# agentsite-static-version=249430f3-8e1f-4b43-b383-b9863953eb4c
# crystl.dev

> AI-optimized mirror of crystl.dev containing 240 pages totalling 254,685 words of clean markdown content, structured data, and semantic HTML. Original source: https://crystl.dev. Last updated: 2026-11-07T12:41:11.370Z.

Each page is available as HTML (with JSON-LD structured data) and Markdown (text-only, ideal for LLMs and RAG).

## Homepage

- [crystl: a multitasking terminal for AI coding agents](/content/site-root.html): crystl is a macOS terminal built for AI coding agents, including Claude Code, Codex, and Antigravity CLI. Organize projects into gems, run parallel sessions in separate worktrees, and see what every agent is doing, all through a frosted-glass interface. (1,154 words)

## Articles & Blog Posts

- [docs/gems-and-shards/index.html](/content/docs/gems-and-shards/index.html) (3,517 words)
- [Project Optimizer · crystl Docs](/content/docs/project-optimizer/index.html): crystl scores how well a project is set up for a coding agent, names the gaps, and tells you what each one costs. (3,398 words)
- [Quest Coordination · crystl Docs](/content/docs/quest-coordination/index.html): How agents communicate, route messages, and share context. (1,838 words)
- [Crystl's Book of Spells · for Guild Members](/content/book-of-spells/index.html): Master crystl with a grimoire of powerful prompts. Summon heroes, assemble a party, revive shards, and complete epic quests. (3,243 words)
- [Quest Heroes · crystl Docs](/content/docs/quest-heroes/index.html): Built-in hero roles with RPG stats, personalities, charters, and a model size that resolves through your own agent setup. (2,264 words)
- [Agent Activity Panel · crystl Docs](/content/docs/agent-activity-panel/index.html): One window showing what your agents are doing across every gem, who works for whom, and a classified record of the files they touched. (2,688 words)
- [Hooks · crystl Docs](/content/docs/hooks/index.html): What crystl installs into ~/.claude, why approval cards and turn-end status depend on it, how installs stay surgical, and how to remove it all. (1,526 words)
- [Getting Started with the Guild · crystl Docs](/content/docs/mastering-the-guild/index.html): What a Guild membership adds, grouped by what you would use it for, with a link to the page that teaches each one. (1,310 words)
- [Plugins & Skills · crystl Docs](/content/docs/plugins-and-skills/index.html): Scope plugins and skills per gem so each project only loads the agent context it actually needs. (1,078 words)
- [Use z.ai open models with crystl · crystl Docs](/content/docs/open-models-zai/index.html): Create a z.ai GLM Coding Plan account, generate an API key, connect its hosted open models to crystl, and start a Claude Code shard. (1,106 words)
- [CLI command tiers · crystl Docs](/content/docs/cli-tiers/index.html): Which crystl CLI commands are free on every tier, which need Guild, and what an agent should do instead on a free account. (2,291 words)
- [Key Scan · crystl Docs](/content/docs/key-scan/index.html): crystl checks the files git would commit for API keys, reports a path and a line number, and never prints a value. (1,557 words)
- [Quest Levels · crystl Docs](/content/docs/quest-levels/index.html): Give a quest a questline, an ordered set of stages the whole party clears together, advancing only once every hero checks in. (871 words)
- [NORTH-STAR.md: the direction file for your project](/content/docs/north-star/index.html): A file at the root of a project that says what is worth building there: what it is for, who it serves, and what has already been turned down. (1,368 words)
- [Local Project Heroes · crystl Docs](/content/docs/local-heroes/index.html): Define heroes as JSON in a project's .crystl/heroes/ folder: guardrails that auto-join every party, version in git, and follow the project into every worktree. (1,301 words)
- [Quest Master · crystl Docs](/content/docs/quest-master/index.html): Plan a quest by stating your goal. The Quest Master authors the levels your party moves through, suggests the heroes, and keeps watch while they work. (1,131 words)
- [Quest System Prompts · crystl Docs](/content/docs/quest-system-prompts/index.html): the full system prompt injected into each agent during a quest (1,182 words)
- [Conductor vs crystl in 2026: cloud agent workspaces vs your own machines](/content/compare/conductor-vs-crystl/index.html): Conductor moved to the cloud and crystl did not. A dated comparison of two ways to run parallel coding agents: Conductor's hosted sandboxes, multiplayer and diff review against crystl's local and SSH worktrees, cross-project fan-out and write guard. (1,810 words)
