Quick Start Guide

First Time Setup

When you first launch Step-By-Step To Done, you’ll be greeted with three options:

1. Start Fresh - Begin with a completely empty workspace
2. Use Sample Data - Load example projects and tasks to explore the app.
3. Import from Backup - Restore your data from a previously exported JSON file

Recommendation: If you’re brand new, try Use Sample Data first. It gives you a feel for how contexts, trail maps, tasks, and collections work together before you start building your own system.

The Main Dashboard

After setup, you’ll land on the Dashboard - your command center. Here’s what you’ll see:

• Active Next Steps - The immediate actions you need to take
• Tasks - Standalone to-do items not attached to projects
• Collections - Quick access to your lists (like reading lists)
• Waiting On - Items blocked by external dependencies
• Upcoming Projects - Projects scheduled for the future. These are projects that you actually plan to do next, as opposed to “Backburner” projects which are not yet scheduled.

The Dashboard is designed so that you can glance at it and immediately know what to work on next. No digging through menus, no decision fatigue—just your next steps, front and center.

Your First Actions

1. Create a Context - In the Management section of the sidebar, click “Contexts.” In the Context manager, click the + button to create “contexts” like “Work,” “Personal,” or “Side Projects.” You can create sub-contexts by clicking the + button next to an existing context.
2. Add a Task - Click the + button in the Tasks column to add a quick to-do
3. Create a Trail Map (Project) - Click the + button in any context to create a new project with AI assistance