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: 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.
• 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
• With tags: things add "Call dentist" --tags "health,phone"
• Checklist: things add "Trip prep" --checklist-item "Passport" --checklist-item "Tickets"

Modify (needs auth token)

• Get ID: things search "milk" --limit 5
• Title: things update --id <UUID> --auth-token <TOKEN> "New title"
• Complete: things update --id <UUID> --auth-token <TOKEN> --completed

Notes

• macOS-only.
• --dry-run prints the URL and does not open Things.