[gnome-love] task-based mgmt?

[Michael <mogmios gmail com>]

I was thinking of working on a panel applet/program that offers
task-based mgmt of files, processes, and virtual desktops. I want the
applet to fill the role of the default panel menus, task manager, and
virtual desktop manager. It should create a tabs-type interface for
working with task groups that have been defined. Each task group should
allow documents and programs to be assigned to it. Each tab should have
it's own virtual desktop under which program windows related to the
task will exist. The tab itself will be in two parts. The tab itself
will open the vdesktop exactly as it was last open. A dropdown menu
attached to the tab's icon will offer a quick jump between open windows
for the task, task documents, and task programs, and a task manager
app. Optional for each task's vdesktop would be a second panel bar with
an applet that allowed tabbing between the open windows on that
desktop. Ideally this bar should optionally collapse when not in use.
The task manager program should take the place of the desktop and
provide easy access to the documents and files associated with the task
as well as the means to configure these and configure tasks in general.

Has such a project already been done? As a programmer I often have
several tasks going on at once and as many as dozens of open programs
and windows. I find management via a conventional desktop to be
wasteful and that in general I end up making a adhoc version of the
above described system out of existing components anyway so possibly
it'd be a useful interface. It seems it might simplify use for non-geek
users too as they could work on tasks instead of at using programs.
Open the email task and be presented with available email programs,
click on browsing and be presented with available browsers, a task for
photo editing, a task for word processing, etc. For the users I deal
with that is more the way they approach problems than with
Windows/Mac-style menus.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for starting such a project?
I'm a programmer but I've never written an app such as this. I know
C/C++ but usually use Python. Is that an option here?

Thanks.

--
http://kavlon.org/