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things-mac

The things-mac skill manages Things 3 tasks on macOS through the `things` CLI tool. It reads from the local Things database to list inbox items, today's tasks, upcoming tasks, and search results across projects, areas, and tags. It also creates and modifies todos via Things' URL scheme, supporting options like due dates, notes, project assignment, tags, and checklists. Use this skill when a user requests adding tasks to Things, querying their task lists, searching for specific items, or updating existing todos with new details.

View source Repository: openagent

Install in Claude Code

Copy

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/the-open-agent/openagent /tmp/things-mac && cp -r /tmp/things-mac/skills/things-mac ~/.claude/skills/things-mac

Then start a new Claude Code session; the skill loads automatically.

Definition

SKILL.md

# Things 3 CLI

Use `things` to read your local Things database (inbox/today/search/projects/areas/tags) and to add/update todos via the Things URL scheme.

Setup

- Install (recommended, Apple Silicon): `GOBIN=/opt/homebrew/bin go install github.com/ossianhempel/things3-cli/cmd/things@latest`
- If DB reads fail: grant **Full Disk Access** to the calling app (Terminal for manual runs; `OpenClaw.app` for gateway runs).
- Optional: set `THINGSDB` (or pass `--db`) to point at your `ThingsData-*` folder.
- Optional: set `THINGS_AUTH_TOKEN` to avoid passing `--auth-token` for update ops.

Read-only (DB)

- `things inbox --limit 50`
- `things today`
- `things upcoming`
- `things search "query"`
- `things projects` / `things areas` / `things tags`

Write (URL scheme)

- Prefer safe preview: `things --dry-run add "Title"`
- Add: `things add "Title" --notes "..." --when today --deadline 2026-01-02`
- Bring Things to front: `things --foreground add "Title"`

Examples: add a todo

- Basic: `things add "Buy milk"`
- With notes: `things add "Buy milk" --notes "2% + bananas"`
- Into a project/area: `things add "Book flights" --list "Travel"`
- Into a project heading: `things add "Pack charger" --list "Travel" --heading "Before"`
- With tags: `things add "Call dentist" --tags "health,phone"`
- Checklist: `things add "Trip prep" --checklist-item "Passport" --checklist-item "Tickets"`
- From STDIN (multi-line => title + notes):
  - `cat <<'EOF' | things add -`
  - `Title line`
  - `Notes line 1`
  - `Notes line 2`
  - `EOF`

Examples: modify a todo (needs auth token)

- First: get the ID (UUID column): `things search "milk" --limit 5`
- Auth: set `THINGS_AUTH_TOKEN` or pass `--auth-token <TOKEN>`
- Title: `things update --id <UUID> --auth-token <TOKEN> "New title"`
- Notes replace: `things update --id <UUID> --auth-token <TOKEN> --notes "New notes"`
- Notes append/prepend: `things update --id <UUID> --auth-token <TOKEN> --append-notes "..."` / `--prepend-notes "..."`
- Move lists: `things update --id <UUID> --auth-token <TOKEN> --list "Travel" --heading "Before"`
- Tags replace/add: `things update --id <UUID> --auth-token <TOKEN> --tags "a,b"` / `things update --id <UUID> --auth-token <TOKEN> --add-tags "a,b"`
- Complete/cancel (soft-delete-ish): `things update --id <UUID> --auth-token <TOKEN> --completed` / `--canceled`
- Safe preview: `things --dry-run update --id <UUID> --auth-token <TOKEN> --completed`

Delete a todo?

- Not supported by `things3-cli` right now (no “delete/move-to-trash” write command; `things trash` is read-only listing).
- Options: use Things UI to delete/trash, or mark as `--completed` / `--canceled` via `things update`.

Notes

- macOS-only.
- `--dry-run` prints the URL and does not open Things.