How TaskFlow AI Works

A deep dive into the architecture, algorithms, and design principles

System Overview

TaskFlow AI is a full-stack web application that combines intelligent task prioritization with modern web technologies. The system consists of three main components working together seamlessly:

REST API Backend

Node.js + Express server handling all business logic, data management, and priority calculations

Frontend Interface

Modern HTML5, CSS3, and vanilla JavaScript creating a responsive, dark-themed user experience

Priority Algorithm

Intelligent scoring system that analyzes multiple factors to recommend optimal task order

REST API Architecture

What is REST?

REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for building web services. Our API follows REST principles to provide a clean, predictable interface for task management operations.

API Endpoints

The backend exposes 10 RESTful endpoints:

GET /api/tasks → Retrieve all tasks
GET /api/tasks/priority → Get tasks sorted by priority
GET /api/tasks/next → Get AI recommendation
GET /api/tasks/:id → Get specific task
POST /api/tasks → Create new task
PUT /api/tasks/:id → Update task
PATCH /api/tasks/:id/complete → Mark task complete
DELETE /api/tasks/:id → Delete task
GET /api/stats → Get statistics

HTTP Methods

  • GET: Retrieve data without modifying anything
  • POST: Create new resources
  • PUT: Update entire resources
  • PATCH: Partially update resources
  • DELETE: Remove resources

Example API Request:

fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/tasks', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify({
title: "Complete project",
urgency: 9,
importance: 10
})
})

Intelligent Priority Algorithm

TaskFlow uses a weighted scoring algorithm that considers multiple factors to calculate a priority score (0-100) for each task.

Scoring Formula

Priority Score = (Urgency × 0.30) + (Importance × 0.35) +
(Effort × 0.15) + (Deadline × 0.20)

Algorithm Factors

Urgency (30%)

How time-sensitive is this task? Higher urgency increases priority.

Importance (35%)

Strategic value and long-term impact. The highest weighted factor.

Effort (15%)

Lower effort tasks get priority boost - quick wins matter!

Deadline (20%)

Dynamic scoring based on time remaining until deadline.

Deadline Proximity Scoring

  • Overdue: Maximum priority (100%)
  • Due today: 95% priority boost
  • Due tomorrow: 90% priority boost
  • Due in 2-3 days: 70% priority boost
  • Due this week: 40% priority boost
  • Due later: 10% base priority

Dependency Handling: Tasks with incomplete dependencies automatically receive a 70% penalty, ensuring you focus on unblocked work first.

Frontend Design & Architecture

Technology Stack

  • HTML5: Semantic markup with proper accessibility
  • CSS3: Custom dark theme with CSS Grid and Flexbox
  • Vanilla JavaScript: No frameworks - pure, efficient DOM manipulation
  • Fetch API: Modern HTTP requests to backend

Design Principles

  • Full-Page Layout: Utilizes 100% viewport height with no wasted space
  • Dark Theme: Reduces eye strain and provides modern aesthetic
  • Responsive Design: Adapts seamlessly to desktop, tablet, and mobile
  • Real-time Updates: Instant feedback on all user actions
  • Professional Icons: SVG icons for crisp rendering at any scale

CSS Architecture

CSS Variables for Theme Consistency:
--bg-primary: #0a0e27 (Deep navy background)
--accent-primary: #00d9ff (Cyan highlights)
--text-primary: #e8eaed (Light text)

Layout: CSS Grid + Flexbox
Typography: System fonts for performance
Animations: Subtle transitions for polish

Backend Implementation

Node.js + Express

The backend is built with Node.js and Express.js, providing a lightweight, fast, and scalable server. The server handles all business logic, data validation, and priority calculations.

Key Features

  • CORS Support: Enables cross-origin requests for frontend
  • JSON Middleware: Automatic parsing of request bodies
  • In-Memory Storage: Fast data access (easily replaceable with database)
  • Error Handling: Graceful error responses with proper status codes
  • Input Validation: Ensures data integrity

Scalability Considerations

The current implementation uses in-memory storage for simplicity. For production deployment, the system can easily integrate with:

  • PostgreSQL or MySQL for relational data
  • MongoDB for document-based storage
  • Redis for caching and session management
  • Authentication middleware (JWT, OAuth)

Data Flow & Communication

Request-Response Cycle

Understanding how data flows through the system:

1. User Action

User clicks "New Task" button in the frontend interface

2. Frontend Request

JavaScript sends HTTP POST request with task data to API

3. Backend Processing

Server validates data, calculates priority score, stores task

4. Response

API returns created task with status code 201

5. UI Update

Frontend receives response, updates task list, shows notification

6. Stats Refresh

Dashboard statistics automatically update to reflect changes

Asynchronous Operations

All API calls use JavaScript's async/await pattern for clean, non-blocking code. This ensures the interface remains responsive even during network requests.

Potential Enhancements

The current architecture is designed to support future features:

User Authentication

Multi-user support with JWT-based authentication

Database Integration

Persistent storage with PostgreSQL or MongoDB

Machine Learning

Learn from user behavior to improve recommendations

Real-time Collaboration

WebSocket integration for team features

Mobile Apps

Native iOS and Android apps using the same API

Integrations

Connect with Slack, Calendar, Email, and more

Technical Specifications

Performance Characteristics

  • API Response Time: < 5ms for most endpoints (in-memory)
  • Frontend Load Time: < 100ms (no framework overhead)
  • Priority Calculation: O(1) time complexity per task
  • Task List Rendering: Efficient DOM manipulation

Browser Compatibility

Built with modern web standards, compatible with:

  • Chrome/Edge (latest)
  • Firefox (latest)
  • Safari (latest)
  • Mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Chrome Android)

Development Setup

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start API server
npm start

# Start frontend (in separate terminal)
python3 -m http.server 8001

# Access application
http://localhost:8001

Built with modern web technologies by Param Patel