AGENTS/skill/basecamp/SKILL.md

name, description, compatibility

name	description	compatibility
basecamp	Manage work projects in Basecamp via MCP. Use when: (1) creating or viewing Basecamp projects, (2) managing todos or todo lists, (3) working with card tables (kanban boards), (4) searching Basecamp content, (5) syncing project plans to Basecamp. Triggers: basecamp, create todos, show my projects, card table, move card, basecamp search, sync to basecamp, what's in basecamp.	opencode

Basecamp

Manage work projects in Basecamp via MCP server. Provides workflows for project overview, todo management, kanban boards, and syncing from plan-writing skill.

Quick Reference

Action	Command Pattern
List projects	"Show my Basecamp projects"
View project	"What's in [project name]?"
Create todos	"Add todos to [project]"
View card table	"Show kanban for [project]"
Move card	"Move [card] to [column]"
Search	"Search Basecamp for [query]"
Sync plan	"Create Basecamp todos from this plan"

Core Workflows

1. Project Overview

List and explore projects:

1. get_projects → list all projects
2. Present summary: name, last activity
3. User selects project
4. get_project(id) → show dock items (todosets, card tables, message boards)

Example output:

Your Basecamp Projects:
1. Q2 Training Program (last activity: 2 hours ago)
2. Website Redesign (last activity: yesterday)
3. Product Launch (last activity: 3 days ago)

Which project would you like to explore?

2. Todo Management

View todos:

1. get_project(id) → find todoset from dock
2. get_todolists(project_id) → list all todo lists
3. get_todos(project_id, todolist_id) → show todos with status

Create todos:

1. Identify target project and todo list
2. For each todo:
   create_todo(
     project_id,
     todolist_id,
     content,
     due_on?,        # YYYY-MM-DD format
     assignee_ids?,  # array of person IDs
     notify?         # boolean
   )
3. Confirm creation with links

Complete/update todos:

- complete_todo(project_id, todo_id) → mark done
- uncomplete_todo(project_id, todo_id) → reopen
- update_todo(project_id, todo_id, content?, due_on?, assignee_ids?)
- delete_todo(project_id, todo_id) → remove

3. Card Table (Kanban) Management

View board:

1. get_card_table(project_id) → get card table details
2. get_columns(project_id, card_table_id) → list columns
3. For each column: get_cards(project_id, column_id)
4. Present as kanban view

Example output:

Card Table: Development Pipeline

| Backlog (3) | In Progress (2) | Review (1) | Done (5) |
|-------------|-----------------|------------|----------|
| Feature A   | Feature B       | Bug fix    | ...      |
| Feature C   | Feature D       |            |          |
| Refactor    |                 |            |          |

Manage columns:

- create_column(project_id, card_table_id, title)
- update_column(project_id, column_id, title) → rename
- move_column(project_id, card_table_id, column_id, position)
- update_column_color(project_id, column_id, color)
- put_column_on_hold(project_id, column_id) → freeze work
- remove_column_hold(project_id, column_id) → unfreeze

Manage cards:

- create_card(project_id, column_id, title, content?, due_on?, notify?)
- update_card(project_id, card_id, title?, content?, due_on?, assignee_ids?)
- move_card(project_id, card_id, column_id) → move to different column
- complete_card(project_id, card_id)
- uncomplete_card(project_id, card_id)

Card steps (subtasks):

- get_card_steps(project_id, card_id) → list subtasks
- create_card_step(project_id, card_id, title, due_on?, assignee_ids?)
- complete_card_step(project_id, step_id)
- update_card_step(project_id, step_id, title?, due_on?, assignee_ids?)
- delete_card_step(project_id, step_id)

4. Search

search_basecamp(query, project_id?)
- Omit project_id → search all projects
- Include project_id → scope to specific project

Results include todos, messages, and other content matching the query.

5. Sync from Plan-Writing

When user has a project plan from plan-writing skill:

1. Parse todo-structure.md or tasks.md for task hierarchy
2. Ask: "Which Basecamp project should I add these to?"
   - List existing projects via get_projects
   - Note: New projects must be created manually in Basecamp
3. Ask: "Use todo lists or card table?"
4. If todo lists:
   - Create todo list per phase/milestone if needed
   - Create todos with due dates and assignees
5. If card table:
   - Create columns for phases/statuses
   - Create cards from tasks
   - Add card steps for subtasks
6. Confirm: "Created X todos/cards in [project]. View in Basecamp."

6. Status Check

User: "What's the status of [project]?"

1. get_project(id)
2. For each todo list: get_todos, count complete/incomplete
3. If card table exists: get columns and card counts
4. Calculate summary:
   - X todos complete, Y incomplete, Z overdue
   - Card distribution across columns
5. Highlight: overdue items, blocked items

Example output:

Project: Q2 Training Program

Todos: 12/20 complete (60%)
- 3 overdue items
- 5 due this week

Card Table: Development
| Backlog | In Progress | Review | Done |
|    3    |      2      |   1    |  8   |

Attention needed:
- "Create training materials" (overdue by 2 days)
- "Review curriculum" (due tomorrow)

Tool Categories

For complete tool reference with parameters, see references/mcp-tools.md.

Category	Key Tools
Projects	get_projects, get_project
Todos	get_todolists, get_todos, create_todo, complete_todo
Cards	get_card_table, get_columns, get_cards, create_card, move_card
Card Steps	get_card_steps, create_card_step, complete_card_step
Search	search_basecamp
Comments	get_comments, create_comment
Documents	get_documents, create_document, update_document

Limitations

• No create_project tool: Projects must be created manually in Basecamp UI
• Work projects only: This skill is for professional/team projects
• Pagination handled: MCP server handles pagination transparently

Integration with Other Skills

From Skill	To Basecamp
brainstorming	Save decision → reference in project docs
plan-writing	todo-structure.md → Basecamp todos or cards
task-management	Anytype tasks ↔ Basecamp todos (manual reference)

Common Patterns

Create todos from a list

User provides list:
- Task 1 (due Friday)
- Task 2 (due next week)
- Task 3

1. Identify or confirm project and todo list
2. Parse due dates (Friday → YYYY-MM-DD)
3. Create each todo via create_todo
4. Report: "Created 3 todos in [list name]"

Move cards through workflow

User: "Move Feature A to In Progress"

1. search_basecamp("Feature A") or get_cards to find card_id
2. get_columns to find target column_id
3. move_card(project_id, card_id, column_id)
4. Confirm: "Moved 'Feature A' to 'In Progress'"

Add subtasks to a card

User: "Add subtasks to the Feature B card"

1. Find card via search or get_cards
2. For each subtask:
   create_card_step(project_id, card_id, title)
3. Report: "Added X steps to 'Feature B'"