How to See GitHub Issues and Jira Tasks in One Place Without Switching Apps

If you manage GitHub issues and Jira tasks simultaneously, you lose 15-30 minutes daily switching between apps to check updates, deadlines, and priorities. Foco Plus consolidates both into a single list with automatic sync, project colors, and filters by completion or due date. Here’s how it works:

• Automatic import: Connect GitHub and Jira via OAuth. Foco pulls issues/tasks assigned to you or where you’re mentioned, including title, description, status, priority, and due date. No manual copying.
• Project colors: Each task appears with the color of its project (e.g., GitHub issues for 'Payments API' in blue, Jira tasks for 'Checkout Frontend' in green). See all tasks together in Panorama mode or filter by project in Focus mode.
• Bidirectional sync: Enable 'Complete also in the source' to close GitHub issues or move Jira tasks to 'Done' automatically when you mark them complete in Foco. No need to update both tools.
• Filters by date: Group tasks by completion date (when you’ll work on them) or due date (deadline). Example: A GitHub issue due in 2 weeks but requiring research appears under 'This week', while a Jira task due today shows under 'Today'.
• Calendar integration: Sync Google Calendar or Outlook to see events alongside tasks. Avoid double-booking by checking availability before scheduling work on an issue.

Step-by-Step: Connect GitHub and Jira in Foco Plus

1. Set up connections (choose where tasks land)

Go to Settings > Connections in Foco Plus. Select GitHub and Jira, sign in with OAuth, and choose a destination work for each:

• Automatic (recommended): Foco analyzes task content and assigns it to the most relevant work. Example: A GitHub issue mentioning 'Payments API' goes to the 'Backend' work if it exists, or creates it if not.
• Fixed work: Assign all GitHub issues to 'Development' and all Jira tasks to 'Support' for full control. Useful if you manage distinct workflows.

2. Enable bidirectional sync (optional but critical)

In connection settings, toggle 'Complete also in the source'. When you mark a task done in Foco:

• GitHub: The issue closes automatically.
• Jira: The task moves to 'Done' and adds a comment with a link to the Foco task.

This eliminates manual updates in both tools. Sync runs every few minutes; force a refresh with the sync button if needed.

3. Review and adjust imported tasks

Foco imports GitHub issues and Jira tasks with these fields:

• Title/description: From the original issue/task.
• Status: Mapped to 'To do', 'Doing', or 'Done'.
• Priority: Converted to 'Normal', 'Important', or 'Urgent'.
• Due date: Used as the deadline in Foco.
• Direct link: Opens the original issue/task in GitHub/Jira.
• Attached note: Full content, including comments and links.

Adjust missing details: Add due dates to GitHub issues without deadlines, or set recurrences for weekly Jira tasks (e.g., code reviews). Example: A recurring Jira task for 'Weekly sprint planning' set to repeat every Monday at 10 AM.

How to Prioritize Unified Tasks Without Losing Context

1. Use Panorama mode for the big picture

In Panorama mode, see all tasks (GitHub, Jira, personal) in one list, each with its project color. Group by completion date to prioritize:

• Today: Jira task due at 5 PM (red, 'Urgent').
• This week: GitHub issue requiring research (blue, 'Important').
• Later: Documentation task (green, 'Normal').

2. Switch to Focus mode for deep work

Click on a project (e.g., 'Backend') to filter tasks. Use views to organize:

• List: Grouped by date (e.g., 'Today', 'This week').
• Kanban: Drag tasks between columns (e.g., 'To do', 'In progress').
• Calendar: See tasks alongside synced events. Example: A GitHub issue scheduled for Tuesday won’t overlap with a team meeting.

3. Apply filters to surface critical tasks

Filter by:

• Due date: 'Today' or 'This week'.
• Priority: 'Urgent' or 'Important'.
• Work: Only GitHub or only Jira tasks.
• Tags: Add tags like 'bug', 'improvement', or 'documentation' to categorize tasks.

Example: Filter for 'Urgent' tasks due today to focus on a Jira bug fix before a GitHub feature request.

