---
name: things-mac-da4619fa719d
description: 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 OpenClaw to add a task to Things, list inbox/today/upcoming, search tasks, or inspect projects/areas/tags.
homepage: https://github.com/ossianhempel/things3-cli
metadata:
  {
    "openclaw":
      {
        "emoji": "✅",
        "os": ["darwin"],
        "requires": { "bins": ["things"] },
        "install":
          [
            {
              "id": "go",
              "kind": "go",
              "module": "github.com/ossianhempel/things3-cli/cmd/things@latest",
              "bins": ["things"],
              "label": "Install things3-cli (go)",
            },
          ],
      },
  }
---

# 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.


---
Source attribution: modbender
Original project: https://github.com/modbender/skill-library-mcp/blob/d9c8fe903b5b4e82237dbe8d0df8567783022e18/data/mh-things-mac/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2025 skill-library-mcp contributors

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: modbender
Original project: https://github.com/modbender/skill-library-mcp/blob/d9c8fe903b5b4e82237dbe8d0df8567783022e18/data/mh-things-mac/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Operations, Sales
Roles: Customer Success Manager, Operations Manager, Sales Development Rep (SDR)
Specialties: API
Tools: Things
Country applicability: United States
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: fb7bde6a2116828ad5de53c7ce860a231e771d5197e8ef7dccb75cdbff728c08