--- name: basecamp-automation description: "Automate Basecamp project management, to-dos, messages, people, and to-do list organization via Rube MCP (Composio). Always search tools first for current schemas." risk: unknown source: community date_added: "2026-02-27" --- # Basecamp Automation via Rube MCP Automate Basecamp operations including project management, to-do list creation, task management, message board posting, people management, and to-do group organization through Composio's Basecamp toolkit. ## Prerequisites - Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available) - Active Basecamp connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `basecamp` - Always call `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` first to get current tool schemas ## Setup **Get Rube MCP**: Add `https://rube.app/mcp` as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works. 1. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` responds 2. Call `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `basecamp` 3. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Basecamp OAuth 4. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows ## Core Workflows ### 1. Manage To-Do Lists and Tasks **When to use**: User wants to create to-do lists, add tasks, or organize work within a Basecamp project **Tool sequence**: 1. `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECTS` - List projects to find the target bucket_id [Prerequisite] 2. `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOSETS` - Get the to-do set within a project [Prerequisite] 3. `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOSETS_TODOLISTS` - List existing to-do lists to avoid duplicates [Optional] 4. `BASECAMP_POST_BUCKETS_TODOSETS_TODOLISTS` - Create a new to-do list in a to-do set [Required for list creation] 5. `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOLISTS` - Get details of a specific to-do list [Optional] 6. `BASECAMP_POST_BUCKETS_TODOLISTS_TODOS` - Create a to-do item in a to-do list [Required for task creation] 7. `BASECAMP_CREATE_TODO` - Alternative tool for creating individual to-dos [Alternative] 8. `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOLISTS_TODOS` - List to-dos within a to-do list [Optional] **Key parameters for creating to-do lists**: - `bucket_id`: Integer project/bucket ID (from GET_PROJECTS) - `todoset_id`: Integer to-do set ID (from GET_BUCKETS_TODOSETS) - `name`: Title of the to-do list (required) - `description`: HTML-formatted description (supports Rich text) **Key parameters for creating to-dos**: - `bucket_id`: Integer project/bucket ID - `todolist_id`: Integer to-do list ID - `content`: What the to-do is for (required) - `description`: HTML details about the to-do - `assignee_ids`: Array of integer person IDs - `due_on`: Due date in `YYYY-MM-DD` format - `starts_on`: Start date in `YYYY-MM-DD` format - `notify`: Boolean to notify assignees (defaults to false) - `completion_subscriber_ids`: Person IDs notified upon completion **Pitfalls**: - A project (bucket) can contain multiple to-do sets; selecting the wrong `todoset_id` creates lists in the wrong section - Always check existing to-do lists before creating to avoid near-duplicate names - Success payloads include user-facing URLs (`app_url`, `app_todos_url`); prefer returning these over raw IDs - All IDs (`bucket_id`, `todoset_id`, `todolist_id`) are integers, not strings - Descriptions support HTML formatting only, not Markdown ### 2. Post and Manage Messages **When to use**: User wants to post messages to a project message board or update existing messages **Tool sequence**: 1. `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECTS` - Find the target project and bucket_id [Prerequisite] 2. `BASECAMP_GET_MESSAGE_BOARD` - Get the message board ID for the project [Prerequisite] 3. `BASECAMP_CREATE_MESSAGE` - Create a new message on the board [Required] 4. `BASECAMP_POST_BUCKETS_MESSAGE_BOARDS_MESSAGES` - Alternative message creation tool [Fallback] 5. `BASECAMP_GET_MESSAGE` - Read a specific message by ID [Optional] 6. `BASECAMP_PUT_BUCKETS_MESSAGES` - Update an existing message [Optional] **Key parameters**: - `bucket_id`: Integer project/bucket ID - `message_board_id`: Integer message board ID (from GET_MESSAGE_BOARD) - `subject`: Message title (required) - `content`: HTML body