Emdash provides a UI layer for orchestrating multiple coding agents, specifically Codex CLI, in parallel. It targets developers and power users seeking to fan out tasks, manage agent work in isolated Git worktrees, and oversee operations from a unified interface. The primary benefit is enhanced productivity and streamlined management of complex, multi-agent coding workflows.

How It Works

Emdash functions as an orchestration layer, enabling the parallel execution of multiple Codex CLI agents. Each agent operates within its own isolated Git worktree, ensuring changes are compartmentalized and preventing conflicts. This approach allows users to fan out tasks across agents, monitor their progress, and manage them collectively through a single, intuitive UI.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Primary Install: Download macOS DMG (Apple Silicon or Intel x64) from the releases page. Note: Builds are unsigned by default and may require manual Gatekeeper bypass.
• Prerequisites: Node.js 18+, Git.
• Required CLI Tools:
  • OpenAI Codex CLI: Install via npm install -g @openai/codex or brew install codex, then authenticate with codex authenticate.
  • GitHub CLI (Optional but recommended for PRs): Install via brew install gh (macOS), sudo apt install gh (Ubuntu/Debian), sudo dnf install gh (Fedora), or winget install GitHub.cli (Windows). Authenticate with gh auth login.
• Getting Started: Clone the repository, run npm install, then npm run dev.
• Links:
  • macOS Downloads: https://github.com/generalaction/stagehand/releases/latest/download/emdash-arm64.dmg, https://github.com/generalaction/stagehand/releases/latest/download/emdash-x64.dmg

Highlighted Details

• Parallel Agent Execution: Run and manage multiple Codex agents concurrently.
• Integrated UI: Monitor agent progress, review diffs, and manage tasks from a single dashboard.
• Streamlined PR Workflow: Create, review, and publish Pull Requests directly from the Emdash UI.
• Local Data Persistence: Utilizes SQLite for storing project and workspace data locally, ensuring privacy and offline functionality.
• Database Architecture: Features distinct projects and workspaces tables with foreign key constraints and status tracking for robust data management.

Maintenance & Community

The project appears to be under active development, with a "What's Next" section outlining planned features. No specific community channels (e.g., Discord, Slack) or notable contributors/sponsorships are mentioned in the provided README.

Licensing & Compatibility

The license type and any compatibility notes for commercial use or closed-source linking are not specified in the provided README content.

Limitations & Caveats

macOS application builds are unsigned by default, requiring manual user intervention to bypass Gatekeeper. The project is actively developing, with planned features including support for pluggable providers (Claude Code, Gemini CLI, aider, Warp), workspace lifecycle hooks, and enhanced planning chat capabilities, indicating current features may be limited. No explicit license information is provided, which could be an adoption blocker.