Backlog.md is a Markdown-centric task manager designed for AI-agent collaboration. It provides a structured workflow including task decomposition, plan approval, and code review. It supports terminal and web UIs. MCP integration is available for multiple clients and supports workspace following via MCP roots. Potential risks include configuration complexity and dependence on Git operations, but overall it offers a lightweight, local-first alternative to centralized task managers.
Backlog.md turns any folder into a self-contained project board powered by plain Markdown files and a zero-config CLI. It is designed for AI-agent collaboration, offering structure for task descriptions, acceptance criteria, milestones, implementation plans, and review checkpoints. It provides a terminal Kanban, a web UI, fuzzy search, local-first storage, and MCP integration for tools like Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, and Kiro.
Install globally: npm i -g backlog.md
Initialize in any Git repo: backlog init "My Project"
Or initialize with --no-git for non-code projects
Choose the MCP connector option to auto-configure Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Kiro, or Cursor
Alternatively, manually add the MCP server configuration (see install_config)
Optional: Add instructions in CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md for agents to read backlog://workflow/overview
{
"mcpServers": {
"backlog": {
"command": "backlog",
"args": [
"mcp",
"start"
],
"env": {
"BACKLOG_CWD": "/absolute/path/to/your/project"
}
}
}
}