- [Model Sizes · crystl Docs](/content/docs/model-sizes/index.html): Heroes ask for a model size (small, standard, or large) instead of a model id, and you teach crystl what each size launches. Two places decide it: the default launch commands, and each agent's own three. Set them in Settings or let your agent fill them in with crystl agent profile set. (1,139 words)
- [Formations · crystl Docs](/content/docs/formations/index.html): Save and restore named collections of gems for quick context switching when multitasking across projects. (1,344 words)
- [Orchestration: how to run multiple agents · crystl Docs](/content/docs/orchestration-guide/index.html): A decision guide for running multiple agents: your agent's own subagents, anoint or Ruler for one orchestrator, court for a standing lead, crystl quest for peers, Deus for meta-orchestration across every project. (1,049 words)
- [Use vLLM open models with crystl · crystl Docs](/content/docs/open-models-vllm/index.html): Install vLLM on a GPU server, serve a tool-capable model, connect it to crystl, and start a Codex shard. (687 words)
- [Use llama.cpp open models with crystl · crystl Docs](/content/docs/open-models-llama-cpp/index.html): Install llama.cpp, download and serve a GGUF coding model, connect it to crystl, and start a Codex shard. (640 words)
- [Terminal GPU Rendering (Cavrn) · crystl Docs](/content/docs/metal-rendering/index.html): Cavrn, crystl's terminal engine built for multi-agent workflows: it keeps a fleet of shards light and agent output structured, drawn on the GPU with Metal. Plus scrollback presets and width-immutable history. (740 words)
- [Gem types: seven kinds of project, and what each one changes](/content/docs/gem-types/index.html): A gem's type says what the project produces. It scopes which optimizer checks run, which starter kits you are offered, and how your agent drafts the direction file. (1,268 words)
- [Use LM Studio open models with crystl · crystl Docs](/content/docs/open-models-lm-studio/index.html): Install LM Studio, download and serve a model, connect it to crystl, and start a Claude Code shard. (701 words)
- [Keyboard Shortcuts · crystl Docs](/content/docs/keyboard-shortcuts/index.html): Quick reference for crystl keyboard shortcuts. (1,096 words)
- [Quest Chat Panel · crystl Docs](/content/docs/quest-chat/index.html): The chat interface for cross-agent messaging, DMs, and coordination. (917 words)
- [Use Ollama open models with crystl · crystl Docs](/content/docs/open-models-ollama/index.html): Install Ollama, download a coding model, connect it to crystl, and start a Codex shard on your own hardware. (720 words)
- [Hero Shards · crystl Docs](/content/docs/hero-shards/index.html): Summon a single hero as a standalone shard with its own agent, model, and persona, without starting a quest. Launch from the summon-a-hero row in the shard bar creation column or from a split pane, optionally isolated in its own git worktree. (1,128 words)
- [Fanout: orchestrate parallel agents · crystl Docs](/content/docs/fanout/index.html): Hand one Claude session a list of tasks and it becomes a manager: it maps each task to a project, spawns a worker for each, looks after them, and merges their finished work back in. (1,240 words)
- [New gem setup: what the offer does, and why](/content/docs/new-gem-setup/index.html): The banner that offers to set up a brand-new gem: what it asks, what it installs first, and why it explains each step before taking it. (769 words)
- [Identity: tell every agent who it works for](/content/docs/identity/index.html): Write a short description of yourself once, and every agent you run in crystl can read it: what you do, what you know, and how you like to work. (828 words)
- [The best UI for Claude Code: opcode, CloudCLI, terminal, crystl compared](/content/compare/claude-code-guis/index.html): A dated comparison of GUIs for Claude Code: opcode (formerly Claudia), CloudCLI (claudecodeui), the plain terminal, and crystl. Licenses, platforms, maintenance status, and who each one is actually for. (1,815 words)
- [Markdown and Mermaid · crystl Docs](/content/docs/markdown-viewer/index.html): Open any markdown file in crystl to read it rendered, with Mermaid diagrams drawn in place, and switch to the source to edit it. (880 words)
- [What’s the best terminal for Claude Code? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/whats-the-best-terminal-for-claude-code/index.html): crystl is built specifically for it: every shard runs the Claude Code CLI, and crystl adds what a plain terminal can’t: parallel sessions, hook approvals… (141 words)
- [My terminal says command not found: crystl · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/my-terminal-says-command-not-found-crystl/index.html): Launch crystl and let it install the command. It checks its link at /usr/local/bin/crystl on every launch and writes it itself, silently when it’s… (295 words)
- [crystl quest · crystl Docs](/content/docs/crystl-quest/index.html): Multi-agent collaboration with parties, roles, and coordinated chat. (1,327 words)