Handling Updates in GitHub/Jira

Foco syncs changes automatically, but you can force a refresh. Examples of updates reflected in Foco:

• A GitHub issue’s status changes from 'Open' to 'In progress'.
• A Jira task’s priority updates from 'Normal' to 'Urgent'.
• A new comment is added to a GitHub issue (visible in the attached note).

For context, click the direct link in the task to open the original issue/task in GitHub or Jira. This ensures you don’t miss comment threads or attached files.

Foco Plus vs. Alternatives: Why It Works for Multiple Projects

Generic tools fail when managing GitHub and Jira tasks alongside other work. Here’s how Foco Plus compares:

• Notes apps (Notion, Evernote): Manual copying required. No automatic sync, calendar integration, or prioritization by date. Tasks become obsolete when GitHub/Jira updates.
• Spreadsheets (Google Sheets): No reminders, recurrences, or calendar sync. Prioritization is manual (sorting rows), and visual context (colors, statuses) is missing.
• Generic project managers (Trello, Asana): Designed for single workflows. Managing GitHub (development), Jira (support), and personal tasks leads to duplicated boards or mixed contexts. Learn how to separate contexts without losing the big picture.

Foco Plus is built for multiple works at once with:

• Works as containers: Each project (GitHub, Jira, personal) is a 'work' with its color. See all together or filter by one.
• Bidirectional sync: Tasks update in both directions. No manual copying.
• Flexible views: List (prioritize by date), Kanban (drag tasks), or Calendar (see tasks alongside events).
• Visual context: Project colors and statuses help identify priorities at a glance. Example: A red task (urgent) stands out in a list of blue (normal) tasks.

Real-World Example: Prioritizing a Busy Week

Scenario: You have 5 GitHub issues (3 bugs, 2 features) and 4 Jira tasks (2 support tickets, 2 sprint items). Here’s how Foco Plus helps:

• Day 1: Filter for 'Urgent' tasks due today. A Jira support ticket (red) takes priority over a GitHub bug (blue).
• Day 2: Use the Calendar view to schedule a GitHub feature for Wednesday, avoiding a team meeting on Tuesday.
• Day 3: Switch to Focus mode for 'Backend' to tackle GitHub issues without Jira distractions. Mark a bug as done; Foco closes it in GitHub automatically.
• Day 4: Filter for 'This week' to see all pending tasks. A GitHub issue without a due date gets scheduled for Friday.

Result: No missed deadlines, no app-switching, and clear priorities. See how to avoid overlaps with time blocking.

When to Use Foco Plus for GitHub/Jira Tasks

• You manage 3+ projects: GitHub for development, Jira for support, and personal tasks. Foco’s project colors and filters keep contexts separate.
• You need automatic sync: No manual copying. Tasks update in both directions, and changes in GitHub/Jira reflect in Foco within minutes.
• You prioritize by date: Group tasks by completion or due date to focus on what matters now. Example: A GitHub issue due in 2 weeks but requiring research goes under 'This week'.

If you rely on manual lists or generic tools, Foco Plus eliminates the friction of switching apps and maintaining separate workflows. Learn how to unify tasks from multiple apps without migrating data.

Consolidating tasks from multiple tools isn’t about having more information—it’s about seeing priorities clearly without losing the context of each project.

FAQ

Does Foco Plus import all GitHub issues and Jira tasks, or only those assigned to me?

Foco Plus imports only GitHub issues and Jira tasks assigned to you or where you’re mentioned. This ensures you see relevant tasks without clutter.

What happens if I mark a task as done in Foco but not in GitHub/Jira?

If you enable 'Complete also in the source', Foco updates the original issue/task automatically. If disabled, the task remains open in GitHub/Jira but marked done in Foco.

Can I add tasks manually in Foco that don’t exist in GitHub or Jira?

Yes. Foco is a full task manager. You can add tasks manually (e.g., personal tasks) alongside imported GitHub/Jira tasks.

How often does Foco sync with GitHub and Jira?

Foco syncs automatically every few minutes. You can force a sync by clicking the refresh button in the connection settings.

What if a GitHub issue or Jira task updates after being imported?

Foco updates the task in your list to reflect changes (status, priority, due date, comments). The attached note includes the latest content.