SUUR Things: The Open-Source Companion for Things 3

Overview

SUUR Things is a free, open-source application for Mac that works alongside Cultured Code's Things 3. It acts as a companion tool rather than a replacement, reading your existing Things 3 database and providing advanced views and AI integration capabilities that Things 3 lacks. The project is built on the MIT license, operates entirely locally with no cloud storage or accounts, and ensures your data never leaves your Mac.

Benefits

SUUR Things offers several key advantages for users who want more power from their to-do list without changing their main app. The primary benefit is data safety. The developers designed the tool so that an agent cannot corrupt your database. The local SQLite database is opened strictly in read-only mode. All changes are performed exclusively through the official Things URL scheme. Features like Boards, Priorities, and Time-blocks live in a local overlay file. Deleting this overlay restores Things to its original state without affecting the core database.

Another major benefit is AI integration. SUUR Things connects with AI agents through the Model Context Protocol. This allows agents to read your to-do lists, search for tasks, and even create new items based on natural language commands. For example, an agent can parse a command like "add: pick up race bib friday 4pm" directly into your Things database. It can also review your Inbox, suggesting titles and tags before tasks are written. Users can link a Things project to a Git repository to automatically resolve open tasks.

The tool also provides a powerful local dashboard. This web-based interface mirrors the look of Things but adds powerful views. Users can use an Eisenhower Matrix to drag and drop tasks into quadrants for Do First, Schedule, Delegate, and Don't Do. They can map tags to priority levels and use a timeline view for time-blocking. A Portfolio Board shows projects as cards with progress rings, and linked Git repositories display a pulse showing recent commits. A Calm Today mode reduces an overloaded list to a single next action.

Use Cases

SUUR Things is designed for people who already use Things 3 for Mac but need more advanced project management features. It is ideal for users who want to integrate AI into their workflow without switching apps. Developers can use the tool to grep for TODO comments in their code and batch-create to-dos with file references. Project managers can use the Portfolio Board to see the state of a startup or life area on one screen.

The tool is also great for users who want better organization without cluttering their main app. The Eisenhower Matrix helps users categorize tasks quickly. The Time-Blocking feature allows users to schedule tasks into 15, 30, or 60-minute blocks. The Watch Later feature converts link-heavy projects into a grid of thumbnails, making it easier to manage content to consume later. The Full-Text Search allows users to search across every list, note, and project with tag chips to filter any view.

Pricing

SUUR Things is completely free. There are no paid tiers or trials. The application is available on PyPI as suur-things-mcp with full source code on GitHub. Installation can be done via uvx suur-things-mcp with zero setup.

Vibes

SUUR Things addresses the gap between a beautifully designed but slowly evolving to-do app and the rapid capabilities of modern AI agents. It is a tool for those who love Things but need the update that Cultured Code has not yet shipped. The community appreciates the focus on data integrity and the ability to add powerful features like Kanban boards and AI-driven triage without risking database corruption or requiring a cloud account.

Additional Information

The tool relies on macOS-specific database access and URL schemes. To use it, you must have Things 3 for Mac installed and running. You also need uv or Python 3.10+ to run the server. Authentication requires an auth token obtained from Things settings. The dashboard binds only to localhost, ensuring no cloud sync occurs within SUUR Things. Changes sync to iPhone and iPad through Things Cloud as usual.