- [Where do I choose the integration branch for isolated shards? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/where-do-i-choose-the-integration-branch-for-isolated-shards.html): Set the global default in settings, worktrees. Override it for one gem in Gem Settings → worktrees. (123 words)
- [What open source software does crystl use? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-open-source-software-does-crystl-use/index.html): The terminal engine started from SwiftTerm, and updates ship through Sparkle. The full list is on the acknowledgments page. (108 words)
- [Where are agent files, skills, plugins, rules, and starter kits configured? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/where-are-agent-files-skills-plugins-rules-and-starter-kits-configured.html): Use settings, context for reusable starter kits, file templates, skills, and rules. (132 words)
- [What is crystl? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-is-crystl/index.html): crystl is a macOS terminal built for coding agents. It lets you run many agents at once without getting lost in tabs and windows: every project is a gem… (169 words)
- [What is the crystl CLI? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-is-the-crystl-cli/index.html): A built-in crystl command lets you (and agents) drive gems, shards, and approvals from any shell. (149 words)
- [Is crystl open source? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/is-crystl-open-source/index.html): No. I’m not sure open source makes that much sense for indie developers. Also, I’m not sure why anyone would want crystl’s source code. (171 words)
- [History Navigator · crystl Docs](/content/docs/conversation-history/index.html): Browse, jump through, and search your agents' sessions: conversation and tool calls. (1,304 words)
- [How do I know which agent is waiting on my approval? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-know-which-agent-is-waiting-on-my-approval.html): In a plain terminal, you don’t. Nothing marks a blocked tab, so you cycle through windows until you find the prompt, which is why people miss agents… (206 words)
- [What is crystl quest? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-is-crystl-quest/index.html): crystl Quest launches a party of role-played agents (each a named hero with a role, stats, and model) into a shared chat where they divide the work… (134 words)
- [iTerm2 vs Ghostty in 2026: which Mac terminal to pick](/content/compare/iterm2-vs-ghostty/index.html): iTerm2 vs Ghostty, checked against both projects' own docs and release notes: speed, features, tmux integration, search, config, AI, and when neither is the right tool. (1,401 words)
- [Open Models · crystl Docs](/content/docs/open-models/index.html): Run Claude Code, Codex, and other coding agents on open models hosted on your hardware or by a managed service. Set them up once, orchestrate them alongside frontier agents, and cut token costs. (3,720 words)
- [How do MCP servers work? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-mcp-servers-work/index.html): Configure MCP servers per gem so the right tools and data sources load for each project. (105 words)
- [Where did the isolation button go? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/where-did-the-isolation-button-go/index.html): Its jobs moved closer to what they act on. Creating an isolated shard now uses the worktree button in the shard bar (or the File menu). (90 words)
- [Where are my API keys stored? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/where-are-my-api-keys-stored/index.html): In the macOS Keychain. See API key storage. Your code, terminal output, and conversation history are stored on your Mac. (100 words)
- [Warp vs Ghostty in 2026: an AI development environment vs a pure terminal](/content/compare/warp-vs-ghostty/index.html): Warp and Ghostty are barely the same category anymore. Warp is an AGPL agentic development environment with accounts, credits, and cloud agents; Ghostty is a fast MIT-licensed terminal with no AI at all. A dated comparison, checked against both projects' own docs. (1,109 words)
- [Court: the crown and the hand · crystl Docs](/content/docs/court/index.html): A standing hierarchy you talk to through one front door. The crown holds the conversation, the hand orchestrates the work, and officers hold standing remits under it. (1,171 words)
- [Will crystl overwrite an existing AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, or MCP configuration? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/will-crystl-overwrite-an-existing-agentsmd-claudemd-or-mcp-configuration.html): It does not replace whole agent instruction files. The CLI primer is enclosed by crystl-cli markers, and crystl updates only that managed section while… (69 words)
