How to view GitHub issues and Jira tasks in a single list with Foco

If you manage projects in GitHub and Jira simultaneously, you know how frustrating it is to switch between apps just to check your assigned issues and tasks. With Foco, you can view GitHub issues and Jira tasks in a single list, all within one dashboard. Plus Connections automatically pull in what’s assigned or mentioned to you in these tools, organize them by workspaces, and let you prioritize them alongside your other tasks (personal, client work, or other projects). This way, you avoid wasting time switching contexts and keep everything visible in one place.

Steps to integrate GitHub and Jira into Foco

• Open Foco and go to the 'Connections' tab (available only in the Plus plan).
• Select 'Add connection' and choose GitHub or Jira from the catalog. Log in with your tool’s account (secure OAuth, Foco doesn’t store your credentials).
• Choose a 'destination workspace' for each connection: you can assign a fixed workspace (e.g., 'Project X') or let the AI decide automatically based on the content of each issue or task.
• Enable the 'Complete also in origin' option if you want Foco to automatically close or comment on the original issue or task in GitHub or Jira when you mark it as done in Foco. This keeps both apps in sync without extra effort.
• Repeat the process for the other tool (GitHub or Jira). Each connection will work independently, but all your tasks will appear together in Foco’s Panorama mode, each with its workspace’s color.

How to view GitHub and Jira tasks mixed in one panel

• In Panorama mode, Foco displays all your tasks from all workspaces at once. GitHub issues and Jira tasks will appear alongside your other tasks, each with the color of its workspace (e.g., red for GitHub, blue for Jira).
• Use the 'View' button to switch between List (grouped by date), Kanban (customizable columns), or Calendar (week or month view). In Kanban, for example, you can drag a GitHub issue and a Jira task to the 'Doing' column to prioritize them together.
• Filter by tags, priority, or due date to focus on what’s urgent, regardless of which tool it came from. If a task has a reminder, Foco will notify you even if it originated in GitHub or Jira.

What happens when you complete an integrated task

When you mark a task from GitHub or Jira as done in Foco, its status updates in your dashboard. If you enabled the 'Complete also in origin' option, the original issue or task will be closed or commented on automatically in the external tool. This saves you from having to repeat the step in GitHub or Jira, but if you prefer to review it manually, you can disable this option at any time.

Why Foco outperforms alternatives like standalone lists or single-project managers

Most productivity apps are designed to manage a single project or team, forcing you to create separate accounts or tabs for each tool (e.g., one tab for GitHub, another for Jira, another for personal tasks). With Foco, each connection (GitHub, Jira, etc.) is assigned to a 'workspace' within the same environment, allowing you to view GitHub issues and Jira tasks in a single list alongside your other responsibilities. Plus, Plus Connections eliminate the need to manually copy tasks: Foco fetches them automatically and organizes them for you, something neither spreadsheets nor generic note-taking apps can do without complex plugins or custom scripts.

Limitations and considerations

• Plus Connections are only available in the Plus plan (20 €/month). On lower-tier plans, you can use Foco to manage tasks manually but won’t automatically pull in GitHub issues or Jira tasks.
• Foco syncs tasks in one direction: from GitHub/Jira to Foco. You can’t edit the original issues or tasks from Foco (e.g., change their description or reassign them), but you can view their status and mark them as complete.
• If you use private GitHub or Jira servers, you can connect them via the 'MCP' option in the connections catalog by entering your server’s URL.