A powerful macOS command-line interface that enables AI agents to read from the local Things 3 database and create or update tasks via URL schemes.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install chen-things-mac
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install chen-things-mac using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is Things 3 CLI for macOS?
The Things 3 CLI skill provides a robust bridge between your AI agent and the popular Cultured Code task manager on macOS. By leveraging this tool within the Openclaw Skills ecosystem, developers can empower AI agents to perform deep introspection of their task lists, searching through areas, projects, and tags directly from the local SQLite database.
Beyond just reading data, this skill enables programmatic task creation and modification using the Things URL scheme. It supports complex task structures, including checklists, deadlines, and project assignments, making it an essential component for building automated personal assistants or developer workflows that stay in sync with your actual to-do list.
Things 3 CLI for macOS Use Cases
- Automating task creation based on meeting notes or email summaries.
- Querying your upcoming schedule and inbox to help the AI prioritize your day.
- Batch updating project tags or moving tasks between areas programmatically.
- Creating complex project templates with predefined headings and checklists via CLI scripts.
How Things 3 CLI for macOS Works
- The AI agent invokes the
thingsCLI tool to perform read or write operations. - For read operations (e.g.,
list,search), the tool directly queries the local Things 3 SQLite database for instant results. - For write operations (e.g.,
add,update), the tool generates a specialized Things URL scheme. - The system executes the URL scheme to interact with the Things 3 macOS application.
- The AI processes the output to confirm task updates or provide the user with requested information.
Things 3 CLI for macOS Setup
To install the core dependency for this Openclaw Skills integration, ensure you have Go installed on your macOS machine and run:
# Recommended installation for Apple Silicon
GOBIN=/opt/homebrew/bin go install github.com/ossianhempel/things3-cli/cmd/things@latest
Permissions: Since the tool reads local application data, you must grant Full Disk Access to your terminal or the Clawdbot application in System Settings > Privacy & Security.
Environment Variables:
THINGS_AUTH_TOKEN: Set this to enable update operations without passing the token manually.THINGSDB: Optionally set this to point to a specific ThingsData folder if using a non-standard path.
Things 3 CLI for macOS Data Schema & Taxonomy
The skill interacts with the Things 3 ecosystem through two primary interfaces:
| Interface | Method | Data Handled |
|---|---|---|
| Local Database | SQLite Read | Inbox, Today, Upcoming, Projects, Areas, Tags, and Search queries. |
| URL Scheme | App Command | Task creation, Title/Notes updates, Checklist items, and Completion status. |
Key Metadata Fields:
UUID: Unique identifier for tasks (required for updates).List/Project: Destination for tasks.Heading: Specific section within a project.Checklist: Array of sub-tasks within a single todo.
Things 3 CLI for macOS Advanced Features
- Multi-line task creation: Support for piping content from STDIN to create tasks with rich notes.
- Dry-run mode: Use the
--dry-runflag to preview generated URL schemes without modifying your database. - Granular Updates: Prepend or append notes to existing tasks instead of overwriting them.
- Foreground Control: Use the
--foregroundflag to automatically bring the Things 3 app to focus after an operation.
SKILL.md
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