- [Why did my new shard open in a different directory than my last one? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/why-did-my-new-shard-open-in-a-different-directory-than-my-last-one.html): Every shard starts at its gem’s project directory by design, so a project’s shards stay predictable no matter where any one of them has cd’d. (66 words)
- [What is the workbench? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-is-the-workbench/index.html): md at the project root. You and the agent read and write the same file: add items, check them off, and turn one into a scheduled agent run. See Workbench. (60 words)
- [Where do I configure approval behavior for a specific gem? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/where-do-i-configure-approval-behavior-for-a-specific-gem.html): Use the auto-approval › shortcut in the gem menu or open Gem Settings → general. A per-gem choice overrides the global default for that project. (38 words)
- [Which files can crystl create inside an existing project? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/which-files-can-crystl-create-inside-an-existing-project.html): Opening a gem can involve these integration files, depending on your settings and the files already present: .crystl/.gitignore, which keeps crystl… (101 words)
- [Where do I change settings for one gem only? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/where-do-i-change-settings-for-one-gem-only/index.html): Open the gem’s three-dot menu and choose Gem Settings. Its general, agents, and worktrees tabs contain project-specific controls. (45 words)
- [Why do my agents keep overwriting each other’s files? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/why-do-my-agents-keep-overwriting-each-others-files.html): Because they share one working directory. Two agents in the same checkout read and write the same files, and neither git nor the agents themselves… (164 words)
- [Why can’t this gem create isolated shards? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/why-cant-this-gem-create-isolated-shards/index.html): The gem must point at the root of a Git repository with at least one commit. crystl refuses isolation when the directory is not a repository, when its… (111 words)
- [What’s the difference between a subagent and a separate session? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/whats-the-difference-between-a-subagent-and-a-separate-session.html): A subagent runs inside another agent’s session: it starts with a fresh context window, receives only the task prompt it was handed, and reports a summary… (125 words)
- [What are the auto-approval modes? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-are-the-auto-approval-modes/index.html): Three, set globally or per gem: off (approve every tool call yourself), in gem (reads anything, makes changes only inside this gem, runs git that cannot… (66 words)
- [Why did crystl start asking me about things it used to approve? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/why-did-crystl-start-asking-me-about-things-it-used-to-approve.html): Your gem’s mode is now a ceiling. md file, can narrow what crystl auto-approves but can no longer widen it. (124 words)
- [Which agents does crystl work with? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/which-agents-does-crystl-work-with/index.html): Any CLI agent runs in crystl, since every shard is a full terminal session. The deeper integrations depend on what each agent exposes: Claude Code has… (117 words)
- [When does “Initialize Git repository” start checked? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/when-does-initialize-git-repository-start-checked/index.html): The checkbox is context-sensitive. For a new folder in an ordinary directory it starts on, because a new gem usually wants its own repository, and that… (86 words)
- [How do I update crystl? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-update-crystl/index.html): dev for new versions and notifies you when one is available, so you can install it without leaving the app. (112 words)
- [Will crystl run git init without asking? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/will-crystl-run-git-init-without-asking/index.html): No. Git initialization follows an explicit action: selecting Initialize Git repository in New Gem, choosing Make standalone repo in the nested-repository… (45 words)
- [Why is “Use shared shards” the default? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/why-is-use-shared-shards-the-default/index.html): A folder inside a larger repository is usually meant to remain part of that repository. (92 words)
- [Claude Code session manager: find, resume, and track every session](/content/claude-code-session-manager/index.html): Claude Code stores sessions but does not manage them. What a session manager has to do, what claude --resume covers, and how crystl tracks running, blocked, and closed sessions across projects. (1,826 words)
