---
# nbd-4w8z
title: Exclude done tickets from nbd list by default
status: completed
type: feature
priority: high
created_at: 2026-03-10T23:30:30Z
updated_at: 2026-03-10T23:30:32Z
blocked_by:
    - nbd-p9na
---

## Summary

Change `nbd list` to hide `done` tickets by default. Users must explicitly opt in
via `--filter status=done` or `--filter status=*` to see completed tickets.

This is a **breaking change in default behavior**.

Depends on: `--filter` wired into `list` (ticket 887344).

## Current behaviour

`nbd list` shows ALL tickets regardless of status.

## New behaviour

| Command | Shows |
|---|---|
| `nbd list` | todo + in_progress only (done excluded) |
| `nbd list --filter status=done` | done only |
| `nbd list --filter status=*` | all tickets (all statuses) |
| `nbd list --filter status=todo --filter status=in_progress` | todo and in_progress |
| `nbd list --filter type=bug` | non-done bug tickets (done still excluded) |
| `nbd list --filter type=bug --filter status=*` | all bug tickets including done |

The key rule: **if the user provides no `status` filter key, done tickets are excluded**.
If the user provides any `--filter status=...` argument, the explicit status filter
is used as-is with no implicit exclusion.

## Implementation (src/main.rs)

In `cmd_list`, after parsing the filter and loading tickets, apply the logic:

```rust
let filter = filter::parse_filters(&filter_args)?;
let tickets = list_tickets(&root).await?;

let tickets: Vec<Ticket> = tickets
    .into_iter()
    .filter(|t| {
        // If no status filter was provided by the user, exclude done tickets.
        let status_ok = if filter.has_status_filter() {
            // User expressed intent about status: use their filter.
            filter.matches_status(t)
        } else {
            // Default: hide done tickets.
            t.status \!= Status::Done
        };

        // Apply remaining filter keys (type, priority, title) regardless.
        status_ok && filter.matches_except_status(t)
    })
    .collect();
```

This requires two additional methods on `TicketFilter` (add to `src/filter.rs`):

```rust
/// Returns true if the ticket's status matches any of the status patterns.
/// Caller is responsible for only calling this when `has_status_filter()` is true.
pub fn matches_status(&self, ticket: &Ticket) -> bool;

/// Returns true if the ticket matches all non-status filter groups (type, priority, title).
/// The status group is intentionally excluded so callers can handle it separately.
pub fn matches_except_status(&self, ticket: &Ticket) -> bool;
```

## CLI help text update

Update the `List` variant doc comment:

```rust
/// List tickets sorted by priority (highest first).
///
/// By default, tickets with status `done` are excluded. Use
/// `--filter status=*` to include all tickets, or
/// `--filter status=done` to show only completed tickets.
List {
    #[arg(long = "filter", value_name = "KEY=VALUE")]
    filter: Vec<String>,
},
```

## Existing tests that need updating

The integration test `list_shows_created_tickets` creates two tickets with default
status (`todo`) and asserts both appear in `nbd list`. This test is unaffected because
the default tickets are not done. However, any future test that creates a ticket and
immediately lists without marking it done will still work.

Check: is there any existing test that creates a done ticket and expects it in `nbd list`?
If so, update that test to use `--filter status=done` or `--filter status=*`.

## New integration tests to add (tests/integration.rs)

- Create two tickets: one todo, one done. `nbd list` shows only the todo one.
- Create two tickets: one todo, one done. `nbd list --filter status=done` shows only the done one.
- Create two tickets: one todo, one done. `nbd list --filter status=*` shows both.
- Create 3 tickets: bug/todo, bug/done, task/todo.
  `nbd list --filter type=bug` shows only bug/todo (done excluded by default).
  `nbd list --filter type=bug --filter status=*` shows both bug tickets.
- `nbd list --json` does not include done tickets (verify JSON array length).
- `nbd list --filter status=* --json` includes done tickets.

## README update

Update the "List all tickets" section in README.md:

```
### List all tickets

```sh
nbd list                          # excludes done tickets
nbd list --filter status=*        # all tickets including done
nbd list --filter status=done     # only completed tickets
nbd list --filter type=bug        # non-done bug tickets
nbd list --json
```
```

## Files touched

- `src/main.rs` — `cmd_list` implementation and `List` help text
- `src/filter.rs` — `matches_status`, `matches_except_status` methods
- `src/tests.rs` — unit tests for new filter methods
- `tests/integration.rs` — new tests, update any affected existing tests
- `README.md` — updated usage section