Things 3
Rust library and CLI for Things 3 integration with integrated MCP server
What is Things 3?
Things 3 is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to rust library and cli for things 3 integration with integrated mcp server
Rust library and CLI for Things 3 integration with integrated MCP server
This server falls under the Business Applications category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Rust library and CLI for Things 3 integration with integrate
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx rust-things3Configuration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Things 3
rust-things3 is a Rust library and CLI that integrates with the Things 3 task manager on macOS, exposing a built-in MCP server with 46 tools for reading and writing tasks, projects, areas, and more. AI agents can query your inbox, create tasks, move items between projects, track productivity metrics, and perform bulk operations — all without leaving the chat interface.
Prerequisites
- macOS with Things 3 installed (required for write/mutation operations)
- Rust 1.70 or newer (for cargo installation) or Homebrew
- An MCP-compatible AI client such as Claude Desktop or Claude Code
- Things 3 must be open for write operations (read-only works without the app running)
Install via Cargo
Install the things3-cli binary with the mcp-server feature enabled using cargo. This compiles the Rust binary and places it in ~/.cargo/bin.
cargo install things3-cli --features mcp-serverInstall via Homebrew (alternative)
If you prefer Homebrew on macOS, tap the GarthDB tap and install the CLI. This is the easiest path if you don't have Rust installed.
brew tap GarthDB/rust-things3
brew install things3-cliVerify the installation and test basic commands
Confirm the binary is working by querying your Things 3 inbox and today's tasks from the command line.
things3 inbox --limit 5
things3 today
things3 projectsStart the MCP server
Launch the built-in MCP server manually to verify it starts correctly before registering it with an AI client.
things3 mcpAdd to your MCP client config
Register the MCP server with your AI client. The server communicates over stdio using the things3 mcp subcommand.
Things 3 Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration that starts the rust-things3 MCP server using the installed things3 binary.
{
"mcpServers": {
"things3": {
"command": "things3",
"args": ["mcp"],
"env": {
"THINGS_DB_PATH": "",
"RUST_LOG": "warn"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Use these prompts to manage your Things 3 tasks through the AI agent.
- "Show me everything in my Things 3 inbox"
- "What tasks are due today in Things 3?"
- "Create a new task 'Review Q3 report' in my Work project with a due date of Friday"
- "Search my Things 3 tasks for anything related to 'budget'"
- "Complete all tasks tagged 'waiting' and show me my productivity metrics for this week"Troubleshooting Things 3
Write operations fail or return permission errors
Write mutations (create_task, complete_task, etc.) require Things 3 to be open and running. Open the Things 3 app and retry. Read-only operations like get_inbox and search_tasks work without the app.
things3 command not found after cargo install
Ensure ~/.cargo/bin is in your PATH. Add export PATH="$HOME/.cargo/bin:$PATH" to your ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc and restart the terminal. Then restart the MCP client so it picks up the updated PATH.
MCP tools not visible after upgrading the binary
After running cargo install again to upgrade, you must restart the MCP server process. In Claude Desktop, quit and reopen the app. In Claude Code, run /mcp restart or restart the server from settings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Things 3
What is Things 3?
Things 3 is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that rust library and cli for things 3 integration with integrated mcp server It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Things 3?
Follow the installation instructions on the Things 3 GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Things 3?
Things 3 works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Things 3 free to use?
Yes, Things 3 is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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