# A weekly planner for software engineers

URL: https://gocutline.com/for/software-engineers/

Software engineers use Cutline to protect long coding blocks from meetings: work calendars from Google or Outlook show in the Grid as read-only blocks, focus time is planned in the gaps, and finished hours show where the week really went.

## The engineer's problem
Coding needs long stretches of focus; most calendars are optimised for meetings. One 30-minute call in the middle of the afternoon turns a four-hour block into two blocks too short for hard problems. Paul Graham called this the [maker's schedule](https://gocutline.com/glossary/makers-schedule/).

## A week that protects code
- **Link your work calendar** ([Google](https://gocutline.com/integrations/google-calendar/) or [Outlook](https://gocutline.com/integrations/outlook-calendar/)) so standups and reviews sit in your Grid.
- **Plan deep work in the biggest gap** each day, ideally the morning.
- **Batch reviews** after lunch, when energy dips.
- **Track focus hours** by category: deep coding, reviews, meetings.

See it laid out in the [Software Engineer template](https://gocutline.com/templates/software-engineer-week/).

## What to measure
| Number | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Deep coding hours per week | What ships tracks this |
| Meetings vs focus | When meetings pass focus, something gives |
| Longest uninterrupted block | Hard problems need long blocks |

## Questions

**Can my team see my Cutline blocks?**
Only if you choose: add your Cutline week to your work calendar as a subscribed calendar, or share a Cutline calendar with them.

**Does it work with Jira or GitHub?**
Not directly. Put the ticket or pull request link in a block's notes so it is one click away.

---
Cutline: Cutline is a weekly calendar and planner that turns time blocks into XP, levels and streaks. You plan your week in blocks, tick each one off when it is done, and see your progress on a social feed (the Floor) and a weekly leaderboard (the Arena). Planning and budgeting are free; paid plans add a badge, posting, messaging, shared calendars and lower selling fees, from $9 a month. Pro is free to try for 7 days.
Facts: https://gocutline.com/facts/ · Updated 2026-10-24