trello-api

What this skill does

# Trello API Integration Skill

Master the Trello API for Kanban board automation, including boards, lists, cards, members, webhooks, and the py-trello Python SDK. Build powerful workflow automations and custom integrations with Trello's comprehensive REST API.

## When to Use This Skill

### USE Trello API when:
- **Automating board management** - Create, update, archive boards programmatically
- **Building workflow integrations** - Connect Trello with other tools
- **Card automation** - Auto-create cards from external events
- **Progress tracking** - Build dashboards from Trello data
- **Notification systems** - React to board changes via webhooks
- **Bulk operations** - Move/update many cards at once
- **Custom reporting** - Extract data for analysis
- **Power-up development** - Extend Trello functionality

### DON'T USE Trello API when:
- **Need complex dependencies** - Use Jira or Asana
- **Require time tracking** - Built-in feature limited, use Toggl integration
- **Database-style queries** - Use Notion API instead
- **Enterprise compliance** - May need Enterprise-grade solutions
- **Complex workflows** - Consider Monday.com or Linear

## Prerequisites

### API Authentication

```bash
# Get API Key from:
# https://trello.com/app-key

# Get Token (authorize your app):
# https://trello.com/1/authorize?expiration=never&scope=read,write,account&response_type=token&name=MyApp&key=YOUR_API_KEY

# Set environment variables
export TRELLO_API_KEY="your-api-key"
export TRELLO_TOKEN="your-token"

# Verify authentication
curl -s "https://api.trello.com/1/members/me?key=$TRELLO_API_KEY&token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" | jq '.fullName'
```

### Python SDK Installation

```bash
# Install py-trello
pip install py-trello

# Using uv (recommended)
uv pip install py-trello

# With additional dependencies
pip install py-trello requests python-dateutil

# Verify installation
python -c "from trello import TrelloClient; print('py-trello installed!')"
```

### Verify Setup

```python
from trello import TrelloClient
import os

client = TrelloClient(
    api_key=os.environ["TRELLO_API_KEY"],
    token=os.environ["TRELLO_TOKEN"]
)

# Test connection
me = client.get_member("me")
print(f"Connected as: {me.full_name}")
print(f"Username: {me.username}")
```

## Core Capabilities

### 1. Board Management

**REST API - Boards:**
```bash
# List all boards
curl -s "https://api.trello.com/1/members/me/boards?key=$TRELLO_API_KEY&token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" | jq '.[].name'

# Get specific board
curl -s "https://api.trello.com/1/boards/BOARD_ID?key=$TRELLO_API_KEY&token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" | jq

# Get board with lists and cards
curl -s "https://api.trello.com/1/boards/BOARD_ID?lists=all&cards=all&key=$TRELLO_API_KEY&token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" | jq

# Create board
curl -s -X POST "https://api.trello.com/1/boards" \
    -d "key=$TRELLO_API_KEY" \
    -d "token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" \
    -d "name=Project Alpha" \
    -d "desc=Main project board" \
    -d "defaultLists=false" \
    -d "prefs_permissionLevel=private" | jq

# Create board from template
curl -s -X POST "https://api.trello.com/1/boards" \
    -d "key=$TRELLO_API_KEY" \
    -d "token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" \
    -d "name=New Project" \
    -d "idBoardSource=TEMPLATE_BOARD_ID" | jq

# Update board
curl -s -X PUT "https://api.trello.com/1/boards/BOARD_ID" \
    -d "key=$TRELLO_API_KEY" \
    -d "token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" \
    -d "name=Project Alpha - Updated" \
    -d "desc=Updated description" | jq

# Close (archive) board
curl -s -X PUT "https://api.trello.com/1/boards/BOARD_ID/closed" \
    -d "key=$TRELLO_API_KEY" \
    -d "token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" \
    -d "value=true" | jq

# Delete board permanently
curl -s -X DELETE "https://api.trello.com/1/boards/BOARD_ID?key=$TRELLO_API_KEY&token=$TRELLO_TOKEN"
```

