I tried the sequel to Task Manager and it has too many special effects
Dave Plummer, the former Microsoft engineer who created the original Task Manager in 1995, has released Task Manager OG, a new cross-platform version that runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac. The project marks the first major update to the legendary system utility in over three decades.
Plummer leveraged modern development tools in creating the sequel, including Claude AI to help with the implementation. He developed a comprehensive 107-page specification before beginning work on the application. The development process was notably unconventional—Plummer partially wrote the code informally (“vibe-coded”) while his child was undergoing medical treatment. By the time his son was discharged from the hospital, Plummer had a working prototype ready for testing, demonstrating rapid iteration on the project.
Task Manager OG represents Plummer’s return to active software development after transitioning to content creation on YouTube, where he has built an audience discussing his work on the original Task Manager. The cross-platform availability of OG significantly expands the utility’s reach beyond its original Windows-exclusive user base, introducing this essential system tool to Mac and Linux users who previously lacked an equivalent.