Infinite canvas workspace
Arrange terminals, Monaco editors, browsers, parallel git worktrees, and agents on one pannable and zoomable surface so active work remains visible together.
Catenary
Catenary is a local-first desktop IDE for arranging AI coding agents, terminals, editors, browsers, and git worktrees on a shared visual canvas. It helps developers run parallel tasks, pass context between agents, review diffs, and supervise multi-agent workflows.
Spatial orchestration for AI coding agents
Catenary is a local-first desktop spatial IDE for orchestrating AI coding agents. It puts agent terminals, Monaco editors, browsers, and parallel git worktrees on an infinite canvas, giving developers one visual surface for running and monitoring concurrent coding work.
A task can be launched in an isolated branch and working directory, while context can be passed between agent panels through configurable wires. Catenary also provides side-by-side diffs for reviewing changes and an optional Maestro Mode for recruiting helper agents with approval required before actions proceed. It supports named agent workflows including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Grok, OpenCode, and Pi, while the chosen agent CLI communicates directly with its provider or a local model service.
Core capabilities
Isolated worktrees and branches
Create an isolated branch, working directory, and agent from New Task without modifying the working tree currently in view. Task colors carry through the sidebar, dock tabs, and canvas.
In-canvas code review
Inspect agent edits in a VS Code-style Monaco editor with side-by-side diffs and a git-aware file tree before keeping the changes.
Context wires
Connect agent panels with directed wires that can relay context automatically when a source goes quiet or remain available as a permission for the downstream agent to request.
Maestro Mode
Let one agent recruit and brief a team of helpers, with human approval cards shown before actions are applied. The site documents up to five helpers by default, adjustable up to ten in settings.
Multi-project operation
Keep separate canvases for multiple projects and run isolated tasks inside each project, allowing project state to be switched from the sidebar without mixing work.
Practical workflows
Parallel feature experiments
Launch several experiments from the same project as separate branches and worktrees, then inspect each agent's edits in the embedded diff editor before deciding what to keep.
Delegated code investigation
Place a lead agent and specialist agents on the canvas, pass a focused request through a context wire, and keep delegation visible instead of copying context between windows.
Supervised agent teams
Use Maestro Mode to have an agent recruit reviewers, test writers, or refactoring helpers while approval cards give the developer a checkpoint before actions appear on the canvas.
Managing multiple projects
Open separate project canvases and switch between them from the sidebar while preserving each project's canvas state and isolated task work.
Agent-assisted review
Review active changes in Monaco with a side-by-side diff and git-aware file tree before accepting an agent's work into the project.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Provides one visual surface for terminals, editors, browsers, agents, and parallel worktrees.
- Creates isolated branches and working directories for concurrent tasks without touching the current working tree.
- Offers configurable context transfer between agents and human approval cards for Maestro Mode actions.
- Includes side-by-side diffs and a git-aware file tree for reviewing agent changes.
- The product states that code, prompts, terminal data, and API keys are not sent to Catenary servers.
Cons
- The first-run installers are not code-signed, so Windows and macOS can display security warnings and require manual confirmation.
- The product is a desktop application; its documented workflow centers on local projects, local worktrees, and agent CLIs rather than a browser-only workspace.
- The Free plan limits simultaneous open projects and parallel tasks, while broader limits require the documented Pro plan.
FAQ
Which operating systems does Catenary support?
Catenary provides desktop builds for Windows x64, macOS arm64 and x64, and Linux x64. Windows downloads include an NSIS installer and ZIP; macOS offers DMG and ZIP; Linux offers AppImage, DEB, and tar.gz packages.
What happens when Catenary starts for the first time?
On first launch, Catenary opens an empty canvas and asks you to choose a project folder. That folder becomes a workspace, and its canvas state is stored in a .cate/ directory inside the project. No account, license key, or internet connection is required to reach this point.
Does Catenary send my code or prompts to its servers?
Catenary is local-first: it does not send project files, terminal output, commands, prompts, conversations, project names, branches, file paths, or API keys to its servers. The agent CLI you select communicates directly with its provider, or with a local service such as Ollama or LM Studio when configured that way.
What are the Free and Pro plan differences?
The Free plan includes the canvas, terminals, editor, browser, git, unlimited connection wires, one open project, two parallel tasks, and up to two Maestro helpers per agent. A seven-day Pro trial can be claimed once without a credit card; the site also documents a paid Pro license without a subscription or monthly bill.
How are Catenary updates and first-run security warnings handled?
Catenary supports updates through electron-updater from GitHub Releases. The initial installer is not code-signed, so Windows or macOS may show a security warning on first run; the installation guide provides the confirmation steps.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Developer Tool / AI coding workspace
- Delivery
- Desktop application
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Primary workflow
- Visual orchestration of AI agents, terminals, editors, browsers, and git worktrees
- Agent examples
- Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Grok, OpenCode, and Pi
- Licensing model
- Free plan plus paid Pro license; seven-day Pro trial documented
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