Repolode
Submit
MrLesk

MrLesk/Backlog.md

A Markdown-native task manager and Kanban board that lives in any Git repo, designed for humans reviewing work done by AI agents.

Open-source alternative to:JiraTrello

View on GitHubWebsite
Stars
7,079
Forks
455
Open issues
72
Last commit
8 hours ago

What is it?

Backlog.md turns a project folder into a self-contained task board. Every task is a plain Markdown file stored in the repository, managed through a zero-config CLI, a terminal Kanban view, or a local web UI with drag-and-drop editing.

It is built around reviewing AI agent work. Tasks carry descriptions, acceptance criteria, a Definition of Done checklist, milestones and dependencies, so a person can check the spec and implementation plan before any code is written, then review the resulting pull request. Completed tasks remain in Git as a record of what was attempted.

Backlog.md works with Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Codex, Kiro and other MCP or CLI-compatible assistants. It can also be used purely as a standalone task manager, with JSON output for scripts and optional Git integration or a filesystem-only mode.

Key features

  • 01Tasks stored as plain Markdown files inside the repository
  • 02Terminal Kanban board and exportable markdown reports
  • 03Local web UI with drag-and-drop and task editing forms
  • 04Acceptance criteria, Definition of Done checklists, milestones and dependencies
  • 05MCP server and CLI instructions for AI coding assistants
  • 06Versioned JSON output for scripts, plus fuzzy search across tasks, docs and decisions

Use cases

  • Splitting a feature into small tasks for an AI coding agent and reviewing the specs before implementation
  • Keeping a personal or team project board versioned alongside the code
  • Running a task board for non-code projects with the --no-git option
  • Tracking agent work so each task maps to one reviewable pull request

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install Backlog.md globally with npm

    npm i -g backlog.md
  2. 2

    Initialize Backlog.md in your Git repo

    backlog init "My Awesome Project"
  3. 3

    Open the visual Kanban board in your browser

    backlog browser

Things to know

  • Requires Node.js or Bun, or Homebrew or Nix, to install.
  • Intel macOS users should use the npm, Bun, or Homebrew installation rather than Nix.

Topics

#task-management#kanban#markdown#ai-agents#mcp#cli#git#project-management#agent#agentic-ai

FAQ

What is Backlog.md?
A Markdown-native task manager and Kanban board that lives in any Git repo, designed for humans reviewing work done by AI agents. Backlog.md turns a project folder into a self-contained task board. Every task is a plain Markdown file stored in the repository, managed through a zero-config CLI, a terminal Kanban view, or a local web UI with drag-and-drop editing.
Is Backlog.md free to use? What license does it have?
Backlog.md is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is Backlog.md still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to Backlog.md was on Oct 20, 2026.
What can I use Backlog.md for?
Splitting a feature into small tasks for an AI coding agent and reviewing the specs before implementation Keeping a personal or team project board versioned alongside the code Running a task board for non-code projects with the --no-git option Tracking agent work so each task maps to one reviewable pull request
How do I install Backlog.md?
Install Backlog.md globally with npm: npm i -g backlog.md Initialize Backlog.md in your Git repo: backlog init "My Awesome Project" Open the visual Kanban board in your browser: backlog browser
Where can I get Backlog.md?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/MrLesk/Backlog.md

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

Related projects