**Python SDK - Boards:**
```python
from trello import TrelloClient
import os

client = TrelloClient(
    api_key=os.environ["TRELLO_API_KEY"],
    token=os.environ["TRELLO_TOKEN"]
)

# List all boards
boards = client.list_boards()
for board in boards:
    print(f"{board.name} (ID: {board.id})")

# Get specific board
board = client.get_board("BOARD_ID")
print(f"Board: {board.name}")
print(f"URL: {board.url}")

# Create new board
new_board = client.add_board(
    board_name="Development Sprint",
    source_board=None,  # Or source board for template
    permission_level="private"  # "private", "org", "public"
)
print(f"Created board: {new_board.id}")

# Get board lists
lists = board.list_lists()
for lst in lists:
    print(f"  List: {lst.name}")

# Get all cards on board
cards = board.get_cards()
for card in cards:
    print(f"  Card: {card.name}")

# Get board members
members = board.get_members()
for member in members:
    print(f"  Member: {member.full_name}")

# Close board
board.close()

# Reopen board
board.open()
```

### 2. List Management

**REST API - Lists:**
```bash
# Get lists for board
curl -s "https://api.trello.com/1/boards/BOARD_ID/lists?key=$TRELLO_API_KEY&token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" | jq

# Create list
curl -s -X POST "https://api.trello.com/1/lists" \
    -d "key=$TRELLO_API_KEY" \
    -d "token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" \
    -d "name=In Progress" \
    -d "idBoard=BOARD_ID" \
    -d "pos=bottom" | jq

# Update list name
curl -s -X PUT "https://api.trello.com/1/lists/LIST_ID" \
    -d "key=$TRELLO_API_KEY" \
    -d "token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" \
    -d "name=Currently Working" | jq

# Move list to different position
curl -s -X PUT "https://api.trello.com/1/lists/LIST_ID" \
    -d "key=$TRELLO_API_KEY" \
    -d "token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" \
    -d "pos=top" | jq

# Archive list
curl -s -X PUT "https://api.trello.com/1/lists/LIST_ID/closed" \
    -d "key=$TRELLO_API_KEY" \
    -d "token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" \
    -d "value=true" | jq

# Move all cards in list to another list
curl -s -X POST "https://api.trello.com/1/lists/LIST_ID/moveAllCards" \
    -d "key=$TRELLO_API_KEY" \
    -d "token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" \
    -d "idBoard=BOARD_ID" \
    -d "idList=TARGET_LIST_ID" | jq

# Archive all cards in list
curl -s -X POST "https://api.trello.com/1/lists/LIST_ID/archiveAllCards?key=$TRELLO_API_KEY&token=$TRELLO_TOKEN"
```

**Python SDK - Lists:**
```python
from trello import TrelloClient
import os

client = TrelloClient(
    api_key=os.environ["TRELLO_API_KEY"],
    token=os.environ["TRELLO_TOKEN"]
)

board = client.get_board("BOARD_ID")

# Get all lists
lists = board.list_lists()
for lst in lists:
    print(f"List: {lst.name} (ID: {lst.id})")

# Create new list
new_list = board.add_list(
    name="Backlog",
    pos="bottom"  # "top", "bottom", or position number
)
print(f"Created list: {new_list.id}")

# Get specific list
target_list = board.get_list("LIST_ID")

# Get cards in list
cards = target_list.list_cards()
for card in cards:
    print(f"  Card: {card.name}")

# Rename list
target_list.set_name("New Backlog")

# Change list position
target_list.set_pos("top")

# Archive list
target_list.close()

# Move all cards from one list to another
source_list = board.get_list("SOURCE_LIST_ID")
dest_list = board.get_list("DEST_LIST_ID")

for card in source_list.list_cards():
    card.change_list(dest_list.id)
```

### 3. Card Management

**REST API - Cards:**
```bash
# Get cards for list
curl -s "https://api.trello.com/1/lists/LIST_ID/cards?key=$TRELLO_API_KEY&token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" | jq

# Get single card
curl -s "https://api.trello.com/1/cards/CARD_ID?key=$TRELLO_API_KEY&token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" | jq

# Create card with all options
curl -s -X POST "https://api.trello.com/1/cards" \
    -d "key=$TRELLO_API_KEY" \
    -d "token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" \
    -d "idList=LIST_ID" \
    -d "name=Implement feature X" \
    -d "desc=Detailed description of the feature" \
    -d "pos=top" \
    -d "due=2025-01-30T12:00:00.000Z" \
    -d "dueComplete=false" \
    -d "idMembers=MEMBER_ID1,MEMBER_ID2" \
    -d "idLabels=LABEL_ID1,LABEL_ID2" | jq

# Update card
curl -s -X PUT "https://api.trello.com/1/cards/CARD_ID" \
    -d "key=$TRELLO_API_KEY" \
    -d "token=$TRELLO_TOKEN" \
    -d "name=Updated card name" \
    -d "desc=Up