How to sync GitHub, Jira, and Asana tasks in one list with Foco

If you juggle GitHub repositories, Jira projects, and Asana tasks simultaneously, you know how frustrating it is to switch between tabs just to see what’s next. With Foco’s Plus Connections, you can sync GitHub, Jira, and Asana tasks in one list, without duplicating work or losing context. This guide walks you through the setup step-by-step, with real-world examples for developers and technical teams.

1. Prerequisites to sync GitHub, Jira, and Asana tasks

• A Foco account with the Plus plan (20 €/month). Connections are exclusive to this plan.
• Admin access to the GitHub, Jira, and Asana accounts you want to connect (you’ll need permissions to authorize the integration).
• Decide which Foco workspace will receive tasks from each tool. You can choose a fixed workspace (e.g., "Frontend Development") or let Foco’s AI assign tasks automatically based on content.

2. Connect GitHub, Jira, and Asana to Foco

• Open Foco on desktop and go to Settings > Connections.
• Click "Add connection" and select GitHub. Log in with your account and authorize access. Repeat for Jira and Asana.
• For each connection, choose the "destination workspace": an existing workspace in Foco (e.g., "Current Sprint") or the "Automatic" option for AI-based assignment.
• Enable "Complete in source tool" if you want tasks marked as done in Foco to automatically close or update the original issue or task in GitHub, Jira, or Asana.

3. How syncing GitHub, Jira, and Asana tasks works in Foco

Once connected, Foco will automatically pull the following as tasks:

• In GitHub: issues assigned to you, pull requests requiring your review, and pending reviews.
• In Jira: issues assigned to you across any project.
• In Asana: tasks assigned to you in the projects you select (you can filter by project during setup).

4. Workflow examples for developers

Example 1: Full-stack developer managing multiple repositories

• Connect GitHub to the "Frontend" workspace (green) and Jira to the "Backend" workspace (blue).
• In Panorama mode, you see all tasks from both workspaces, each with its color.
• Switch to the "Frontend" workspace’s Focus mode to see only your GitHub issues, without Jira distractions.
• If you enabled "Complete in source tool," marking a GitHub issue as done in Foco will automatically close it in GitHub.

Example 2: Technical team with Jira sprints and Asana design tasks

• Connect Jira to the "Current Sprint" workspace (red) and Asana to the "Design" workspace (yellow).
• In Panorama mode, you see all tasks from both workspaces, prioritized by due date and urgency.
• Use the Kanban view to drag tasks between columns (e.g., "To Do," "In Progress," "Review").
• Completing a Jira task in Foco will update it in Jira if you enabled the sync option.

5. Why sync GitHub, Jira, and Asana tasks in Foco (vs. other tools)

The typical alternative is using generic tools like Notion, spreadsheets, or standalone lists to centralize tasks from multiple tools. The problem is:

• Manual copying and pasting is required for each issue or task, which duplicates work and increases the risk of errors.
• Real-time sync isn’t maintained: if someone updates an issue in GitHub, it won’t automatically reflect in your list.
• No context differentiation. In Foco, each task has the color of its workspace, helping you instantly identify whether it’s from GitHub, Jira, or Asana without reading the title.
• No workspace filtering. Foco lets you see all tasks together (Panorama mode) or focus on one workspace (Focus mode), something impossible in a spreadsheet or generic list.

Foco is built specifically for people managing multiple workstreams. Syncing GitHub, Jira, and Asana tasks in one list doesn’t just save time—it gives you a clear view of what to do next, without losing the context of each tool.

6. Troubleshooting common issues

• If you don’t see GitHub, Jira, or Asana tasks in Foco, check that they’re assigned to you in the original tool and that the connection is active in Settings > Connections.
• If a task doesn’t close in the source tool when marked as done in Foco, verify that "Complete in source tool" is enabled for that connection.
• If the AI assigns a task to the wrong workspace, edit the task in Foco and manually move it to the correct workspace. You can also disable "Automatic" and choose a fixed workspace for that connection.