Planificator

Planificator is a term used in several languages to denote a person or tool that creates plans, schedules, or arrangements. It may refer to a physical or digital calendar, a project planning document, a production scheduler, or a professional responsible for coordinating tasks and resources.

In computing, a planificator (often called a scheduler) is a software component that determines the order and timing of task execution. It allocates CPU time and other resources to processes, aiming to optimize throughput, latency, and fairness. Common examples include operating system schedulers and job schedulers in batch processing systems.

In project management and operations, planificators develop schedules, coordinate dependencies, assign resources, and monitor progress. They use methods such as Gantt charts, critical path analysis, and resource leveling to ensure plans align with constraints and goals.

In personal productivity, planificator tools or planners help individuals organize daily tasks, appointments, and to-do lists. They may be analog (paper planners) or digital (calendar apps, task managers), often providing reminders and progress tracking.

Etymology: The word derives from plan + -ificator or -ator, indicating an agent that makes plans. The form planificator appears in several Romance and other languages; cognates include planificador in Spanish and similar spellings in Romanian and other languages. In English, equivalents include planner or scheduler.