Basecamp

Basecamp CLI

Command-line interface for Basecamp. All output is JSON.

Prerequisites

basecamp version   # Verify installation
basecamp projects  # Verify authentication (run `basecamp auth` if needed)

Project Context

Create .basecamp.yml in a directory to set default project:

project_id: 12345678

Then omit project_id from commands when in that directory.

Commands Reference

Projects & Boards

basecamp projects                          # List all projects
basecamp boards [project_id]               # List card tables
basecamp columns [project_id]    # List columns in board

Cards

basecamp cards [project_id]                     # List cards
basecamp cards [project_id]  --column "Name"    # Filter by column
basecamp card [project_id]                       # View card
basecamp card [project_id]  --comments           # With comments
basecamp card-create [project_id]  --column  --title "Title"
basecamp card-update [project_id]  --title "New" --content "Text"
basecamp move [project_id]   --to "Column Name"

Card Steps (Checklists)

basecamp step-create [project_id]  --title "Step"
basecamp step-create [project_id]  --title "Step" --due 2026-02-01 --assignees "123,456"
basecamp step-update [project_id]  --title "Updated"
basecamp step-complete [project_id] 
basecamp step-uncomplete [project_id] 
basecamp step-reposition [project_id]   --position 0

Todos

basecamp todolists [project_id]                           # List todo lists
basecamp todos [project_id]                  # List todos
basecamp todos [project_id]  --completed     # Completed todos
basecamp todo [project_id]                       # View todo
basecamp todo-create [project_id]  --content "Task" --due 2026-02-01
basecamp todo-complete [project_id] 
basecamp todo-uncomplete [project_id] 
basecamp todo-reposition [project_id]  --position 1

Todo Groups

basecamp todolist-groups [project_id]        # List groups
basecamp todolist-group [project_id]            # View group
basecamp todolist-group-create [project_id]  --name "Sprint 1" --color green

Messages

basecamp messages [project_id]                            # List messages
basecamp message [project_id]                 # View message
basecamp message [project_id]  --comments     # With comments
basecamp message-create [project_id] --subject "Subject" --content "Body"

Comments

basecamp comment-add [project_id]  --content "Comment"

Documents

basecamp docs [project_id]                                # List documents
basecamp doc [project_id]                         # View document
basecamp doc [project_id]  --comments             # With comments
basecamp doc-create [project_id] --title "Title" --content "Content"

Schedule

basecamp schedule [project_id]                            # List entries
basecamp event [project_id]                     # View event
basecamp event [project_id]  --comments         # With comments
basecamp event-create [project_id] --summary "Meeting" --starts-at "2026-02-01T10:00:00Z" --ends-at "2026-02-01T11:00:00Z"
basecamp event-create [project_id] --summary "Holiday" --starts-at "2026-02-01" --ends-at "2026-02-01" --all-day

Campfire

basecamp campfire [project_id]                            # List messages
basecamp campfire-post [project_id] --content "Hello!"

Search

basecamp search "query"                                   # Search all projects
basecamp search "query" --type Todo                       # Filter by type
basecamp search "query" --project             # Filter by project

Types: Todo, Message, Document, Kanban::Card, Schedule::Entry, Comment

People

basecamp people                                           # List all people
basecamp person                                # View person
basecamp people-pingable                                  # Pingable people
basecamp people-project [project_id]                      # Project members
basecamp my-profile                                       # Your profile
basecamp project-access [project_id] --grant "123,456" --revoke "789"

Automatic Check-ins

basecamp questionnaire [project_id]                       # Questionnaire info
basecamp questions [project_id]                           # List questions
basecamp question [project_id]               # View question
basecamp question [project_id]  --comments   # With comments
basecamp question-answers [project_id]       # List answers
basecamp question-answer [project_id]          # View answer

Uploads

basecamp upload /path/to/file.pdf                         # Upload file (returns sgid)
basecamp uploads [project_id]                   # List uploads in vault
basecamp upload-view [project_id]              # View upload
basecamp upload-view [project_id]  --comments  # With comments

Recordings Management

basecamp archive [project_id]               # Archive recording
basecamp unarchive [project_id]             # Unarchive
basecamp trash [project_id]                 # Trash recording

Message Types

basecamp message-types [project_id]                       # List types
basecamp message-type [project_id]               # View type
basecamp message-type-create [project_id] --name "Announcement" --icon "📢"
basecamp message-type-update [project_id]  --name "Update" --icon "✅"
basecamp message-type-delete [project_id] 

Activity Events

basecamp events                                           # All events
basecamp events-project [project_id]                      # Project events
basecamp events-recording [project_id]      # Recording events

Error Handling

Errors return JSON to stderr:

{"error": "not authenticated, run 'basecamp auth' first"}

Tips

• All commands output JSON - pipe to jq for filtering
• Use --comments flag to include comments on supported commands
• Recording IDs work across types (todos, cards, messages, etc.)
• Get vault_id from basecamp docs output for upload commands

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: robzolkos
• Source: robzolkos/basecamp-cli
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.