OpenCove CLI
OpenCove is a desktop app that lays out Claude Code and Codex sessions, terminals and notes on an infinite canvas
- 1,635 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
Broad access
Why this level
- Launches terminals and agent sessions with access to your projects and git worktrees
- A Worker web UI open to the local network gives terminal control to anyone with the password
- The opencove command controls the canvas from scripts, and the installer downloads and unpacks a runtime bundle
Install
- Works in
Manual install
curl -fsSL https://github.com/DeadWaveWave/opencove/releases/latest/download/opencove-install.sh | shInstalls the opencove command without the app on macOS and Linux and verifies checksums. If it returns 404, install the command from the app settings.
Access and checks
How we reviewBroad accessThe tool can change data, run commands or handle secrets.
- Launches terminals and agent sessions with access to your projects and git worktrees
- A Worker web UI open to the local network gives terminal control to anyone with the password
- The opencove command controls the canvas from scripts, and the installer downloads and unpacks a runtime bundle
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
OpenCove is an Electron desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux that lays out work with AI agents on a two-dimensional canvas. Claude Code and Codex sessions, terminals, tasks and notes sit side by side as nodes, so you can see what each agent is doing and what is left. After a restart the canvas is restored whole, with its terminals and agents. Projects are separated with directories and git worktrees. Space archives restore older states, global search covers the canvas and terminal output, and a control center lists all active sessions. Scripts and agents themselves can use the opencove command. You install it from the app settings (Worker, CLI) or with a standalone installer. `opencove worker start` brings up a headless Worker with a web UI, so the canvas opens from another device.
Who it is for. For developers who run several Claude Code or Codex sessions every day and want to see them, their tasks and notes on one canvas.
Good fit when
- You keep several Claude Code and Codex sessions open across projects and lose track between tabs
- You need a saved layout: after a restart you return to the same terminals, notes and agent state
- You run parallel tasks in separate git worktrees and want to see them side by side
- You need canvas access from another device on the local network through the Worker web UI with a password
Not a fit when
- You need a stable product for a team: the project is in alpha, aimed at early adopters
- You work with one agent in one terminal: a canvas adds needless complexity
- You need a signed macOS build: the current builds are not signed or notarized by Apple
Example request
Through opencove show which agent sessions are running on the canvas now and open the plan note for the project in a separate worktreeLimitations
- The project is in alpha. Besides stable releases, the releases page has nightly builds that are newer but less reliable.
- macOS builds are not signed or notarized with the developer Apple ID, so Gatekeeper may block the launch.
- Building from source needs Node.js 22.12 or newer and pnpm 9.6.0. Claude Code or Codex are best installed globally.
- The Worker web UI is experimental and listens on 127.0.0.1 only by default.
- The license is MIT; the documentation is in English and Chinese.
How to disable. Quit and uninstall the app like any program. The opencove command is removed with the uninstall installer or from the app settings (Worker, CLI), and a headless Worker is stopped by ending its process.
FAQ
How do I install OpenCove and the opencove command?
Download the app from the releases page. The opencove command is installed by the Install CLI button in the app settings (Worker, CLI) or by the script `curl -fsSL https://github.com/DeadWaveWave/opencove/releases/latest/download/opencove-install.sh | sh` for macOS and Linux.
Which agents does OpenCove work with?
The app targets terminal agents, primarily Claude Code and Codex. Sessions run as ordinary terminals with saved state.
What is new in version 0.4.0?
The Pixel workspace, desktop-style collapsed windows and plugins with themes that install independently. Extensions are found in settings, and you start your own with `opencove plugin guide`.
How do I open the canvas from another device?
Run `opencove worker start --hostname 0.0.0.0 --web-ui-password password`: the command prints the web UI address and enables password login. Keep the password on whenever the canvas is reachable beyond localhost.
Does OpenCove run on Windows and Linux?
Yes. Builds for macOS, Windows and Linux are on the releases page, and on Windows the opencove command is installed by the PowerShell script opencove-install.ps1.
Discussion
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Comparison with similar tools
Entries that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Entry | Official | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenCove (this entry) | no | 1,635 | |
| OpenHands Agent Canvas | no | 91,604 | a control center for OpenHands, Claude Code, Codex and Gemini agents across machines, while OpenCove centers on a local canvas |
| TUIOS | no | 5,569 | a Go terminal multiplexer with tiled panes that shows agent state |
| CCB (Claude Codex Bridge) | no | 3,584 | a terminal workspace where agents exchange messages with each other |
README in short
The idea is a spatial desktop for agents in place of linear chats and tabs. Under the hood are Electron, React, an xyflow canvas and xterm.js.