# Operon system map

Operon is a task and project management system that unifies inline tasks and file-based tasks in the same workflows, with filters, Calendar planning, Kanban boards, recurrence, pinned tasks, and time tracking. It has many parts, but they fall into three simple groups: ways to **make** tasks, ways to **see** them, and ways to **control and automate** them. You will not use all of these. This page tells you what each one is for so you can reach for the right one.

## Ways to make tasks

- **Inline tasks**: a task written on a single line inside any note. The lightest option, good for quick to-dos that live next to your writing. See [Inline tasks](/docs/docs-011-inline-tasks/).
- **File tasks**: a whole note that *is* a task, with its fields in the frontmatter. Use this when a task deserves its own page: notes, subtasks, links, longer context. See [File tasks](/docs/docs-013-file-tasks/).
- **Task Creator**: a guided dialog that builds a task for you so you never have to write the syntax by hand. Run **Create New Operon Task**. See [Task Creator](/docs/docs-020-task-creator/).
- **Task Editor**: opens an existing task to change its fields. Run **Create or edit inline task** on a task. See [Task Editor](/docs/docs-021-task-editor/).

Not sure which kind of task to use? See [Inline vs file tasks](/docs/docs-014-inline-vs-file-tasks/).

## Ways to see tasks

- **Filter View**: filtered, saved lists of tasks from across your vault. Your everyday "what should I work on" surface. Run **Operon Filter View**. See [Filter View](/docs/docs-025-filter-view/).
- **Task Finder**: fast search to jump to a single task when you remember it but not where it is. Run **Task Finder**. See [Task Finder](/docs/docs-027-task-finder/).
- **Calendar**: tasks placed on dates and times, including due markers and recurring tasks. Use it to plan *when*. Run **Operon Calendar**. See [Calendar overview](/docs/docs-028-calendar-overview/).
- **Kanban**: tasks as cards in columns by status, moved through your workflow. Use it to plan *how far along*. Run **Operon Kanban**. See [Kanban overview](/docs/docs-030-kanban-overview/).
- **Table**: tasks as rows and columns, like a spreadsheet, for comparing fields, sorting, grouping, and summarizing them. Add the **Task Tree** column to open parent and subtask context in the rows, or open [Gantt](/docs/docs-139-gantt-view/) beside the Table to plan those rows across time and dependencies. Use it to plan *by comparison and sequence*. Run **Operon Table**. See [Table overview](/docs/docs-105-table-overview/).
- **Canvas Task Cards**: arrange tasks as a project map, gather existing work from the Canvas Task Pool, and set parent–child or blocking relationships on connections. Run **Add task to Canvas** from an editable Canvas. See [Canvas Task Cards](/docs/docs-141-canvas-task-cards/).
- **Embedded Task Cards**: keep one live task beside the text of a note, with its fields, progress, and controls. Use **Copy task card embed** in Task Editor. See [Embedded Task Cards](/docs/docs-142-embedded-task-cards/).
- **Pinned Task Dock**: keeps chosen tasks always in view. It can float over your notes (run **Toggle Pinned Tasks dock**) or live in a side panel (run **Open Pinned Tasks**, or set it to open in the sidebar). See [Pinned Task Dock](/docs/docs-032-pinned-task-dock/).
- **Upcoming Tasks**: automatically groups dated tasks by day in a sidebar and shows a countdown to the next timed task in the status bar. See [Upcoming Tasks](/docs/docs-140-upcoming-tasks/).

Planning a day or week by date? Use the Calendar. Planning by stage of work? Use the Kanban. Comparing fields, task hierarchy, and a longer schedule? Use the Table and its Gantt timeline.

## Ways to control and automate

- **Pipelines and statuses**: the workflow stages a task moves through (for example, the columns you see in Kanban). Set these up once to match how you work. See [Pipelines and statuses](/docs/docs-037-pipelines-and-statuses/).
- **Recurring tasks**: tasks that repeat on a schedule, such as every Monday. See [Recurring tasks](/docs/docs-033-recurring-tasks/).
- **Time tracking**: start and stop a timer on a task with **Start/stop time tracker**, then review sessions in the **Time Session History** panel. For focused work sessions, open the **FlowTime** panel. See [Time tracking](/docs/docs-034-time-tracking/).
- **Command palette**: almost everything above has a command, and many commands are **context-aware**. The same command does different things depending on whether you are on selected text, an empty line, a task, or a view. See [Command palette reference](/docs/docs-022-command-palette-reference/).

## When you are starting out

You only need two things to begin: one **inline task** and one **Filter View**. Add file tasks, Calendar, Kanban, recurrence, and time tracking later, as the work calls for them. The guided path is in [Getting started with Operon](/docs/docs-003-getting-started-with-operon/).

## Related

- [Operon Docs MOC](/docs/docs-001-operon-docs-moc/)
- [Operon core concepts](/docs/docs-005-operon-core-concepts/)