GitBoard

Product Introduction

1. Definition: GitBoard is a native macOS menu bar application designed for GitHub Projects management. It falls under the technical category of developer productivity tools, leveraging the GitHub CLI for authentication and Swift/SwiftUI for native macOS integration.
2. Core Value Proposition: GitBoard eliminates workflow disruption by enabling real-time GitHub Projects management directly from the macOS menu bar. It solves context-switching problems for developers needing instant access to kanban boards, issue tracking, and task creation without browser tabs or full IDE launches.

Main Features

1. Menu Bar Kanban Access: Displays a condensed GitHub Projects board in the macOS menu bar via a single click. Built with SwiftUI for low-resource rendering, it syncs data using GitHub’s GraphQL API for real-time issue status visibility.
2. Dynamic Status Filtering: Allows toggling between Todo, In Progress, and Done columns using local state management combined with server-side queries. Filters persist across sessions via macOS UserDefaults.
3. Semantic Search Engine: Searches issues by title, number, or @assignee using regex-based client-side filtering for instant results, reducing API calls. Supports GitHub’s search syntax for advanced queries.
4. Inline Issue Creation: Triggered by typing > in any view, this feature uses GitHub REST API v3 to create issues with pre-filled metadata (assignees, labels) without modal windows.
5. Drag-and-Drop Kanban: Full-window board view enables native macOS drag-and-drop operations between columns. Syncs position changes via GraphQL mutations to update GitHub Projects status.
6. CLI-Based Authentication: Leverages the GitHub CLI (gh auth) for OAuth, eliminating manual API token handling. Uses gh api under the hood for secure, tokenless data operations.
7. Status Change Notifications: Monitors project updates via webhook emulation and triggers macOS Notification Center alerts when issues move columns.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Context-switching fatigue during development workflows. GitBoard reduces task-management friction by providing instant menu-bar access to GitHub Projects.
2. Target Audience:
   • Agile Development Teams: Engineers and engineering managers tracking sprints.
   • Solo Developers: Maintainers managing open-source projects.
   • DevOps Specialists: Teams coordinating deployments via GitHub Projects.
3. Use Cases:
   • Standup Meetings: Quick status checks without leaving the coding environment.
   • Bug Triage: Assigning issues via right-click during debugging sessions.
   • Flow State Maintenance: Creating tasks mid-code via > shortcut.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike browser-based tools (e.g., GitHub’s native UI) or standalone project apps, GitBoard offers zero-friction macOS integration with persistent menu-bar access. Competitors lack CLI-based auth, requiring manual token setups.
2. Key Innovation: Menu-bar-native kanban rendering combined with GitHub CLI integration creates a seamless, secure experience. The > inline-creation syntax is a novel keyboard-first productivity innovation for developers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Does GitBoard work with GitHub Enterprise?
   Yes, GitBoard supports GitHub Enterprise via the gh CLI configuration. Authenticate using gh auth login --hostname <your-enterprise-domain>.
2. How does GitBoard handle data privacy?
   All data remains on-device or within GitHub’s API; no third-party servers are involved. Authentication uses GitHub’s OAuth via the official CLI.
3. Can I use GitBoard without GitHub CLI?
   No, macOS 14+ and GitHub CLI are mandatory for authentication and API operations, eliminating token management risks.
4. Does GitBoard support multi-project views?
   Currently, GitBoard focuses on single-project efficiency. Future updates may include project-switching via menu-bar dropdowns.
5. Is GitBoard open-source?
   Yes, GitBoard’s source code is MIT-licensed on GitHub, allowing audits, forks, and community contributions.