Act Before Due

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  Landing Page

Inspiration

I move a lot, and I kept running into the same problem- I knew when my lease ended, but not when I needed to give notice, transfer utilities, or handle everything else around a move. The final date was never the real deadline.

I built ActBeforeDue to turn those important dates into simple action plans, so I can stay ahead instead of figuring things out at the last minute.

What it does

ActBeforeDue is a free personal deadline and expiration tracker.

Users choose a template, such as a lease, passport, visa, driver’s license, insurance policy, subscription, warranty, utility service, or custom deadline, then enter a key date and a few planning details.

The app works backward to create an editable action plan. Instead of only showing when something expires, it highlights when to start preparing, the next action to take, and how much time remains.

Users can: -Create plans for important life dates -Review and edit suggested milestones -Track completed actions -See urgent and upcoming plans on one dashboard -Export milestones to Google Calendar or as an .ics calendar file -Export plans to CSV -Download and restore JSON backups -Install the app as a progressive web app on supported browsers

How we built it

Codex did all the work! I'm not a developer :)

ActBeforeDue is a React and TypeScript progressive web application built with Vite.

The experience is intentionally local-first. Plans are stored in the user’s browser with IndexedDB, so no account, sign-in flow, application database, analytics, advertising trackers, or backend are required. This reduces friction and helps users keep control of their personal planning data.

The main technical challenge was creating transparent date planning rules that turn one important date into a practical sequence of earlier milestones. Users can review and edit every milestone before saving it.

Challenges we ran into

The biggest challenge was keeping the product useful without making it complicated or requiring users to share sensitive information.

I had to balance detailed planning templates with simple forms, create rules for different deadline types, and make the calendar export useful without building risky or complex third-party account integrations.

I also chose a local-first design so the app could be tested immediately without login friction or a user database.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

The app feels like a usable product with just a few prompts. It also supports a broad set of real life situations while keeping the product simple, private, and free to use.

What we learned

A deadline tracker is only useful if it helps someone act early enough to make a difference.

The final expiration date is often the least helpful date on its own. The real value comes from showing the preparation steps before it: when to start looking, give notice, compare options, schedule an appointment, return equipment, or confirm a final bill.

I also learned that fewer integrations can create a better first experience. Local storage and standard calendar exports made the app more reliable, private, and easier to test.

What's next for Act Before Due

I would keep the app for free and keep building more solutions.

Built With

• codex
• date-fns
• gpt-5.6
• indexeddb
• typescript
• vercel
• vite
• vitest