- [Where did my agent session go after I closed the window? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/where-did-my-agent-session-go-after-i-closed-the-window.html): It is still on disk. Claude Code writes every session transcript under ~/.claude/projects/, keyed by working directory, so claude --resume in that… (141 words)
- [What is the difference between a gem and a Git repository? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-is-the-difference-between-a-gem-and-a-git-repository.html): A gem is a crystl workspace tied to a directory. It holds that project’s shards, appearance, approval behavior, and other crystl settings. (69 words)
- [Will crystl create commits automatically? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/will-crystl-create-commits-automatically/index.html): Only in explicit repository-setup flows. When crystl initializes a repository, it creates the first commit so Git can create worktrees from it. (50 words)
- [What’s a formation? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/whats-a-formation/index.html): A named collection of gems (and optionally their shards) you save and reload as a group (including SSH’d gems and remote worktrees) so you restore a… (64 words)
- [What is the difference between “New Gem” and “Open Gem”? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-is-the-difference-between-new-gem-and-open-gem.html): New Gem creates a new directory and lets you choose its name, appearance, MCP servers, starter kit, and optional Git setup. (59 words)
- [What is the difference between a shared shard and an isolated shard? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-is-the-difference-between-a-shared-shard-and-an-isolated-shard.html): A shared shard is another terminal in the gem’s existing working directory. All shared shards see and edit the same files. (58 words)
- [What is the difference between global, gem, and shard settings? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-is-the-difference-between-global-gem-and-shard-settings.html): Global settings are app-wide defaults, such as appearance, terminal behavior, agent defaults, the MCP catalog, and the default worktree target. (71 words)
- [What happens when I create a gem inside an existing repository? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-happens-when-i-create-a-gem-inside-an-existing-repository.html): crystl warns that the new folder belongs to a larger repository and offers two choices. Use shared shards leaves the folder in its parent repository. (72 words)
- [What happens to an agent when I close the terminal tab? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-happens-to-an-agent-when-i-close-the-terminal-tab.html): The agent process receives a hangup and stops mid-task. Files it already wrote stay written, and the turn it was in the middle of is lost, but the… (119 words)
- [What is the CLAUDE.md manager / agent file editor? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-is-the-claudemd-manager-agent-file-editor/index.html): md, rules, skills, and other agent config files with a block editor and file chooser, and manages named starter templates you can drop into new projects. (36 words)
- [What do “Use shared shards” and “Make standalone repo” mean? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-do-use-shared-shards-and-make-standalone-repo-mean.html): Use shared shards means every ordinary shard works in the same checkout as the parent repository. It is the default. (88 words)
- [Can I use the crystl library without crystl? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-i-use-the-crystl-library-without-crystl/index.html): Yes. Every hero, skill, prompt, rule and workflow in the library is plain text. Copy it into your own setup, with or without crystl. (114 words)
- [What is available under the shard three-dot menu? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-is-available-under-the-shard-three-dot-menu/index.html): The shard menu contains actions for that terminal: rename, details, turn history, close, and branch actions such as merge or rebase when the shard is… (70 words)
- [How do I stop agents stepping on each other in one repo? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-stop-agents-stepping-on-each-other-in-one-repo.html): Isolate the filesystem rather than relying on prompt instructions. Give each agent its own git worktree and branch before you start them, which removes… (136 words)
- [Is crystl free? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/is-crystl-free/index.html): Yes. The free tier includes isolated shards and parallel sessions, floating cards, the agent activity panel, split view, the history navigator, token… (85 words)
