kanban-md is an innovative file-based Kanban board specifically designed for developers and AI agents. It serves as both a Command-Line Interface (CLI) and a Terminal User Interface (TUI) solution that enables smooth multi-agent workflows. Unlike traditional project management tools meant for human interaction, kanban-md focuses on making task management efficient for AI agents, allowing them to operate concurrently without conflicts.

Key Features

• Agents-First Design: Features such as token-efficient output formats and atomic claim-and-move operations enhance the interactions of AI agents with the Kanban board. Installable agent skills come out of the box, teaching agents how to navigate the board effectively.
• Multi-Agent Safe: Utilizing cooperative locking mechanisms, kanban-md supports multiple agents working on the same board simultaneously. The automatic expiration of claims and atomic task handling ensure that agents do not interfere with each other’s progress.
• Plain File Storage: Every task is represented as a Markdown file. This simple file format allows seamless interaction among agents, humans, scripts, and command-line utilities like grep, eliminating the need for API tokens or rate limits.
• Zero Run-Time Dependencies: As a single static binary tool, kanban-md requires no databases or servers, allowing for straightforward installation and deployment.
• Included Skills: Pre-written skills facilitate collaboration and enhance the ability of AI agents to manage tasks. These skills can be installed with simple commands and are regularly updated to ensure compatibility with the latest version.
• TUI for Interaction: The interactive terminal interface provides keyboard navigation and refreshes automatically when task files change on disk, allowing users to quickly view and manage tasks.

Quick Start Example

A brief overview of kanban-md’s functionality can be illustrated through the following command examples:

# Initialize a board in the current directory
kanban-md init --name "My Project"

# Create tasks with various attributes
kanban-md create "Set up CI pipeline" --priority high --tags devops
kanban-md create "Write API docs" --assignee alice --due 2026-03-01

# List all tasks
kanban-md list

# Move a task to the in-progress status
kanban-md move 3 in-progress

# Mark a task as done
kanban-md move 1 done

Task Management and Workflow

Tasks are created as individual Markdown files, complete with YAML frontmatter to maintain details such as status, priority, and assigned personnel. This organized structure facilitates file-based management and allows for automation and easy version control.

Illustrative Commands

• To create a new task:

kanban-md create "New Task Title" --status backlog --priority medium

• To edit an existing task:

kanban-md edit 1 --add-tag important

• To show task details:

kanban-md show 2

Conclusion

With its agent-first approach and straightforward file-based management, kanban-md offers a flexible and efficient solution for task management tailored for developers and AI agents alike. Built to operate seamlessly in multi-agent environments, it empowers users to streamline workflows while maintaining clarity in project management.