Things MCP is an open-source server that connects Claude to Things, the Mac task manager. Once it's installed, Claude can see what's on your to-do list and change it the same way you would in the app — which opens up a more conversational way of working with your tasks.
I built it on a lark in early 2025, mostly to understand how MCP servers worked. The Model Context Protocol had just been published, and wiring Claude up to my favorite task manager seemed like the most useful way to kick the tires. I finished it, wrote it up, and figured I was done.
Then people started using it. I almost deleted the repo when I first noticed — it felt odd to have something out there I wasn't really tending. But (also on a bit of a lark!) I decided to lean in and commit to supporting it, which turned out to be one of the more rewarding turns this project has taken. I've merged PRs from generous contributors who added features I hadn't thought of, like checklists and headings; shipped a one-click installer via Desktop Extensions; and learned firsthand what people mean when they talk about open-source communities.
The funny thing is that the obvious use case — "chatting" with my tasks — was a letdown. If anything it nudged me toward over-planning instead of just doing the work. What actually clicked was using Claude Code to keep Things and Obsidian in sync, and pairing the server with Skills that capture how I like to plan my day and run a weekly review.
It also taught me something about interfaces. Things has one of the best UIs I've ever used — it fades into the background and just lets you work. An LLM is slower and wants to turn today's three tasks into a short novel. The two are in tension, and I don't think it fully resolves yet. A clean UI still earns its keep.
Things MCP is on GitHub if you're a Things user and want to try it.