/todo-queue

name: todo-queue
description: "Process emails in a configured task label into Apple Reminders, including timing details. Requires macOS and connected email."

Todo Queue

*v1.1 — Adapted for public use*

Batch-process emails in a designated Gmail label, converting them to Apple Reminders with timing extracted from the email body.

Usage

/todo-queue

Overview

This skill processes emails sent to `your-email+todo@gmail.com` (or manually labeled @ToSelf). It: 1. Searches for unread @ToSelf emails 2. Parses timing syntax from the email body 3. Creates Apple Reminders automatically (no confirmation needed) 4. Marks emails as read and archives them

**Note:** Auto-processing is enabled. Use `dryrun` argument to preview without creating.

**Platform note:** This skill uses `osascript` for Apple Reminders, which is **macOS-only**. On other platforms, you would need to replace Step 3 with a different reminder/task API.

Instructions

Step 1: Search for Pending Todo Emails

Search Gmail: `label:@ToSelf is:unread`

**If no emails found:**

No pending todo emails in @ToSelf.

To add emails to the queue:
- Forward any email to: your-email+todo@gmail.com
- Add timing in the body: "due:Friday" or "due:tomorrow list:Personal"

Stop here.

Step 2: Fetch and Parse Each Email

For each email found:

1. **Get email content** using `mcp__google_workspace__get_gmail_message_content`

2. **Extract task title:**

• If forwarded email (subject starts with "Fwd:"): Use original subject, suggest "Review: [subject]" or "Reply to [sender] about [subject]"
• If self-sent email: Use subject line directly
• If subject contains "Re:": Suggest "Follow up on [topic]"

3. **Parse timing syntax from body** (case-insensitive, colon required):

| Syntax | Parsed As | |--------|-----------| | `due:tomorrow` | Tomorrow 9am | | `due:Friday` | Next Friday 9am | | `due:Feb 15` or `due:February 15` | Feb 15 9am | | `due:next week` | Next Monday 9am | | `due:3 days` or `due:in 3 days` | 3 days from now, 9am | | `due:2 weeks` | 14 days from now, 9am | | `time:2pm` or `time:14:00` | Overrides default 9am | | `list:Personal` | Personal list (default: Work) | | `list:Someday` | Someday list | | `list:Work` | Work list (explicit) | | `tag:#waiting` | Add #waiting tag | | `tags:#project #budget` | Multiple tags (space-separated) | | No timing found | No due date (task still created) |

**Parsing rules:**

• Keywords can appear anywhere in email body
• Multiple keywords on same line or different lines both work
• Case-insensitive (`DUE:Friday` = `due:friday`)
• Colon is required (`due:tomorrow` works, `due tomorrow` does not)
• For forwarded emails, parse the ADDED text (before "---------- Forwarded message"), not the forwarded content

**Day name parsing:**

• If today is Tuesday and body says `due:Friday`, that's Friday of THIS week (3 days away)
• If today is Saturday and body says `due:Friday`, that's Friday of NEXT week (6 days away)
• `due:Monday` when today is Monday means NEXT Monday (7 days away)

Step 3: Create Reminders (Auto-Processing)

**Process each email automatically** — no confirmation needed.

For each task:

1. **Create Apple Reminder** using osascript:

osascript -e '
tell application "Reminders"
    set targetList to list "[List Name]"
    set newReminder to make new reminder at end of targetList with properties {name:"[Task Title]", body:"[Gmail Link]\n\n[Any tags]"}
    [If due date:] set due date of newReminder to date "[formatted date]"
end tell
'

**Date format for osascript:** "February 7, 2026 at 9:00:00 AM"

**Gmail link format:** `https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/[message_id]`

2. **Archive the email:**

• Remove INBOX label (if present)
• Keep @ToSelf label (for history/audit trail)
• Mark as read

Use `mcp__google_workspace__modify_gmail_message_labels` with:

• `remove_labels: ["INBOX", "UNREAD"]`
• Do NOT remove @ToSelf

Step 4: Report Results

COMPLETE

Created 3 reminders:
  1. Reply to [Name] about grant proposal → Work (due Fri Feb 7)
  2. Review proposal draft → Work (no due date)
  3. Book dentist appointment → Personal (due Mon Feb 10)

Processed emails archived (kept in @ToSelf for history)

To find these reminders:
- Mac: Reminders app → Work / Personal lists
- iPhone: Reminders app → Work / Personal lists

Arguments

• `dryrun` — Show what would be created without actually creating
• `limit:N` — Only process first N emails (default: all)

Examples

/todo-queue              # Process all pending
/todo-queue dryrun       # Preview only
/todo-queue limit:5      # Process first 5 only

Usage Examples (Email Side)

**Example 1: Forward with timing**

Forward email from a colleague to: your-email+todo@gmail.com
Add to body before forwarded content:
"due:Friday

---------- Forwarded message ----------"
→ Creates: "Reply to [Name] about [subject]" due Friday 9am in Work list

**Example 2: Self-email quick capture**

Send to: your-email+todo@gmail.com
Subject: Book flights for March trip
Body: "due:next week list:Personal"
→ Creates: "Book flights for March trip" due Monday in Personal list

**Example 3: No timing**

Forward email to: your-email+todo@gmail.com
Body: (empty, just forward)
→ Creates: "Review: [subject]" with no due date in Work list

**Example 4: Multiple tags**

Send to: your-email+todo@gmail.com
Subject: Review project budget
Body: "due:Feb 15 tags:#project #budget"
→ Creates: "Review project budget" due Feb 15 in Work list with tags

Error Handling

• **No @ToSelf label found**: "Error: @ToSelf label not found. Check Gmail labels — see Customization Points below."
• **Apple Reminders unavailable**: "Error: Could not create reminder. Emails NOT processed (still unread in @ToSelf)."
• **Partial failure**: If some reminders fail, report which succeeded/failed. Leave failed emails unread.
• **List doesn't exist**: Create in "Reminders" default list with no