How to sync GitHub issues and Jira tasks in one to-do list with Foco Plus

If you manage projects in GitHub and Jira simultaneously, you know how frustrating it is to switch between tabs to see which issues and tasks are pending. With Foco Plus, you can sync GitHub issues and Jira tasks in one to-do list, organized by color and with all the features of an advanced task manager. This saves you time by avoiding the need to check each tool separately and keeps everything under control in one place.

Step 1: Set up GitHub and Jira connections in Foco Plus

• Open Foco on desktop or mobile and go to Settings > Connections.
• Select GitHub and click Connect. Log in with your GitHub account and authorize access (read-only).
• Repeat the process with Jira: select Jira, log in, and authorize access to your assigned issues.
• For each connection, choose a 'destination workspace' where tasks will be created automatically. You can assign a fixed workspace (e.g., 'Frontend Development') or let Foco's AI decide based on the content of each issue or task (option 'Automatic').

Step 2: Customize how tasks are synced

• Enable the 'Complete also in the source' option if you want tasks marked as done in Foco to automatically close the corresponding issue in GitHub or task in Jira. This avoids manually updating both tools.
• Foco will pull the following data from each issue or task: title, description, due date (if available), priority, and labels. These fields will be automatically mapped to Foco's task fields.
• Synced tasks will appear with the color of the assigned workspace, making them easy to distinguish from other projects or clients.

Step 3: View and manage your issues and tasks in one place

• In Panorama mode, you'll see all your GitHub and Jira tasks mixed with the rest of your work, each with its assigned color. Use the List view to group them by date (Today, This Week, etc.) or the Kanban view to organize them into customizable columns (e.g., 'To Do', 'In Progress', 'Blocked').
• If you prefer to focus only on technical tasks, switch to Foco mode and select the workspace you configured for GitHub or Jira. This will filter the board to show only tasks from that tool.
• Use priority fields (urgent, important) and reminders to manage critical deadlines without leaving Foco.

Step 4: Automate capturing new tasks

• Every time an issue is assigned to you in GitHub or a task in Jira, Foco will automatically create it in your list. No need to check notifications or manually copy data.
• If you use the Burst feature (unlimited in Plus), you can dictate multiple tasks in a row, and Foco will separate them into individual issues or tasks, detecting dates, priorities, and reminders from the text. Ideal for capturing quick ideas without interrupting your workflow.

Why Foco outperforms alternatives like spreadsheets or generic apps

If you use a spreadsheet or a generic note-taking app to sync GitHub issues and Jira tasks, you end up manually copying each task, losing data like priorities or due dates, and lacking bidirectional sync. Foco solves this with native connections that automatically pull data while keeping information updated in both directions (if you enable 'Complete also in the source'). Plus, by consolidating all your tasks in one board with color-coding and flexible views, you avoid the chaos of scattered lists for each tool or project.

What else you can do with Foco Plus

• Connect other tools like Notion, Linear, or Asana to unify all your technical and non-technical tasks in one place.
• Use email capture to forward technical emails and convert them into tasks with the email attached as a note.
• Receive a daily briefing summarizing your pending issues and tasks, calendar updates, and daily priorities.