Things Mac
- 3.1k installs
- 385k repo stars
- Updated August 3, 2026
- steipete/clawdis
things-mac uses things3-cli on macOS to read and write Things 3 todos via the local database and URL scheme.
About
Things Mac is a macOS-only agent skill for the things3-cli binary that reads and writes Cultured Code Things 3 tasks. Read-only commands query the local Things database for inbox, today, upcoming, search, projects, areas, and tags after granting Full Disk Access to Terminal or OpenClaw.app. Write operations use the Things URL scheme to add todos with notes, schedules, deadlines, projects, headings, tags, and checklist items, or to update titles, notes, lists, tags, and completion state when THINGS_AUTH_TOKEN is set. Dry-run mode previews URLs without opening Things. The skill documents install via go install on Apple Silicon, optional THINGSDB overrides, STDIN multi-line title and notes input, and that delete or trash is not supported so completion or cancel is the workaround. It targets agents helping users capture tasks, search existing items, and modify todos from chat without leaving the CLI workflow.
- macOS-only things3-cli for inbox, today, search, projects, areas, and tags reads.
- Write ops via Things URL scheme with --dry-run preview before opening the app.
- Add supports notes, when, deadline, project, heading, tags, and checklist items.
- Update requires UUID from search plus THINGS_AUTH_TOKEN or --auth-token flag.
- Delete is unsupported; use --completed or --canceled via things update instead.
Things Mac by the numbers
- 3,086 all-time installs (skills.sh)
- +163 installs in the week ending Aug 2, 2026 (Skillselion tracking)
- Ranked #177 of 3,280 Productivity & Planning skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
- Security screen: MEDIUM risk (skills.sh audit)
- Data as of Aug 3, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
things-mac capabilities & compatibility
- Capabilities
- local things database read for inbox and today · search across todos with limit flags · url scheme add with schedule and project routing · authenticated update for title, notes, tags, and · dry run url preview without opening things · stdin multi line title and notes ingestion
- Use cases
- planning · project management
- Platforms
- macOS
What things-mac says it does
Add, update, list, search, or inspect Things 3 todos, inbox, today, projects, areas, and tags on macOS.
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| Installs | 3.1k |
|---|---|
| repo stars | ★ 385k |
| Security audit | 2 / 3 scanners passed |
| Last updated | August 3, 2026 |
| Repository | steipete/clawdis ↗ |
How do I let an agent list, add, or update Things 3 tasks from the command line on macOS?
Add, update, list, and search Things 3 todos on macOS using the things3-cli binary against the local database and URL scheme.
Who is it for?
macOS users of Things 3 who want CLI and agent-driven task capture without manual app navigation.
Skip if: Skip on Linux or Windows; Things 3 and things3-cli are macOS-only.
When should I use this skill?
User asks to add, update, list, or search Things 3 todos, inbox, today, projects, areas, or tags on Mac.
What you get
Things inbox, today, and project tasks queried or updated with documented CLI and auth-token flows.
- Added or updated Things todos
- Search and list results from local DB
- Dry-run URL previews
By the numbers
- Requires the things binary from things3-cli installed via Go
- Targets darwin-only hosts per openclaw os metadata
Files
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.appfor gateway runs). - Optional: set
THINGSDB(or pass--db) to point at yourThingsData-*folder. - Optional: set
THINGS_AUTH_TOKENto avoid passing--auth-tokenfor update ops.
Read-only (DB)
things inbox --limit 50things todaythings upcomingthings 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 lineNotes line 1Notes line 2EOF
Examples: modify a todo (needs auth token)
- First: get the ID (UUID column):
things search "milk" --limit 5 - Auth: set
THINGS_AUTH_TOKENor 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-cliright now (no "delete/move-to-trash" write command;things trashis read-only listing). - Options: use Things UI to delete/trash, or mark as
--completed/--canceledviathings update.
Notes
- macOS-only.
--dry-runprints the URL and does not open Things.
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Things Mac has 2 known copies in the catalog totaling 7 installs. They canonicalize to this original listing.
How it compares
Choose things-mac over generic todo APIs when the developer already stores tasks in Things 3 and needs direct local-database access on macOS.
FAQ
Who is things-mac for?
macOS developers and operators using Things 3 who want things3-cli automation from an agent.
Why do database reads fail?
Grant Full Disk Access to Terminal or OpenClaw.app so things3-cli can read the Things database.
Can things-mac delete todos?
No. Mark tasks --completed or --canceled with things update; trash delete is not supported.
Is Things Mac safe to install?
skills.sh reports 2 of 3 security scanners passed. Review the Security Audits panel on this page before installing in production.