The 3-step build
- Sign up fresh through my link above — new Manus accounts start with 1,000 credits, plus 300 free daily credits for tweaks. That covers a solid build pass of this app.
- Start a new task with a reference screenshot — GitHub's contribution graph or a screenshot of my app both work. Manus reads the image for design inspiration.
- Upload your syllabi and paste the prompt — PDFs straight from your course pages. Manus extracts the assignments, exams, readings, and deadlines, shows you a review, then builds and deploys the app to a live link you can open on your phone.
The universal prompt
This is the distilled version of the exact spec I used — fill the [BRACKETS] and it becomes any tracker:
THE UNIVERSAL GRID PROMPTBuild a polished, fully functional web app called [NAME] — a GitHub-style consistency tracker for [YOUR GOAL: college / a startup launch / a fitness plan].
DESIGN: I've attached a GitHub contribution graph as a reference. Recreate its structure as a real interactive component — small square cells, seven weekday rows, week columns, month labels, a Less→More legend — but give it an original identity: warm off-white background, white cards, charcoal text, green accents. Five intensity levels, neutral to deep green.
DATA: I've uploaded [my syllabi / my project plan]. Extract every task, deadline, and milestone into one dashboard, grouped into collections ([classes / projects / applications]). Show an editable review before saving; keep stated dates exact and never invent deadlines.
DASHBOARD: open on a big annual grid (last 12 months) with totals for activities, active days, and this week — then "Due this week" and collection cards with mini-grids. Each collection gets its own page, grid, and task list. Completing a task fills today's square exactly once; reopening removes it; future days never fill. Add a quick "log a session" action.
Make it excellent on a phone — full year visible, no horizontal scrolling — and add a "Share your year" button exporting a clean PNG of the grid and totals, no personal details.
Build end to end with accounts and persistent storage, then deploy to a live URL.
Adapting it: swap the syllabi for a business plan or project roadmap, and make the collections your clients, your habits, or your applications. Same grid, different grind. The checklist types become your reps — outreach sent, workouts done, chapters shipped.
Make it stick
- Add it to your home screen — open your app link on your phone → Share → Add to Home Screen. Friction kills streaks.
- Check off one thing before noon — the first square of the day is the hardest. Reviewed lectures count.
- Screenshot it monthly — a filling grid is proof of work for grad apps, interviews, or just yourself in November.
- Set it to private — published Manus apps default to public. A dashboard with your real deadlines and applications should be private, or keep identifying info out.
Bonus for students: Manus also runs a Campus program at manus.im/edu — verify with your school email and you can earn extra credits for classmates who join through you. Free way to keep building after the first 1,000.
Keeping it honest: the credits link is my partner link from the video — new users start with 1,000 credits either way, and this build uses a good chunk of them; bigger builds run on Manus's plans. Everything verified against Manus's live pages on October 1, 2026.