of the message - `status`: Set to `"active"` to publish immediately - `category_id`: Message type classification (optional) - `subscriptions`: Array of person IDs to notify; omit to notify all project members **Pitfalls**: - `status="draft"` can produce HTTP 400; use `status="active"` as the reliable option - `bucket_id` and `message_board_id` must belong to the same project; mismatches fail or misroute - Message content supports HTML tags only; not Markdown - Updates via `PUT_BUCKETS_MESSAGES` replace the entire body -- include the full corrected content, not just a diff - Prefer `app_url` from the response for user-facing confirmation links - Both `CREATE_MESSAGE` and `POST_BUCKETS_MESSAGE_BOARDS_MESSAGES` do the same thing; use CREATE_MESSAGE first and fall back to POST if it fails ### 3. Manage People and Access **When to use**: User wants to list people, manage project access, or add new users **Tool sequence**: 1. `BASECAMP_GET_PEOPLE` - List all people visible to the current user [Required] 2. `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECTS` - Find the target project [Prerequisite] 3. `BASECAMP_LIST_PROJECT_PEOPLE` - List people on a specific project [Required] 4. `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECTS_PEOPLE` - Alternative to list project members [Alternative] 5. `BASECAMP_PUT_PROJECTS_PEOPLE_USERS` - Grant or revoke project access [Required for access changes] **Key parameters for PUT_PROJECTS_PEOPLE_USERS**: - `project_id`: Integer project ID - `grant`: Array of integer person IDs to add to the project - `revoke`: Array of integer person IDs to remove from the project - `create`: Array of objects with `name`, `email_address`, and optional `company_name`, `title` for new users - At least one of `grant`, `revoke`, or `create` must be provided **Pitfalls**: - Person IDs are integers; always resolve names to IDs via GET_PEOPLE first - `project_id` for people management is the same as `bucket_id` for other operations - `LIST_PROJECT_PEOPLE` and `GET_PROJECTS_PEOPLE` are near-identical; use either - Creating users via `create` also grants them project access in one step ### 4. Organize To-Dos with Groups **When to use**: User wants to organize to-dos within a list into color-coded groups **Tool sequence**: 1. `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECTS` - Find the target project [Prerequisite] 2. `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOLISTS` - Get the to-do list details [Prerequisite] 3. `BASECAMP_GET_TODOLIST_GROUPS` - List existing groups in a to-do list [Optional] 4. `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOLISTS_GROUPS` - Alternative group listing [Alternative] 5. `BASECAMP_POST_BUCKETS_TODOLISTS_GROUPS` - Create a new group in a to-do list [Required] 6. `BASECAMP_CREATE_TODOLIST_GROUP` - Alternative group creation tool [Alternative] **Key parameters**: - `bucket_id`: Integer project/bucket ID - `todolist_id`: Integer to-do list ID - `name`: Group title (required) - `color`: Visual color identifier -- one of: `white`, `red`, `orange`, `yellow`, `green`, `blue`, `aqua`, `purple`, `gray`, `pink`, `brown` - `status`: Filter for listing -- `"archived"` or `"trashed"` (omit for active groups) **Pitfalls**: - `POST_BUCKETS_TODOLISTS_GROUPS` and `CREATE_TODOLIST_GROUP` are near-identical; use either - Color values must be from the fixed palette; arbitrary hex/rgb values are not supported - Groups are sub-sections within a to-do list, not standalone entities ### 5. Browse and Inspect Projects **When to use**: User wants to list projects, get project details, or explore project structure **Tool sequence**: 1. `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECTS` - List all active projects [Required] 2. `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECT` - Get comprehensive details for a specific project [Optional] 3. `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECTS_BY_PROJECT_ID` - Alternative project detail retrieval [Alternative] **Key parameters**: - `status`: Filter by `"archived"` or `"trashed"`; omit for active projects - `project_id`: Integer project ID for detailed retrieval **Pitfalls**: - Projects are sorted by most recently created first - The response includes a `dock` array with tools (todoset, message_board, etc.) and their IDs - Use the dock tool IDs to find `todoset_id`, `message_board_id`, etc. for downstream operations ## Common Patterns ### ID Resolution Basecamp uses a hierarchical ID structure. Always resolve top-down: - **Project (bucket_id)**: `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECTS` -- find by name, capture the `id` - **To-do set (todoset_id)**: Found in project dock or via `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOSETS` - **Message board (message_board_id)**: Found in project dock or via `BASECAMP_GET_MESSAGE_BOARD` - **To-do list (todolist_id)**: `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOSETS_TODOLISTS` - **People (person_id)**: `BASECAMP_GET_PEOPLE` or `BASECAMP_LIST_PROJECT_PEOPLE` - Note: `bucket_id` and `project_id` refer to the same entity in different contexts ### Pagination Basecamp uses page-based pagination on list endpoints: - Response headers or body may indicate more pages available - `GET_PROJECTS`, `GET_BUCKETS_TODOSETS_TODOLISTS`, and list endpoints return paginated results - Continue fetching until no more results are returned ### Content Formatting - All rich text fields use HTML, not Markdown - Wrap content in `

` tags; use ``, ``, `
`, `
`, `
`, `` etc. - Example: `
Important: Complete by Friday
` ## Known Pitfalls ### ID Formats - All Basecamp IDs are integers, not strings or UUIDs - `bucket_id` = `project_id` (same entity, different parameter names across tools) - To-do set IDs, to-do list IDs, and message board IDs are found in the project's `dock` array - Person IDs are integers; resolve names via `GET_PEOPLE` before operations ### Status Field - `status="draft"` for messages can cause HTTP 400; always use `status="active"` - Project/to-do list status filters: `"archived"`, `"trashed"`, or omit for active ### Content Format - HTML only, never Markdown - Updates replace the entire body, not a partial diff - Invalid HTML tags may be silently stripped ### Rate Limits - Basecamp API has rate limits; space out rapid sequential requests - Large projects with many to-dos should be paginated carefully ### URL Handling - Prefer `app_url` from API responses for user-facing links - Do not reconstruct Basecamp URLs manually from IDs ## Quick Reference | Task | Tool Slug | Key Params | |------|-----------|------------| | List projects | `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECTS` | `status` | | Get project | `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECT` | `project_id` | | Get project detail | `BASECAMP_GET_PROJECTS_BY_PROJECT_ID` | `project_id` | | Get to-do set | `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOSETS` | `bucket_id`, `todoset_id` | | List to-do lists | `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOSETS_TODOLISTS` | `bucket_id`, `todoset_id` | | Get to-do list | `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOLISTS` | `bucket_id`, `todolist_id` | | Create to-do list | `BASECAMP_POST_BUCKETS_TODOSETS_TODOLISTS` | `bucket_id`, `todoset_id`, `name` | | Create to-do | `BASECAMP_POST_BUCKETS_TODOLISTS_TODOS` | `bucket_id`, `todolist_id`, `content` | | Create to-do (alt) | `BASECAMP_CREATE_TODO` | `bucket_id`, `todolist_id`, `content` | | List to-dos | `BASECAMP_GET_BUCKETS_TODOLISTS_TODOS` | `bucket_id`, `todolist_id` | | List to-do groups | `BASECAMP_GET_TODOLIST_GROUPS` | `bucket_id`, `todolist_id` | | Create to-do group | `BASECAMP_POST_BUCKETS_TODOLISTS_GROUPS` | `bucket_id`, `todolist_id`, `name`, `color` | | Create to-do group (alt) | `BASECAMP_CREATE_TODOLIST_GROUP` | `bucket_id`, `todolist_id`, `name` | | Get message board | `BASECAMP_GET_MESSAGE_BOARD` | `bucket_id`, `message_board_id` | | Create message | `BASECAMP_CREATE_MESSAGE` | `bucket_id`, `message_board_id`, `subject`, `status` | | Create message (alt) | `BASECAMP_POST_BUCKETS_MESSAGE_BOARDS_MESSAGES` | `bucket_id`, `message_board_id`, `subject` | | Get message | `BASECAMP_GET_MESSAGE` | `bucket_id`, `message_id` | | Update message | `BASECAMP_PUT_BUCKETS_MESSAGES` | `bucket_id`, `message_id` | | List all people | `BASECAMP_GET_PEOPLE` | (none) | | List project people | `BASECAMP_LIST_PROJECT_PEOPLE` | `project_id` | | Manage access | `BASECAMP_PUT_PROJECTS_PEOPLE_USERS` | `project_id`, `grant`, `revoke`, `create` | ## When to Use This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.

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