Local Trello-style project manager for OpenClaw agents using markdown files

Local project management for OpenClaw agents

A developer has created a Trello-style project management system specifically designed to work with OpenClaw AI agents while maintaining security by keeping everything local. The tool addresses concerns about connecting sensitive client projects to external services by running entirely on the OpenClaw machine (in this case, an old laptop) and being accessible only on the local network.

Technical implementation

The system uses a straightforward tech stack:

• Backend: Node.js + Express for API server and static file serving
• Frontend: React + react-trello for Kanban UI with drag and drop functionality
• Data layer: Markdown files with YAML frontmatter instead of a database
• Libraries: gray-matter for frontmatter parsing, multer for image uploads, nanoid for unique card ID generation, and lucide-react for icons

How it works

Each project card is stored as a .md file on disk. The Express server reads and writes these files through a REST API that the React frontend consumes. The OpenClaw agent bypasses the API entirely and interacts with card files directly on the filesystem. Images are stored in a local directory and served through the API with token authentication.

The system supports all basic Trello functionality: creating cards, checklists, uploading images, and adding comments. The developer uses Telegram to notify their agent when new cards are ready, and the agent has demonstrated the ability to create its own cards, manage priorities, and handle checklists.

The developer currently has the project in a private repository and is considering whether to invest more time in developing it further for broader use.