things-mac

Read and update Things 3 todos via the macOS Things CLI.

Updated May 8, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/freire19/Mythos --skill things-mac-freire19
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: things-mac
Source: https://github.com/freire19/Mythos/tree/main/skills/things-mac
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/freire19/Mythos --skill things-mac-freire19

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill removes the friction of manually creating and organizing Things 3 tasks by giving you a reliable terminal workflow for reading, searching, and updating your local Things database.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Read your local database: List inbox, today, upcoming, and browse projects, areas, and tags without opening the app.
  • Add and update todos safely: Create new tasks and update existing ones using Things URL scheme, including notes, deadlines, projects/areas, headings, tags, and completion/cancellation.
  • Use preview for safer writes: Run updates in dry-run mode to show the URL before opening Things.
  • Useful scenarios: Add a follow-up after triaging a ticket, bulk-review your day, or find tasks by keyword to quickly refine titles/notes.

Quick Start

Ask the agent to add a todo to Things today by running: things add "Buy milk" --when today --notes "2% + bananas".

Frequently Asked Questions about things-mac

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I manage Things 3 tasks from the terminal?

You can add and update Things 3 todos via the terminal using the Things URL scheme and local database access. The CLI supports creating tasks with deadlines, notes, tags, and project assignments, plus dry-run previews for safer writes.

Can I bulk search and update todo items in Things 3 using a CLI?

Yes, you can search your Things 3 inbox by keyword and update existing todos via the macOS CLI. Update operations modify titles, notes, tags, and completion status using the Things URL scheme with an authentication token.

Do I need an auth token to update Things 3 tasks from macOS?

Yes, updating Things 3 tasks requires a THINGS_AUTH_TOKEN or an --auth-token flag. Reading tasks from the local database does not require a token, only the things binary and optionally specifying the database location via THINGSDB or --db.

How does the dry-run mode work for Things 3 todo updates?

Dry-run mode provides safer writes by displaying the generated Things URL scheme command before opening the app. This allows you to preview todo updates, including notes and deadlines, before committing changes to your database.

What's the best way to automate project organization in Things 3 without manual app interaction?

Automating Things 3 project organization is best handled through terminal commands that interface with the Things URL scheme. This allows you to script task creation, assign items to projects and areas, and apply tags directly.

Why are my Things 3 task updates not working in the CLI?

Updates fail without a valid THINGS_AUTH_TOKEN or --auth-token provided. Additionally, if the local database is not found, you must specify its path using the THINGSDB environment variable or the --db flag for the things binary to function.