Watson API

An API that connects AI assistants (ChatGPT, Claude, and others) to your tasks and projects. Ask "what should I work on?" and get a real answer from your task list instead of generic productivity advice.

Watson exposes your projects, tasks, events, and an inbox via REST and the Model Context Protocol (MCP)—the standard for connecting LLMs to tools.

Base URL: https://watson.backyardbrains.com

Auth

• REST: ?secret=<API_SECRET> query param
• MCP: One of:
  • Authorization: Bearer <API_SECRET> header
  • X-API-Key: <API_SECRET> header
  • ?key=<API_SECRET> query param (for ChatGPT connector—connector can't pass headers)
  • privateKey in tool arguments (blocked by ChatGPT safety layer)

Set API_SECRET or BACKYARDBRAINS_API_KEY in the environment.

Data Source

When USE_MEMORY_API=true (default), ontology and inbox come from memory.backyardbrains.com. Otherwise uses local JSON-LD files.

Quick Start

pip install -r requirements.txt
export API_SECRET=your_secret
export USE_MEMORY_API=true
export MEMORY_API_URL=https://memory.backyardbrains.com
export MEMORY_API_KEY=your_memory_api_key
uvicorn main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8080

Docker

docker build -t watson-api .
docker run -p 8080:8080 \
  -e API_SECRET=your_secret \
  -e MEMORY_API_URL=https://memory.backyardbrains.com \
  -e MEMORY_API_KEY=your_key \
  watson-api

MCP Tools

Tool	Description
get_summary	Daily digest: projects, open tasks, upcoming events
get_projects	List all projects
get_tasks	List tasks (filter by project, status)
get_events	List events in date range
get_links	Document links for projects
set_task_status	Update task status
post_inbox	Append note for Watson to reconcile

ChatGPT Integration

Add Watson as an MCP connector with URL:

https://watson.backyardbrains.com/mcp?key=<API_SECRET>

The key in the URL authenticates requests—ChatGPT cannot pass it in tool arguments due to platform safety restrictions.