Claude Code kanban board: from the task checklist to a real board

What Claude Code has built in: the task list

The task list is Claude's own checklist for the work in front of it. It isn't the background-task view: /tasks shows running shells and subagents instead.

• Press Ctrl+T to show or hide it. It displays up to five tasks at a time.
• Tasks survive context compaction, so Claude keeps its plan on long jobs.
• Ask Claude to "show me all tasks" or "clear all tasks".
• Set CLAUDE_CODE_TASK_LIST_ID to share one list across sessions; it's stored in a named directory under ~/.claude/tasks/.
• The task tools are on by default for Opus 4.7, Sonnet 4.6, Haiku 4.5 and earlier models. On other models the list stays empty unless you set CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_TODO_TOOLS=1.

How to put Claude Code's tasks on a kanban board

This uses claude-code-kanban, an open-source board that watches the task files Claude Code writes and shows them in your browser.

1. Make sure the task tools are on

   If Claude never shows a checklist with Ctrl+T, your model doesn't have the task tools by default. Add the environment variable to your settings and restart Claude Code.

   // ~/.claude/settings.json: only needed if your model
   // doesn't have the task tools by default
   {
     "env": { "CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_TODO_TOOLS": "1" }
   }
   
   # Install the board, add its hooks once, then open it
   npm install -g claude-code-kanban
   claude-code-kanban --install
   claude-code-kanban --open

2. Install the board and its hooks

   claude-code-kanban --install adds a Claude Code plugin with hooks. Without the hooks the board shows tasks only, with no live activity or waiting prompts.

3. Open it and keep working

   Cards move through Pending, In Progress and Completed as Claude works, and you can answer Claude's prompts from the board. It listens on 127.0.0.1 only, with no login, so keep it on your own machine.

4. Share one board across sessions

   Start each session with the same task list ID, so several Claude Code sessions read and update one list.

   # Several sessions share one task list
   CLAUDE_CODE_TASK_LIST_ID=my-project claude

Source: Claude Code docs, Interactive mode (Task list)

Claude Code kanban tools compared

Facts from each project's own README or listing on November 7, 2026.

Which kind of board you need

• You want to watch one session's plan: Claude Code's own task list (Ctrl+T) may be enough; add claude-code-kanban for a bigger view in the browser.
• You run several sessions in parallel and lose track of which needs you: a session board such as Kanban Code or Claudine shows which are working, waiting or ready for review. See multiple Claude Code agents and the worktree guide.
• You were on Vibe Kanban: see Vibe Kanban alternatives.
• You want the board to drive the work, so agents pick up the next card without you: that's what Crewmark is for (below).

A kanban board where Claude Code takes the next card itself

Every tool above shows you what Claude is doing; you still start each session and move each card. Crewmark turns a Claude Code, Codex, DeepSeek Harness or OpenCode session into an AI employee with a role, a goal and working hours. It wakes on a heartbeat, takes the next issue from a shared board, comments as it works and messages you when it needs a decision.

1. Connect your project and agent

   Run the setup command in the repository; the employee works in its own session and checkout, on the subscription you already pay for.

2. Fill the board

   Write issues the way you would for a teammate, and assign them or leave them for whoever is free.

3. Review instead of starting

   Every 15, 30 or 60 minutes during working hours the employee takes the next card. See how to make Claude Code proactive and what an AI employee is.

Claude Code kanban FAQ