Todo.txt MCP Server

The Todo.txt MCP Server bridges the gap between the lightweight, human‑readable todo.txt format and AI assistants such as Claude Desktop. By exposing a rich set of Model Context Protocol (MCP) tools, the server lets developers and power users manage their tasks through natural language while preserving the portability and simplicity that make todo.txt popular among command‑line enthusiasts.

What Problem Does It Solve?

Traditional task management often requires either a dedicated GUI or command‑line commands that can be cumbersome for non‑technical users. At the same time, AI assistants are increasingly capable of orchestrating workflows, but they need a concrete interface to read from and write to persistent storage. The Todo.txt MCP Server solves this by providing a lightweight, platform‑agnostic service that translates AI prompts into CRUD operations on a plain text file. Developers can thus integrate task management into any MCP‑compatible workflow without re‑implementing parsing logic or data models.

Core Functionality and Value

The server implements a full suite of todo.txt operations—adding, listing, updating, completing, and deleting tasks—as well as advanced filtering by priority, project tags, or context markers. Each operation is exposed as a distinct MCP tool that can be invoked from an AI conversation, allowing users to ask questions like “Show me all my work‑related todos” or “Mark the grocery shopping task as completed.” Because it works directly with the todo.txt file, the server preserves all metadata (creation dates, completion timestamps, priority letters) and integrates seamlessly with existing todo.sh setups, automatically detecting configuration files in standard locations.

Key Features Explained

• Natural Language Interface: AI agents can interpret user intent and map it to the appropriate MCP tool, eliminating the need for manual command syntax.
• Full CRUD Support: Every aspect of a todo item can be managed—creation, modification, completion, and deletion—through the same conversational channel.
• Smart Filtering: Users can query by text, priority level (A‑Z), project tags (), or context markers (), enabling highly targeted task retrieval.
• Statistics & Insights: A dedicated tool aggregates productivity metrics, giving users quick access to performance dashboards without leaving the chat.
• Automatic Backups & Safety Limits: The server safeguards data by backing up the todo.txt file and enforcing configurable size limits, ensuring that accidental overwrites or large files do not compromise the system.

Real‑World Use Cases

• Personal Productivity: Individuals can manage their daily chores, professional tasks, and long‑term projects all from a single chat interface, keeping the todo.txt file as their source of truth.
• Team Collaboration: Teams that rely on shared todo.txt files can let an AI assistant act as a virtual project manager, assigning tasks, tracking completion, and generating status reports.
• Workflow Automation: Developers can embed the server in larger MCP‑driven pipelines, triggering task updates based on CI/CD events or calendar reminders.
• Legacy System Modernization: Organizations with long‑standing todo.txt habits can adopt AI assistants without abandoning their existing file structure, easing the transition to conversational interfaces.

Unique Advantages

Unlike generic task APIs, this server preserves the human‑readable nature of todo.txt, allowing users to inspect and edit their tasks directly with any text editor. Its tight integration with todo.sh means that seasoned command‑line users can immediately benefit from AI assistance without learning new tooling. Furthermore, because the server operates locally and exposes only the MCP interface, it offers strong privacy guarantees—no task data leaves the host machine unless explicitly shared. This combination of simplicity, power, and security makes the Todo.txt MCP Server a compelling choice for developers seeking to enrich their AI workflows with reliable task management.