How to Group Tasks from Multiple Apps in One Place: GitHub, Jira, Asana, Linear, and Emails in Foco Plus

Juggling multiple projects means switching between tools: checking issues in GitHub, tasks in Jira, follow-ups in Asana, requests in Linear, and urgent emails. Grouping tasks from multiple apps in one place doesn’t just save time—it prevents things from slipping through the cracks. Foco Plus solves this with its Connections feature, which automatically pulls in what’s assigned or mentioned in those platforms into a single dashboard, where you can organize it alongside personal tasks or other clients’ work. Here’s how to set it up step by step, with real-world examples for developers and project managers.

Why You Need to Group Tasks from Multiple Apps in One Place

Imagine starting your day by checking five different tools: GitHub for pending pull requests, Jira for assigned bugs, Asana for a client’s tasks, Linear for another team’s requests, and your inbox for urgent emails. Every context switch drains energy and increases the risk of missing something. Grouping tasks from multiple apps in one place eliminates that constant jumping, but not all solutions work the same way.

Generic note-taking or list apps aren’t designed to handle technical workflows. For example, a spreadsheet can group tasks, but it doesn’t understand what a GitHub issue or a Jira ticket is, nor can it update itself when something changes in those platforms. Project management tools like Asana are useful for a single team or client, but their free plan limits collaboration to 2 users, and the Starter plan requires paying for at least 2 seats (21.98 USD/month annually), even if you work alone. Foco Plus, on the other hand, lets you connect all those tools without user limits on the free plan and with a fixed price per user (20 EUR/month), making it ideal for freelancers or small teams managing multiple jobs.

How to Set Up Foco Plus Connections Step by Step

1. Connect Your Tools (GitHub, Jira, Asana, Linear, etc.)

In Foco Plus, go to Settings > Connections and select the platform you want to integrate. For example, for GitHub:

• Click Add Connection and choose GitHub.
• Sign in with your GitHub account and authorize access (only to the repositories you select).
• Choose a destination workspace in Foco: you can let the AI decide automatically based on the task content or assign a fixed workspace (e.g., "Client X - Development").
• Enable the 'Complete also in the source' option if you want tasks marked as done in Foco to automatically close the issue or pull request in GitHub.

Repeat the process for Jira, Asana, Linear, and any other MCP service (like a private server). Each connection takes less than a minute to set up.

2. Define How Tasks Are Imported

Foco Plus automatically pulls in what’s assigned to you or where you’re mentioned in those tools. For example:

• GitHub: Issues, pull requests, and reviews where you’re the assignee or mentioned in comments.
• Jira: Tickets assigned to you, with their status, priority, and due date.
• Asana: Tasks where you’re tagged or assigned, including subtasks.
• Linear: Issues assigned to you, with their labels and cycles.
• Emails: Use the email capture address (e.g., u-xxxx@in.heyfoco.com) to forward emails and convert them into tasks with the email attached as a note.

Each imported task includes the title, description, due date (if available), priority, and a direct link to the original item. In Panorama mode, you’ll see all tasks together, each with the color of its corresponding workspace.

3. Organize Tasks in Your Workflow

Once imported, you can manage tasks like any other in Foco:

• List View: Group tasks by completion date (Today, This Week, Later) or by due date. Ideal for prioritizing urgent tasks.
• Kanban View: Create columns like To Do, In Progress, and Done, and drag tasks between them. On mobile, use tabs to switch columns.
• Calendar View: See tasks alongside your Google Calendar or Outlook events. Tasks with a scheduled date appear on the day and time set.

For example, a developer can use Focus mode to see only tasks for a specific project (e.g., "Client Y - Backend"), while a project manager can use Panorama mode to review everything pending from multiple clients at once.

Practical Examples for Developers and Project Managers

Example 1: Developer with Multiple Repositories and Clients

Ana works on two development projects: one for a client on GitHub and another for a startup on Linear. With Foco Plus:

• Connect GitHub and Linear, assigning each to a different workspace (e.g., "Client A - GitHub" and "Startup B - Linear").
• Every morning, check Panorama mode to see all pending issues and pull requests, each with the color of its project.
• Use the Kanban view to move tasks between columns based on their status. If a GitHub issue is resolved, marking it as done in Foco automatically closes it in GitHub (if the option is enabled).
• Forward urgent emails to her u-xxxx@in.heyfoco.com address to convert them into tasks with the email attached.

Example 2: Project Manager with Asana, Jira, and Emails

Carlos manages three projects: one in Asana for a client, another in Jira for an internal team, and a third with requests via email. With Foco Plus:

• Connect Asana and Jira, assigning each to a workspace (e.g., "Client C - Asana" and "Internal Team - Jira").
• Use Focus mode to concentrate on one project at a time, filtering tasks by workspace.
• In the List view, group tasks by due date to see what’s due today or this week.
• Forward emails with requests to his u-xxxx@in.heyfoco.com address. Foco automatically extracts the task and attaches the email as a note.

Foco Plus vs. the Typical Alternative: Why Group Tasks Here?

If you already use Asana, you might consider centralizing everything there. However, there are key differences for those managing multiple jobs or clients:

• Unlimited Collaboration: Asana’s free plan only allows 2 users, forcing you to pay for at least 2 seats (21.98 USD/month annually) even if you work alone. Foco allows inviting collaborators for free on the free plan and has no minimum seats for paid plans.
• Fixed Price per User: Asana charges per user, which increases costs if you work with multiple clients (each with their own team). Foco Plus costs 20 EUR/month per user, regardless of how many jobs or clients you manage.
• Technical Integrations: Asana doesn’t directly connect with GitHub or Linear to pull issues or pull requests as tasks. Foco Plus does, and it also lets you automatically close the original items when marking them as done.
• Flexibility: Asana is optimized for teams within a single organization. Foco is designed for freelancers or small teams working with multiple external clients or projects, with features like color-coded workspaces and Focus mode to isolate a single project.

That said, Asana is a better option if you work in a single large team with advanced needs (like portfolios or complex automations). But if you manage multiple jobs at once, grouping tasks from multiple apps in one place like Foco Plus gives you more control and lower costs.

Centralizing isn’t just about saving clicks: it’s about preventing what’s important from getting lost between tools, notifications, and different contexts.

Conclusion: A Single Dashboard for Everything

Foco Plus Connections eliminate the need to check five different tools every morning. With a few minutes of setup, you can automatically pull in what’s assigned to you in GitHub, Jira, Asana, Linear, and even emails, and manage it all from a single dashboard. Whether you’re a developer with multiple repositories or a manager with various projects, grouping tasks from multiple apps in one place lets you focus on what matters: making progress, not switching tabs.

If you try Foco Plus, start by connecting one tool (e.g., GitHub) and add the rest as needed. The flexibility of color-coded workspaces and views (List, Kanban, Calendar) will help you adapt it to your workflow, no matter how many projects you juggle.