todoist-sync

todoist-sync

Keeps Todoist in sync with Claude Code sessions. Uses mcp__todoist__* MCP tools.

Step 0: Load config

Before doing anything, read the config file. The path ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_DATA} is substituted by Claude Code:

cat "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_DATA}/config.json"

If the file doesn't exist, tell the user to run /todoist-sync:setup and stop.

Parse the JSON to find the current repo's project entry. Match git rev-parse --show-toplevel against the repo field in each project. Extract section_id, section_name, and preferences.summary_max_tasks.

On Session Start

The SessionStart hook injects context with the pre-resolved section ID, max tasks, branch, and session file path. All discovery is already done — do NOT call get-overview, search, find-projects, or find-sections.

Exactly one MCP call:

mcp__todoist__find-tasks({ sectionId: "<from hook context>", limit: <from hook context> })

Then from the results:

1. Filter to overdue + due this week
2. Show brief summary (5-10 lines max):
   • Overdue tasks (flag these)
   • Due today / this week
   • Total open chunks vs sub-tasks
3. If a task description mentions a branch, note if it matches current branch

Never search for the project or section by name. The hook already resolved it.

During Session

Completing sub-tasks

When a piece of work is done (code written, tests pass, PR merged):

1. Identify which Todoist sub-tasks were addressed
2. Complete them via mcp__todoist__complete-tasks
3. Update session state — add completed task IDs to active_task_ids in the session file provided by the hook context. Use atomic write to prevent corruption:

   python3 -c "
   import json, sys, os, tempfile
   path = sys.argv[1]
   new_ids = sys.argv[2:]
   with open(path) as f:
       state = json.load(f)
   state['active_task_ids'] = list(set(state.get('active_task_ids', []) + new_ids))
   fd, tmp = tempfile.mkstemp(dir=os.path.dirname(path), suffix='.tmp')
   with os.fdopen(fd, 'w') as f:
       json.dump(state, f, indent=2)
       f.flush()
       os.fsync(f.fileno())
   os.replace(tmp, path)
   " "SESSION_FILE_FROM_HOOK_CONTEXT" "TASK_ID_1" "TASK_ID_2"
   

   Replace SESSION_FILE_FROM_HOOK_CONTEXT with the actual path from the SessionStart hook context.
4. If all sub-tasks of a parent chunk are done, ask if the chunk should be completed too

Updating task descriptions

When significant progress is made, append session context to the parent chunk's description via mcp__todoist__update-tasks:

---
**Session: YYYY-MM-DD**
Branch: `branch-name`
Done: what was accomplished
Next: what remains

Append, don't replace existing description content.

On Session Stop

The Stop hook injects context with: project key, section name, branch, active task IDs, session file path.

When you receive this context:

1. If active_task_ids is empty, skip — nothing was tracked this session
2. If tasks were tracked, briefly note what was completed
3. Offer to update any parent chunk descriptions with session context
4. Do NOT do a full section scan — only act on the active task IDs

Creating Tasks from Plans

When a plan is written (plan mode exit) in a configured project:

1. Offer to create matching Todoist tasks (don't auto-create without asking)
2. Each major plan step becomes a chunk (parent task) in the project's section
3. Each sub-step becomes a sub-task under the chunk
4. Apply labels based on content:
   • quick-win: <30 min, targeted fix, single-file change
   • blocked: depends on external API, waiting on someone, infra not ready
   • needs-design: UI work, architecture decision, multiple valid approaches
5. Set priority:
   • p1: blocking other work
   • p2: due this week or next deliverable
   • p3: planned but not urgent
   • p4: backlog / nice-to-have
6. Search before creating — use mcp__todoist__find-tasks with searchText to avoid duplicates

Task Naming Rules

• Chunks: verb + deliverable — "Build FastAPI backend", "Fix coverage page bug", "Merge Phase 2 branches"
• Sub-tasks: specific action — "Add test for endpoint", "Wire service to x_api.py", "Run full test suite"
• Never vague: no "Work on X", "Look into Y", "Investigate Z" — always specific and completable

What Claude Manages vs User Manages

Claude manages	User manages (phone/Todoist app)
Creating chunks + sub-tasks from plans	Due dates and deadlines
Completing sub-tasks after work	Reordering priorities
Applying labels based on context	Moving tasks between sections
Updating descriptions with session state	Recurring task schedules
Suggesting new tasks from TODOs/FIXMEs	Deleting tasks they don't want

Rules

1. Never create duplicate tasks. Search first via mcp__todoist__find-tasks.
2. Never set due dates unless the user explicitly asks or the plan has a deadline.
3. Never delete tasks. Only complete them or update them.
4. Keep it lightweight. Only sync at session boundaries and plan exits.
5. Descriptions are breadcrumbs. Branch names, state, context — so the user can pick up later.
6. Sub-tasks are karma generators. 3-6 per chunk. Each should feel like progress when checked off.