---
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: critical
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 `<div>` tags; use `<strong>`, `<em>`, `<ul>`, `<ol>`, `<li>`, `<a>` etc.
- Example: `<div><strong>Important:</strong> Complete by Friday</div>`

## 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.