- [Claude Code GUI: is there a desktop app for Claude Code? | crystl](/content/claude-code-gui/index.html): Yes, several. Anthropic ships a desktop and web app, IDE extensions exist, and community projects wrap the CLI. crystl is a native macOS app where every session is still the real Claude Code terminal. (1,261 words)
- [Claude Code UI: the interface for watching agents work | crystl](/content/claude-code-ui/index.html): A UI for Claude Code has to show which session is working, which is waiting on an approval, what it just ran, and what it cost. crystl is a macOS app that shows all four, for every Claude Code session at once. (1,143 words)
- [How do I run agents on different branches at the same time? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-run-agents-on-different-branches-at-the-same-time.html): Use git worktrees. git worktree add ../feature-x -b feature-x creates a second directory checked out on its own branch, backed by the same repository and… (100 words)
- [How much is Guild, and how many devices? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-much-is-guild-and-how-many-devices/index.html): Guild is $170/year or $18/month, auto-renewing, and covers up to 3 devices. Cancel anytime; there’s a 14-day refund window. See pricing and Licensing. (119 words)
- [What heroes ship with crystl? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-heroes-ship-with-crystl/index.html): The full roster ships built in, currently 34 heroes (Wizard, Ranger, Rogue, Paladin, Druid, Bard, Monk, Healer, Seeker, Sentinel, Dwarf, and more), all… (62 words)
- [What if I open a folder that is already inside a crystl worktree? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-if-i-open-a-folder-that-is-already-inside-a-crystl-worktree.html): That folder is already a checkout of an isolated branch. Opening it as another gem does not create a second layer of isolation; it treats the checkout as… (81 words)
- [How do I merge or rebase an isolated shard? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-merge-or-rebase-an-isolated-shard/index.html): Use the merge badge or the isolated shard’s three-dot menu. Rebase brings the integration target into the shard while you keep working. (76 words)
- [What happens to my branch when I close an isolated shard? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-happens-to-my-branch-when-i-close-an-isolated-shard.html): crystl prompts you: Merge to Main (rebase + fast-forward, then close), Keep Branch (preserve it to reopen later), or Discard (delete it). (42 words)
- [What is available under the gem three-dot menu? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-is-available-under-the-gem-three-dot-menu/index.html): The gem menu includes history, Gem Settings, the project optimizer, recently closed shard recovery, and a per-gem approval shortcut. (51 words)
- [How many agents can I run at once? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-many-agents-can-i-run-at-once/index.html): Your attention is the limit, not the tooling. Most people settle around three to five concurrent agents, because every agent produces work you have to… (91 words)
- [How do I get notified when an agent finishes if I’m away from the machine? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-get-notified-when-an-agent-finishes-if-im-away-from-the-machine.html): Route the finish signal off the desk. Claude Code and Codex both fire a Stop hook at the end of a turn, and the hook runs any command you point it at, so… (166 words)
- [How can I tell which repository and branch a shard is using? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-can-i-tell-which-repository-and-branch-a-shard-is-using.html): Open the shard’s three-dot menu and choose details, or inspect it from the CLI with crystl shards --gem <gem>. (55 words)
- [What are isolated shards? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-are-isolated-shards/index.html): Isolated shards use git worktrees to give each agent its own working copy of the repo on a separate branch, so their live in-repo edits do not overwrite… (68 words)
- [How do the copy bar and facet inserts work? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-the-copy-bar-and-facet-inserts-work/index.html): The copy bar sits under the terminal: an agent stages text there and you copy it with one click (editable, up to 10 tabs), handy for tokens, commands, or… (63 words)
- [How do I get my AI agents to talk to each other? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-get-my-ai-agents-to-talk-to-each-other/index.html): Agents talk through a shared surface, never directly. Inside one session, subagents report their result back to the agent that spawned them, and Claude… (152 words)
- [Is there an iPhone app? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/is-there-an-iphone-app/index.html): Yes. crystl for iPhone is on the App Store. It pairs to your Mac to monitor, approve, and steer agents. (38 words)
