-source z-python"> <span class="z-meta z-function-call z-python"><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">traceback</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-accessor z-dot z-python">.</span></span><span class="z-meta z-qualified-name z-python"><span class="z-variable z-function z-python"><span class="z-meta z-generic-name z-python">print_exc</span></span></span></span><span class="z-meta z-function-call z-arguments z-python"><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-begin z-python">(</span><span class="z-punctuation z-section z-arguments z-end z-python">)</span></span> </span></code></pre> <p>This code will use the Things Python API library to get all the projects from your <code>Today</code> view, and iterate through them to figure out if there are duplicates (based on the name). If there are duplicates, it will figure out which one’s the newest, and create a list of all the others. Then, since the library is read only, it will use <a class="external" rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://culturedcode.com/things/support/articles/2803573/">Things official URL scheme</a> to cancel the old duplicates.</p> <p>You can run the script using: <code>python3 cancel-duplicates.py</code></p> <p>Finally, let’s make sure that the command to run the script is automatically running as well. To automate it, I’ve created a <a class="external" rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/">Keyboard Maestro</a> action that triggers every time I wake my laptop.</p> <p><img src="/cron-cancel-duplicates-things3.png" alt="Cronjob to trigger on wake, using Keyboard Maestro" /></p> <p>This process would literally only save me a handful of seconds in time. But <a class="external" rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://xkcd.com/1205/">according to XKCD</a> I could still get a return on time invested within 5 years or so.</p> <p>But friction is not only measured in time, it’s also measured in emotion. And being reminded by the stuff you didn’t finish, is bad for your confidence. Which will lead to procrastination, and decreased productivity. So from that perspective, I feel like it’s definitely been worth it.</p> <p>Did you ever automate anything to save you seconds?</p> <footer class="footnotes"> <ol class="footnotes-list"> <li id="fn-1"> <p>The app’s name is “Things” but that’s kind of an annoying thing to say, as it’s also just a word that you would use frequently in this context, so I’ll refer to it as “Things3” from now on. <a href="#fr-1-1">↩</a></p> </li> <li id="fn-2"> <p>Or at least I couldn’t figure it out. I could only hard code the comparison. It might exist, but I didn’t want to waste too much time on being annoyed with Shortcuts. I tend to move away from Shortcuts quite quickly as I don’t really like using it. <a href="#fr-2-1">↩</a></p> </li> <li id="fn-3"> <p>Nowhere near perfect. But I understand enough Python to be able to fill in the gaps, and prompt for whatever needs to be our next steps. <a href="#fr-3-1">↩</a></p> </li> </ol> </footer> I *could* easily just select it, and `CMD(⌘) + Option(⌥) + .` to mark it as cancelled. But being reminded of the past failures is not a great feeling. Thus, let's automate it.