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Home/Categories/AI & Machine Learning/Task Bert
icon of Task Bert

Task Bert

Open source alternative to ClickUp, Motion and Taskade

An AI assistant for managing text messages, turning them into actionable tasks.

4 starsSwiftGPL-3.0
image of Task Bert
Contents
  1. 01What Task Bert does
  2. 02Who Task Bert is for

Repository

Stars
4
Forks
0
License
GPL-3.0
Latest
v2026.04.07
Last commit
46 days ago
Last verified
May 13, 2026
Repo
anngbaum/task-bert ↗
Active recently
Visit websiteGitHub repo
  • 03The problem it solves
  • 04How it solves it
  • 05Strengths and trade-offs
  • 06Install and self-host
  • 07Tech stack
  • 08FAQ
  • 09Similar open-source tools
    • TL;DR

    Task Bert is a GPL-3.0 macOS app that turns iMessage history into searchable tasks, summaries, and action items. It runs locally against chat.db with embedded Postgres, full-text search, vector search, LLM summaries, and an MCP server for Claude Code.GPL-3.0 · Swift · 4 stars · Active recently

    what it does

    What Task Bert does#

    Task Bert is a powerful AI tool designed to help users manage their text messages efficiently. It transforms your iMessages into a clear, organized action list, ensuring you never miss a reply, appointment, or important detail again.

    Key Features:

    • Local Processing: Runs entirely on your Mac, ensuring privacy as messages are indexed locally without being uploaded or stored remotely.
    • Actionable Insights: Converts vague plans into to-dos and calendar events, allowing users to ask their texts real questions and recover buried details.
    • Easy Integration: Users can add their own API key for AI features, enabling seamless interaction with LLM providers for summarization and task identification.
    • User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design that allows for easy navigation and quick access to important messages and tasks.

    Use Cases:

    • Personal Organization: Ideal for individuals looking to streamline their communication and keep track of important messages and tasks.
    • Professional Use: Perfect for professionals who need to manage multiple conversations and extract actionable items from their messages efficiently.
    • Event Planning: Helps users remember details about events and appointments discussed in messages, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
    who it's for

    Who Task Bert is for#

    Mac users tracking commitments from texts

    Task Bert fits people whose appointments, promises, and follow-ups are scattered across iMessage threads.

    Skip if

    Your important work conversations happen outside Apple Messages.

    Claude Code users querying personal messages

    The MCP server lets Claude Code search contacts, actions, and message history through local tools.

    Skip if

    You do not want AI tools connected to private message history.

    the problem

    The problem it solves#

    how Task Bert solves it

    How it solves it#

    Local iMessage indexing

    Task Bert reads macOS chat.db and loads message history into embedded Postgres through PGLite.

    Hybrid message search

    The README lists full-text search, semantic search with local vector embeddings, and hybrid search as the default.

    LLM-generated action items

    Bert can generate conversation summaries and action items such as unanswered questions, commitments, and plans.

    Claude Code MCP server

    The README documents an MCP server that lets Claude Code search messages, ask questions, and pull actions.

    strengths · trade-offs

    Strengths and trade-offs#

    Strengths

    • Local-first message workflowReading chat.db locally and using an embedded database gives users more control than forwarding messages to a hosted task assistant.
    • Search and actions in one appCombining search, summaries, action extraction, and thread view makes Task Bert more useful than a simple message search wrapper.

    Trade-offs

    • -Mac and iMessage onlyTask Bert depends on macOS Messages data and Full Disk Access, so it does not help Android, Windows, Slack, or WhatsApp workflows.
    install · self-host

    Install and self-host#

    bash
    ```bash
npm install
npm run mcp
```
    tech stack · detected from GitHub

    What it's built on#

    Languages
    JavaScriptPythonSwiftTypeScript
    frequently asked

    FAQ#

    What does Task Bert do?

    Task Bert indexes iMessage history on macOS and turns conversations into searchable summaries and action items.

    Does Task Bert run locally?

    Yes. The README says the app reads macOS chat.db and uses embedded Postgres/PGLite, though LLM features require an Anthropic or OpenAI API key.

    Does Task Bert support MCP?
    also worth a look

    Similar open-source tools#

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    Additional details

    Language
    Swift
    Open issues
    0
    Contributors
    1
    First release
    2026

    Categories

    AI & Machine LearningBusiness & ProductivityCommunication & Collaboration

    Tags

    AI AgentsTask ManagementWorkflow AutomationLLMPersonal AssistantmacOS

    Important commitments often hide inside text messages: unanswered questions, loose plans, appointments, and details someone mentioned once. macOS Messages is not designed as a task manager or research database.

    Searching chat history manually is slow, and uploading private conversations to a hosted assistant raises privacy concerns. A local app can index messages, generate action items, and let users query their own history with more control.

    Yes. The README documents an MCP server for Claude Code with search, agent, actions, and contacts tools.