Things Python API

things.py is a simple Python 3 library to read data from your Things app.

Table of Contents

• Install
• Examples
• Documentation
• Background
• Things URL Scheme
• Used By

Install

$ pip3 install things.py
# or
$ git clone https://github.com/thingsapi/things.py && cd things.py && make install

Examples

>>> import things
>>> things.todos()
[{'uuid': '2Ukg8I2nLukhyEM7wYiBeb',
  'type': 'to-do',
  'title': 'Make reservation for dinner',
  'project': 'bNj6TPdKYhY6fScvXWVRDX',
  ...},
 {'uuid': 'RLZroza3jz0XPs3uAlynS7',
  'type': 'to-do',
  'title': 'Buy a whiteboard and accessories',
  'project': 'w8oSP1HjWstPin8RMaJOtB',
  'notes': "Something around 4' x 3' that's free-standing, two-sided, and magnetic.",
  'checklist': True,
  ...
>>> things.todos('RLZroza3jz0XPs3uAlynS7')
{'uuid': 'RLZroza3jz0XPs3uAlynS7',
 'type': 'to-do',
 'title': 'Buy a whiteboard and accessories',
 ...
 'checklist': [
     {'title': 'Cleaning Spray', 'status': 'completed', ...},
     {'title': 'Magnetic Eraser', 'status': 'incomplete', ...},
     {'title': 'Round magnets', 'status': 'incomplete', ...}
 ]
 ...
}

>>> things.projects()
[{'uuid': 'bNj6TPdKYhY6fScvXWVRDX',
  'type': 'project',
  'title': 'Throw Birthday Party',
  'area': 'bNj6TPdKYhY6fScvXWVRDX',
  ...},
 {'uuid': 'w8oSP1HjWstPin8RMaJOtB',
  'type': 'project',
  'title': 'Set Up Home Office',
  'area': 'Gw9QefIdgR6nPEoY5hBNSh',
  ...

>>> things.areas()
[{'uuid': 'ToLxnnBrWkfHC3tkx4vxdV',
  'type': 'area',
  'title': 'Family',
  ...},
 {'uuid': 'Gw9QefIdgR6nPEoY5hBNSh',
  'type': 'area',
  'title': 'Apartment',
  ...

>>> things.tags()
[{'uuid': 'CKILg3kKF2jlCRisNFcqOj',
  'type': 'tag',
  'title': 'Home',
  'shortcut': None},
 {'uuid': 'gfmpz8zxnyfqMDvRi3E8vo',
  'type': 'tag',
  'title': 'Office',
  'shortcut': None},
 ...

>>> things.get('CKILg3kKF2jlCRisNFcqOj')
{'uuid': 'CKILg3kKF2jlCRisNFcqOj',
  'type': 'tag',
  'title': 'Home',
  'shortcut': None}

Background

The task management app Things stores all your to-dos in a SQLite database file (details here). This format is intended to be machine-readable, not human-readable. The aim of this project is to let you access all your Things data in a human-readable way. We thereby stay as true to the database as possible while doing SQL joins and transformations to aid understanding of the data. Note that you can print the SQL used by adding the parameter print_sql=True to most API calls.

If any aspect of the API seems overly complex or doesn't meet your needs, please don't hesitate to add a new issue here.

Terminology

Here are the core technical terms used involving the database:

• area
• tag
• task
  • type
    • 'to-do': can have checklists;
    • 'project': can have to-dos and headings;
    • 'heading': part of a project; groups to-dos.
  • status: 'incomplete', 'canceled', or 'completed'
  • trashed: True or False
  • start: 'Inbox', 'Anytime', or 'Someday'
• checklist item (contained within a to-do)

Documentation

The full documentation for this library can be found here: https://thingsapi.github.io/things.py/things/api.html

Things URL Scheme

You can make good use of the uuid to link to to-dos, areas, tags, and more from other apps. Also updates are possible. Read an introduction here and see the documentation here.

Used By

The following open-source projects make use of this library:

• KanbanView
• Things CLI
• Things to CSV
• things-3-report
• things-to-org
• Things3 to Markdown
• Things3 to Notion
• ThingsStats
• ThingsReview