Things (software)

Things (software)
MickPayne · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Things
Developer	Cultured Code
Initial release	2007
Latest release	2023
Operating system	macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS
Genre	Task management, productivity
License	Proprietary

Things (software) Things is a task management application developed by Cultured Code for Apple platforms. It provides a list-based workflow for capturing tasks, organizing projects, and tracking progress, aimed at individual users and professionals who use macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. The app emphasizes a minimal interface, natural language input, and deep integration with Apple services and hardware.

Overview

Things originated as a native client for Macintosh users seeking alternatives to Microsoft Outlook, Trello, Asana, and Todoist workflows. Its design references conventions popularized by products from Apple Inc., Omni Group, Eisenhower Matrix advocates, and proponents of the Getting Things Done methodology. Cultured Code positioned the app among competitors such as Wunderlist, Remember The Milk, Nozbe, and Basecamp while leveraging platform-specific frameworks from Cocoa (API), UIKit, and Swift.

Features

Things implements a project-centered model comparable to concepts used by David Allen and tools like GTD-oriented applications. It offers features including Inbox capture, Projects, Areas, Tags, Today lists, Upcoming timelines, and checklists, aligning with workflows promoted by Stephen Covey and productivity writers. The interface supports natural language parsing for due dates, integration with Apple Calendar and Apple Reminders in complementary ways, and scheduling semantics similar to Siri-driven commands. Syncing is provided through Cultured Code’s own cloud service resembling strategies employed by Dropbox and iCloud, with encryption and conflict resolution techniques akin to those used by Box and Google Drive for client-server data consistency.

The app includes keyboard shortcuts popularized by Emacs and Vim power users, drag-and-drop interactions reminiscent of OmniFocus and Things 3-era design, and automation hooks comparable to Shortcuts (Apple). It supports custom URL schemes and integration patterns used by third-party apps and services like IFTTT, Zapier, and developer ecosystems similar to GitHub for sharing scripts and extensions.

History and Development

Cultured Code was founded by developers influenced by design practices from Jony Ive-era Apple Inc. and engineering culture present at NeXT. The initial release competed in markets shaped by acquisitions such as Microsoft's acquisition of Wunderlist and shifts involving companies like 6Wunderkinder. Major rewrites occurred to adopt modern frameworks including Swift (programming language) and SwiftUI, following trends set by Apple Worldwide Developers Conference announcements. Development cycles referenced user feedback channels used by projects hosted on Stack Overflow and community forums akin to Reddit and MacRumors.

Significant updates tracked platform changes from macOS Big Sur to iOS 15 and incorporated accessibility guidance from VoiceOver and standards advocated by World Wide Web Consortium. The team responded to privacy changes introduced by App Tracking Transparency and platform shifts influenced by legal rulings involving European Union regulations.

Platforms and Compatibility

The application runs natively on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS and targets hardware families including MacBook Air, iMac, iPad Pro, and Apple Watch Series. Compatibility matrices mirrored guidance from Apple Developer documentation and adapted to updates from ARM architecture transitions such as Apple silicon. Sync and interoperability are compatible with calendar systems like Google Calendar, enterprise directories such as Microsoft Exchange, and authentication flows similar to OAuth 2.0 used by services like GitHub and Twitter when third-party integrations are involved.

Reception and Awards

Critics compared the app to offerings from TomTom and productivity suites by companies like Microsoft and Google, often praising design and usability in reviews from outlets such as Macworld, The Verge, Wired, The Guardian, and Cult of Mac. The product received accolades in curated lists alongside apps like Fantastical and Bear, and appeared in award roundups by organizations similar to Apple Design Awards finalists and editorial selections by App Store editors. User communities on Product Hunt and Hacker News have debated its trade-offs relative to open-source alternatives hosted on GitHub.

Integration and Ecosystem

Things integrates with platform services including Apple Calendar, Siri, Shortcuts (Apple), and Apple Reminders interoperability patterns, enabling workflows that connect to external automation platforms like IFTTT and Zapier. The developer community produces extensions, workflows, and scripts shared through forums similar to Reddit, repositories on GitHub, and tutorials on sites such as Medium (website), fostering an ecosystem comparable to those around Evernote and Notion. Corporate and individual users often pair Things with communication tools like Slack (software), file services like Dropbox, and note-taking apps such as Bear and Ulysses to build comprehensive productivity stacks.

Category:Task management software