A self-hosted, browser-based team workspace for AI code assistants like Claude Code and Codex, Clay enables multi-user collaboration and persistent AI teammates ("Mates") with memory. It ensures user data sovereignty by storing all project data locally in plain text formats, empowering teams by centralizing collaboration, offering advanced AI assistance, and preventing vendor lock-in.

How It Works

Clay functions as a self-hosted daemon serving a web UI, abstracting AI interactions via a vendor-agnostic adapter layer (YOKE) for Claude Agent SDK and Codex app-server protocols. Project context, AI Mates, and session data are stored locally as plain JSONL and Markdown files, facilitating easy switching between AI vendors or data migration. The architecture prioritizes user sovereignty, keeping all data on the user's machine.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Primary install/run command: npx clay-server
• Prerequisites: Node.js 20+, authenticated Claude Code CLI, Codex CLI, or both.
• Setup: Runs locally; accessible via URL or QR code. VPN recommended for remote access.
• Links: docs/guides/architecture.md for detailed architecture.

Highlighted Details

• Multi-Vendor Support: Seamlessly switch between Claude Code and Codex within the same workspace and sessions via the YOKE adapter.
• Persistent AI Mates: AI teammates with compounding memory, knowledge files, and the ability to push back on ideas, surviving across sessions.
• Autonomous Coding (Ralph Loop): Automate feature iteration and development overnight or via cron schedules, with optional judge-based approval.
• Multi-Project Dashboard & Worktrees: Manage all local repositories from a single sidebar, spin up new git worktrees, and run agents in parallel.
• Data Sovereignty: All sessions, Mates, knowledge, and settings stored as plain JSONL/Markdown on disk, avoiding proprietary databases and cloud lock-in.
• Cross-Platform Access: Installable PWA for iOS and Android, with push notifications for task status.

Maintenance & Community

• Contributors: Bug fixes and typo corrections welcome. Feature suggestions via issues.
• Community: GitHub Discussions for sharing projects and usage (https://github.com/chadbyte/clay/discussions). GitHub Issues for bug reports and feature requests (https://github.com/chadbyte/clay/issues).
• Disclaimer: Not affiliated with Anthropic or OpenAI.

Licensing & Compatibility

• License type: MIT.
• Compatibility: Permissive for commercial use and closed-source linking.

Limitations & Caveats

Requires local setup and running a daemon. Relies on user-provided CLIs for AI interaction. OS-level isolation is an opt-in feature specific to Linux. d.clay.studio is a DNS-only service for certificate validation, not a data relay.