PilotDeck is an open-source agent operating system designed to enhance AI agent productivity for general-purpose, multi-task scenarios. It addresses challenges in long-running, multi-project work by providing a "WorkSpace" centric approach, enabling traceable memory, cost-optimized model routing, and continuous background execution, making AI agents more viable for sustained productivity.

How It Works

PilotDeck centers around the "WorkSpace" concept, offering complete isolation for files, memory, and skills per project to prevent context pollution and interference. Its core capabilities include "White-box Memory," which provides end-to-end visibility into memory generation, retrieval, and storage, allowing for direct editing and rollback. "Smart Routing" automatically assesses task difficulty to match requests with appropriate models, significantly reducing token costs. "Always-on" execution allows agents to continue working, discover tasks, and deliver results even when the user is offline.

Quick Start & Requirements

The recommended installation for macOS/Linux is a one-line script: curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/OpenBMB/PilotDeck/main/install.sh | bash. This script installs Node.js 22, clones the repository, and builds the frontend. After installation, pilotdeck starts the server. Alternatively, installation from source requires git clone and npm install (including git lfs), or using docker compose up -d. Pre-built desktop installers are available for macOS and Windows. Configuration of model providers (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic) is done via ~/.pilotdeck/pilotdeck.yaml or the Web UI.

Highlighted Details

• WorkSpace-Level Isolation & Accretion: Each project is self-contained with its own file system, memory store, and skill set, ensuring parallel work does not interfere.
• Traceable White-box Memory: Offers full visibility into memory entries, enabling direct editing, deletion, and one-click rollback via "Dream Mode."
• Smart Routing & Cost Optimization: Automatically routes tasks to suitable models based on difficulty, achieving reported cost savings of up to ~70% on social media workloads.
• Always-on Background Execution: Enables agents to proactively discover tasks, run long-horizon monitors, and deliver results as local files without continuous user interaction.

Maintenance & Community

PilotDeck is jointly developed by Tsinghua University THUNLP, ModelBest, OpenBMB, and AI9Stars. Community support is available via WeChat, Feishu, and Discord channels. Contributions follow a standard Fork -> feature branch -> PR workflow.

Licensing & Compatibility

This project is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (AGPL-3.0). This strong copyleft license requires derivative works to be made available under the same license, which may impose restrictions on integration with proprietary software or commercial use without careful legal review.

Limitations & Caveats

The AGPL-3.0 license is a significant consideration for commercial adoption due to its copyleft requirements. The "Always-on" feature implies continuous resource consumption, and the detailed oversight required for "White-box Memory" may necessitate substantial user engagement.