Creator of the first Windows Task Manager wrote a new version using AI – the specification took 107 pages

Dave W. Plummer, the Microsoft engineer behind the original Windows Task Manager, has released a new version of his utility called TMOG (Task Manager OG).

The app runs not just on Windows 11 but also on macOS and Linux. The code came together with AI help – Plummer wrote a 107-page spec and fed it to Claude Code.

Plummer built the first Task Manager back in the nineties, with the utility making its public debut in Windows NT 4.0 in 1996. The original version was only 80KB so it could run smoothly on computers of that era. This latest project shows just how much software development has changed over the past three decades.

The circumstances behind TMOG weren't exactly pleasant. Plummer's son was hospitalized with appendicitis, and while waiting around, Plummer decided to pass the time coding. He had a new MacBook Air with an M5 chip on hand.

Plummer originally planned to try vibe coding a new version of Microsoft Word, but ended up going with a project he knew inside and out instead. By the time his son was discharged after the first procedure, a rough version of the app was already working. Internal bleeding led to a second hospital stay, giving Plummer extra time to keep refining things.

The first versions of TMOG were generated on the portable M5 in about four and a half hours. They worked the first time, Plummer says, and fine-tuning began from there.

Among the features Plummer points to is an interface that updates at 60 Hz instead of the usual once per second. TMOG also packs plenty of visual customization options and several retro-style presets, including a neon look.

Judging by the social media discussion following the announcement, the app still has a few rough edges typical of vibe-coded software. Plummer has been actively responding to user comments, and many people are praising the beta responsiveness and functionality.

Some people have reacted skeptically, pointing to potential vulnerabilities in AI-generated code, since checking all of it thoroughly is nearly impossible.

As of this writing, TMOG beta 0.1.1 is available on all supported platforms – Windows PC, macOS, and Linux. You can download it from the project official site at tmog.org. Install at your own risk.