Ghostex

Native Ghostty-based desktop app for running agent CLIs with persistent terminals, GUI panes, browser panes, notifications, mobile access, and a lightweight code editor.

Ghostex is built for developers who keep multiple agents and terminals alive at once. It combines low-RAM Ghostty terminals, native Swift UI, T3code GUI panes, Chromium CEF browser panes, and Android/iOS session access in one workspace.

Looking for contributors. Join the Discord if you want to help: https://discord.gg/df7b3G92CS

Install

macOS

The Homebrew cask installs the correct Apple Silicon or Intel Mac build automatically.

brew install --cask maddada/tap/ghostex --force

You can also download the latest DMG from GitHub Releases.

Windows and Linux ports need contributors.

Android and iOS

Use the mobile apps to connect live to your Ghostex agent CLI sessions. APKs are in Releases. Join discord for iOS app.

Highlights

Feature	What it gives you
Ghostty terminals	Lower RAM use, better battery life, and stable agent CLI sessions.
Native macOS shell	Swift UI for performance-sensitive desktop behavior.
T3code GUI panes	Graphical panes alongside terminal agents.
Chromium CEF browser	Embedded browser panes with DevTools, profiles, and MCP access.
Lightweight code editor	VS Code-based editor for Markdown, PR review, files, and git work.
Mobile access	Android and iOS apps for checking and controlling live sessions.
TUI mode	Use ghostex or gx to attach from another machine.

Screenshots

T3code GUI panes and supported terminal CLIs

Rich prompt editor

Two prompt editor modes are included: Monaco-based and TUI-based.

Agent CLI support

Ghostex works with Claude Code, Codex CLI, OpenCode, Pi Agent, Gemini, Copilot, and other terminal-based agent CLIs.

Embedded browser

Chromium-based browser panes include DevTools, profiles, and MCP access.

Embedded code editor

The lightweight VS Code-based editor loads on demand for file edits, PR checks, Markdown, and git workflows.

Notifications and status

Ghostex supports notifications, menu bar indicators, minimal floating counters, and session status at a glance.

Comparison

Feature	Ghostex	Codex app	cmux
Open source	Yes	-	Yes
Ghostty terminal	Yes	-	Yes
Built-in Computer use	Yes	Yes	-
Built-in Browser use	Yes	Yes	Yes
Use any model	Yes	-	Yes
Cross Model Orchestration	Yes	-	Yes
Rich Prompt Editor	Yes	N/A	-
iOS & Android	Yes	Yes	-
Pets	Yes	Yes	-
Appshots	Soon™	Yes	-
Automations	Soon™	Yes	-

Main Features

• First-launch preferences for common install defaults.
• Git workflows with Sync with Main, split Git menus, prompt-agent PR review, and persistent running toasts.
• First-prompt title generation for auto-naming new agent sessions.
• Pinned sessions with ghostex pin-session.
• Auto-sleep for unused terminal, browser, and project panes.
• Embedded Chromium browser with DevTools and profiles.
• Embedded lightweight code editor and git manager.
• Live Android and iOS access to agent CLI sessions.
• SSH continuation with zmx, tmux, and zellij persistence.
• Rich prompt editor with image insert and preview support.
• Native Swift macOS app shell.
• Auto session naming for popular agents.
• App restart resumes existing agent CLI sessions.
• Menu bar working/done indicators and notification sounds for most agent CLIs.
• Multi-pane and multi-group project layouts.
• Scheduled messages and automation through the Ghostex CLI.

Useful Extras

• Continue over SSH, then attach with ghostex or gx.
• Create worktrees and merge them back easily.
• Find previous threads by keyword and continue with context.
• Sync session titles and status into the UI.
• Run multiple panes and multiple groups per project with split and tab layouts.

Contributing

Ghostex is moving quickly, and help is welcome on platform ports, missing agent CLI integrations, docs, testing, and feature polish.

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/df7b3G92CS

Credits

Ghostex builds on open source work from these projects and communities:

• CEF Project — embedded Chromium browser panes
• Agentation — browser annotation and feedback tooling
• CMUX — agent hook patterns and notification integration
• T3 Code — GUI editor panes for coding agents
• VS Code and code-server — embedded IDE surfaces
• zehn by al3erz — searching sessions by prompt
• vvterm — iOS companion app base
• Termux — Android companion app base
• Codex on Linux — pets implementation
• Pierre Computer Company — diffs and file rendering components
• Beads by Steve Yegge — kanban project board
• Beads Viewer by doodlestein — kanban view reference