Hobba talks to Claude
The Hobba Connector plugs Claude Code into your tasks: create, check off, move, set up whole projects — straight from the conversation. No third-party server, no account: everything runs through the app on your Mac and syncs via your private iCloud to all devices.
How it’s built
Three parts, each deliberately small. An App Intent inside Hobba takes
JSON commands and answers with JSON. A shortcut with exactly one action
passes them through — it’s the bridge, because shortcuts run
is the only road from the command line to an App Intent. And a Python
script of about 250 lines speaks MCP, the protocol Claude Code uses to
attach tools.
Nothing writes to the database directly. Every command goes through the same rules as typing in the app: dates in titles are parsed, repeating tasks sow their next round, and the free tier’s project limit applies here too. Because everything runs through the app, it syncs normally to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
Requirements
- A Mac with Hobba 1.1 or later — from the App Store
- Claude Code — or any other program that speaks MCP
python3(ships with the Xcode Command Line Tools; otherwisexcode-select --install)
Setup, three steps
- Launch Hobba once. That registers the app’s actions with Shortcuts.
- Create the shortcut. Shortcuts app → new shortcut,
named exactly
Hobba-Connector, with a single action: “Hobba-Connector” (under the Hobba actions). Bind its “Command (JSON)” parameter to “Shortcut Input” — tap the parameter, then pick the variable. The shortcut syncs to your other Macs via iCloud by itself. - Register the script:
mkdir -p ~/.hobba curl -o ~/.hobba/hobba-mcp.py https://hobba.rinn-home.de/hobba-mcp.py claude mcp add -s user hobba -- python3 ~/.hobba/hobba-mcp.py
Quick test, no Claude involved:
echo '{"befehl":"snapshot"}' > /tmp/hobba-in.json
shortcuts run Hobba-Connector -i /tmp/hobba-in.json
If JSON with your lists comes back, the bridge is up.
The tools
| Tool | does |
|---|---|
hobba_uebersicht | Today, Inbox, Upcoming, Someday — plus every project with its sections and tasks |
hobba_aufgabe_anlegen | create a task; dates in the title are parsed (“tomorrow 8am”, “by Friday”, “every Tuesday”) |
hobba_aufgabe_erledigen | check off — repeating tasks sow their next round |
hobba_aufgabe_verschieben | change project, section, day or “Someday” |
hobba_projekt_anlegen | create a project with sections (= board columns) and tasks in one go |
hobba_abschnitt_anlegen | add a section or column to a project |
hobba_abschnitt_umbenennen | rename a section |
Limits, on purpose
- There is no delete. That stays a hand on the device — and soft there, via the trash.
- “Show as board” is a per-device view setting and stays a tap in the app; the columns themselves the connector can build.
- The first call after a restart can take a few seconds — the system launches Hobba invisibly in the background for it.
- Reminders set by the connector are scheduled the next time the app opens.
The script is deliberately small, dependency-free and
makes no network requests — if you want to read what it does:
the source is a page of Python. (Its JSON
protocol speaks German — befehl means command; the tools
Claude sees are self-describing either way.)
Hobba is a to-do app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch — no account, no subscription, no tracking. On the App Store since August 30, 2026: one purchase, no monthly bill.
Download on the App Store