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Things Mac

Manage Things 3 via the `things` CLI on macOS (add/update projects+todos via URL scheme; read/search/list from the local Things database). Use when a user asks Clawdbot to add a ta…

Peter Steinberger

@steipete

What This Skill Does

Command-line interface for Things 3 on macOS that reads the local database (inbox, today, upcoming, projects, areas, tags) and adds/updates todos via the Things URL scheme. Requires the `things` binary and optional Full Disk Access for database reads.

Replaces manually opening Things 3 to add or check tasks by providing a scriptable CLI that can read and write to the app's database and URL scheme.

When to Use It

  • Add a new task to Things from a shell script or automation
  • List today's tasks or upcoming items without opening the app
  • Search for existing tasks by keyword or project
  • Update a task's title, notes, tags, or completion status
  • Inspect all projects, areas, or tags in the Things database

Install

$ openclaw skills install @steipete/things-mac

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; Clawdbot.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.

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