How to sync GitHub issues and Jira tasks in one to-do list (and why developers need it)

If you work on multiple projects as a developer, chances are you have GitHub issues and Jira tasks scattered across different tools. Checking each platform separately not only wastes time but also increases the risk of missing something critical. The solution isn’t to open more tabs—it’s to sync GitHub issues and Jira tasks in one to-do list where you can see, prioritize, and work on them without switching contexts. In this guide, we’ll show you how to do it with Foco Plus, step by step, with real examples of workflows for developers managing multiple repositories and projects.

Why you need a unified list (and why alternatives fail)

The typical alternative is to keep GitHub and Jira open in separate tabs—or worse, manually copy tasks into a spreadsheet or note-taking app. This approach has three major flaws:

• Loss of context: Each tool has its own interface, labels, and workflows. Switching between them breaks your focus.
• Duplicate effort: If you update a task’s status in Jira, you have to remember to replicate it in your personal list (or vice versa).
• No global prioritization: You can’t see at a glance which GitHub issue is more urgent than a Jira task because they live in separate systems.

Foco solves this by automatically pulling your GitHub issues and Jira tasks into a single board, where each task retains its origin (with a unique color for each project) and can be organized however you prefer: by date, priority, or status. Unlike generic apps like Notion or Trello, Foco is built for people juggling multiple jobs at once (not just a single project), with features like Focus Mode (to isolate one project) or voice capture with automatic transcription of dates and priorities.

Step-by-step: How to sync GitHub issues and Jira tasks in Foco

1. Set up the connections (in under 2 minutes)

Foco Plus includes native integrations with GitHub and Jira (as well as Notion, Linear, and Asana). To connect them:

• Open Foco and go to Settings > Connections.
• Select GitHub and authorize with your account (OAuth). Repeat the process for Jira.
• For each connection, choose a destination workspace: you can let AI decide automatically based on the task content, or assign a fixed project (e.g., "Backend" for all GitHub issues from that repository).
• Enable the "Complete also in origin" option if you want marking a task as done in Foco to automatically close the original issue or task in GitHub or Jira.

2. Define how imported tasks are organized

Foco pulls in tasks with all their original data (title, description, labels, assignees, and due dates), but you decide how to display them:

• By project: Each GitHub repository or Jira project becomes a workspace in Foco, with a unique color. This way, in Panorama Mode, you’ll see all tasks mixed together but instantly recognize which project they belong to.
• By priority: Use GitHub/Jira labels (e.g., "bug", "enhancement") or Foco’s priority fields (urgent, important, normal) to filter in List or Kanban view.
• By date: Tasks with due dates are grouped into "Today", "This Week", or "Later". If a GitHub issue lacks a due date, you can assign one in Foco without affecting the original.

3. Workflow example: From a meeting to action

Imagine a team meeting where two GitHub issues and one Jira task are assigned. With Foco, the workflow would look like this:

• Use Listen Mode to record the meeting. Foco transcribes the audio and saves it as a note attached to a new task named "Sprint 12 meeting".
• During the meeting, dictate with Burst Mode: "Issue #45 in repo-api, priority urgent, due tomorrow. Jira task PROJ-123, blocked by backend, label review". Foco creates both tasks automatically, extracting the details from your dictation.
• In Panorama Mode, you see all three tasks (the meeting and the two new ones) with their respective colors. Use Kanban view to drag them to the "Doing" column.
• When you finish the GitHub issue, mark it as done in Foco. Since you enabled "Complete also in origin", the issue closes automatically in GitHub, and the team is notified.

Tips to get the most out of the sync

Use labels to cross-reference projects

Create labels in Foco like "dependency:frontend" or "blocked:QA" and apply them to GitHub and Jira tasks alike. This way, even if projects live in different tools, you can filter by these labels to see which tasks are related or blocked.

Leverage the daily briefing

Foco Plus generates a daily briefing with what’s due today, which tasks are blocked, and which GitHub issues or Jira tasks need attention. You can receive it via email or view it in the app. For example: "You have 2 GitHub issues without due dates and 1 Jira task blocked by another team. Task PROJ-456 is due today."

Syncing GitHub issues and Jira tasks in one to-do list isn’t just about saving time—it’s about regaining control over your work when projects multiply.

What happens if you don’t use Foco (and why it’s not the same)

Without a tool like Foco, syncing GitHub and Jira typically involves three approaches, all with limitations:

• Browser extensions: Like GitHub + Jira integrations, but they only work in one tab. Close the browser, and you lose context.
• Spreadsheets: Manually copying tasks is error-prone and doesn’t scale. Plus, there’s no automatic sync with changes in GitHub or Jira.
• Note-taking apps: Like Notion or Obsidian, but they require setting up complex databases and lack native GitHub/Jira integrations. Sync remains manual.

Foco wins because it’s not a layer on top of GitHub and Jira—it’s a system that integrates them seamlessly. Tasks update in real time, you can view them in context (with their project’s color), and work on them without leaving the app. Features like voice capture or Listen Mode are designed for developers who need to log information quickly without breaking their flow.

Conclusion: Fewer tools, more focus

Syncing GitHub issues and Jira tasks in one to-do list isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity when you’re working on multiple projects. With Foco Plus, the process is automatic, customizable, and built to ensure you don’t lose sight of what matters: getting work done, not managing tools. Try connecting one repository and one Jira project, and adjust the workflows to fit your needs. Within a week, you’ll notice the difference between checking tabs and having everything under control.