To enable reordering tasks within columns without making server calls and while retaining all your features, you can simplify your frontend code by leveraging a JavaScript library like Sortable.js. This library makes it easy to implement drag-and-drop functionality, allowing you to manage the task order entirely on the client side.

Here's how you can implement this:

1. Include Sortable.js in Your Project
Add Sortable.js to your project by including it in your index.html:


<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/Sortable/1.15.0/Sortable.min.js"></script>
2. Initialize Sortable on Your Columns
Modify your script.js to initialize Sortable on each of your task columns:


function initializeSortable() {
  columnOrder.forEach(columnId => {
    const columnElement = document.getElementById(columnId);

    Sortable.create(columnElement, {
      group: 'columns', // Enable moving items between columns
      animation: 150,
      handle: '.task-card',
      draggable: '.task-card',
      onEnd: function (evt) {
        // You can update your task order in the client-side state here
        // Optionally, save the order to localStorage or send to the server when appropriate
      },
    });
  });
}
3. Adjust Your loadTasks Function
Modify your loadTasks function to set up the tasks and initialize Sortable:


function loadTasks() {
  axios.get('/api/tasks')
    .then(response => {
      const tasks = response.data;

      // Clear columns
      columnOrder.forEach(status => {
        const column = document.getElementById(status);
        column.innerHTML = `
          <div class="column-header">
            <span class="column-title">${column.id.split('-').map(word => word.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + word.slice(1)).join(' ')}</span>
            <span>...</span>
          </div>
        `;
      });

      tasks.forEach(task => {
        const columnElement = document.getElementById(task.status);
        if (!columnElement) return;

        const taskElement = createTaskElement(task);
        columnElement.appendChild(taskElement);
      });

      // Add "Add a card" buttons to columns
      columnOrder.forEach(status => {
        const column = document.getElementById(status);
        const addCard = document.createElement('div');
        addCard.className = 'add-card';
        addCard.textContent = '+ Add a card';
        addCard.onclick = () => addTask(status);
        column.appendChild(addCard);
      });

      // Initialize Sortable
      initializeSortable();
    })
    .catch(error => {
      console.error('Error loading tasks:', error);
    });
}

function createTaskElement(task) {
  const taskElement = document.createElement('div');
  taskElement.className = 'task-card';
  taskElement.dataset.taskId = task.id;

  taskElement.innerHTML = `
    <div class="task-title" contenteditable="true" onblur="updateTaskTitle(${task.id}, this)">${task.title}</div>
    <div class="task-buttons">
      ${getButtonsForTask(task)}
    </div>
  `;
  return taskElement;
}
4. Remove Unnecessary Drag-and-Drop Handlers
Since Sortable.js handles drag-and-drop events, you can remove the custom event handlers (handleDragStart, handleDragOver, etc.) from your script.js.

5. Manage Task Order on the Client Side
When tasks are reordered, you can update the order in a client-side data structure (like an array or object). If you want to persist the order, you can send the updated order to the server when appropriate (e.g., when the user logs out or clicks a "Save" button).


let tasksData = []; // Global variable to store tasks

function initializeSortable() {
  columnOrder.forEach(columnId => {
    const columnElement = document.getElementById(columnId);

    Sortable.create(columnElement, {
      group: 'columns',
      animation: 150,
      handle: '.task-card',
      draggable: '.task-card',
      onEnd: function (evt) {
        const itemEl = evt.item; // dragged HTMLElement
        const fromColumn = evt.from.id;
        const toColumn = evt.to.id;
        const taskId = itemEl.dataset.taskId;

        // Update task's status in tasksData
        const task = tasksData.find(t => t.id == taskId);
        if (task) {
          task.status = toColumn;
        }

        // Optionally, save tasksData to localStorage or send to server
      },
    });
  });
}
6. Retain Features Like Adding and Editing Tasks
Your existing functions for adding and editing tasks can remain largely the same. Since we're managing the task order on the client side, these features will continue to work as expected.

7. Optional: Persist Task Order to the Server
If you eventually want to save the task order, you can batch updates and send them to the server when appropriate:


function saveTaskOrder() {
  // Prepare data to send
  const updatedTasks = tasksData.map(task => ({ id: task.id, status: task.status }));

  axios.put('/api/tasks/order', { tasks: updatedTasks })
    .then(() => {
      console.log('Task order saved.');
    })
    .catch(error => {
      console.error('Error saving task order:', error);
    });
}
8. Update Your Backend API If Needed
If you decide to persist the task order to the server, ensure your backend API can handle the batch update. Modify your /api/tasks/order endpoint in app.py to process the updated task statuses.

By using Sortable.js, you streamline your frontend code, reduce complexity, and improve performance by avoiding unnecessary server calls during drag-and-drop operations. This approach aligns with how Trello and similar applications handle client-side interactions, providing a smoother user experience.

Key Benefits:

Simplified Code: Let Sortable.js handle the complexities of drag-and-drop.
Improved Performance: Reduces server load by handling reordering on the client side.
Enhanced User Experience: Provides immediate visual feedback without waiting for server responses.
Flexibility: Allows you to decide when to persist changes to the server.
Remember: While client-side reordering improves performance and responsiveness, you'll need a strategy to persist changes if users expect their task order to be saved across sessions or devices. You can achieve this by:

Saving to Local Storage: For single-device persistence.
Batch Server Updates: Send updates at intervals or on specific events (e.g., user logs out).
Additional Tips:

Consistent IDs: Ensure your tasks have consistent IDs to track them accurately.
Error Handling: Implement error handling for cases where the server is unavailable when saving.
Feedback to Users: Provide visual cues or notifications when changes are saved or if an error occurs.
By adopting this approach, you'll create a more efficient and user-friendly application while retaining all your existing features. This method allows you to focus on building the core functionality without getting bogged down by intricate drag-and-drop implementations.

How do I install sortable from the above instructions into my local (env/) active conda environment