BACKGROUND
GitHub Issues is great, but it sits far from local code and autonomous agents. Conversely, a single shared TODO file often triggers Git merge conflicts during concurrent workflows.
APPROACH
Separated local state into SQLite and distributed synchronization into one-JSON-per-task files. Built both a human-friendly interactive TUI and machine-readable JSON commands on top of the same engine.
HOW IT WORKS
- 01
Initialize
Set up .lissue directory in repo root
- 02
Claim
Assign task and update progress state
- 03
Work
Add context, notes, and file links
- 04
Synchronize
Export and sync task JSONs via Git
ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN DECISIONS
Hybrid SQLite & JSON Architecture
Utilizes SQLite for instant local query speeds and individual task JSON files for clean Git merging across branches.
Native Ratatui Terminal Interface
Provides an ergonomic keyboard-driven terminal UI so developers never have to context-switch to a browser.
First-Class AI Agent Support
Every command includes a structured JSON output mode designed specifically for seamless consumption by LLM coding agents.
VERIFICATION
- Published on crates.io and verified across multiple OS environments
- Full test suite with 41 passing unit and integration tests
- Dogfooded daily as the primary task tracker for personal projects
STATUS & NEXT
The core functionality is rock-solid and actively used every day for managing personal development workflows.
NEXT STEPS
- Bidirectional sync bridge with GitHub Issues
- Multi-repository aggregation dashboard
- Custom metadata field extensions via plugins