- [How do I keep track of all my agents? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-keep-track-of-all-my-agents/index.html): The agent activity panel shows every agent across your gems in one view: who’s working, who’s idle, and where tokens are going. (47 words)
- [How do I run multiple agents at once? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-run-multiple-agents-at-once/index.html): Open as many shards as you want inside a gem and run them side by side, and open multiple gems for different projects. (48 words)
- [How do I add another session versus another project? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-add-another-session-versus-another-project.html): Use the + on the shard bar to add another shard (session) to the same project. Use the + on the gem tab bar (or New Gem in the crystal rail) to open a… (82 words)
- [What are gems and shards? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/what-are-gems-and-shards/index.html): A gem is a project workspace tied to a directory; a shard is a terminal session inside it. (44 words)
- [Sequences · crystl Docs](/content/docs/sequences/index.html): Run a fixed pipeline of agent stages from a definition file, started by hand or by a schedule, file change, or polled URL. (2,662 words)
- [How many agents can be in a quest party? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-many-agents-can-be-in-a-quest-party/index.html): A party is flexible: pick from the built-in templates or assemble your own set of heroes. See starting a quest. (30 words)
- [How do I activate my Guild license, and where’s my key? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-activate-my-guild-license-and-wheres-my-key.html): When you buy Guild, a license key is emailed to you automatically (from chris@updates.crystl.dev). In crystl, go to settings, license, paste the key, and… (71 words)
- [How do I get notified when an agent needs me or finishes? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-i-get-notified-when-an-agent-needs-me-or-finishes.html): ” They’re color-coded by gem, so you act on the right agent (click Allow / Deny or type a reply) without switching to that project. (67 words)
- [How do gems, shards, and tabs fit together? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/how-do-gems-shards-and-tabs-fit-together/index.html): It’s two levels. Gems are the top level, one per project, and you switch between them from the crystal rail (the screen-edge dock) or the gem tab bar… (104 words)
- [Does opening an existing folder as a gem modify its files? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/does-opening-an-existing-folder-as-a-gem-modify-its-files.html): It can create or update a small set of user-controlled integration files. crystl ensures .crystl/.gitignore exists, may create .mcp.json from your… (84 words)
- [Does opening a gem change its Git history? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/does-opening-a-gem-change-its-git-history/index.html): No. Opening does not create branches, commits, tags, remotes, or rebases. It may create the integration files described above, so the working tree can… (108 words)
- [Use Kimi Code with crystl · crystl Docs](/content/docs/agent-kimi/index.html): Install Moonshot AI's Kimi Code CLI, log in, and run it in a crystl shard. Kimi gets real approval cards; transcript and resume are still unwired. (1,002 words)
- [Do settings changes affect existing shards or only new ones? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/do-settings-changes-affect-existing-shards-or-only-new-ones.html): It depends on the setting. Appearance and gem identity update live. Approval changes apply to later approval decisions. (75 words)
- [Does every gem need its own Git repository? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/does-every-gem-need-its-own-git-repository/index.html): No. Shared shards work in any directory, including non-Git folders and subfolders of a larger repository. (53 words)
- [Context Load Tracking · crystl Docs](/content/docs/context-load/index.html): Monitor per-shard token usage, estimate how many turns remain, and see what every installed plugin and skill is costing you. (1,116 words)
- [Do my agents come back after I quit crystl? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/do-my-agents-come-back-after-i-quit-crystl/index.html): Yes. A shard restored by crystl (whether from the session restore on relaunch or from an explicit resurrect) holds a deferred relaunch, and the first… (112 words)
- [Can one agent hand work off to another when it finishes? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-one-agent-hand-work-off-to-another-when-it-finishes.html): Yes, through hooks or an orchestrating parent. Within one session, a subagent’s final report returns to the agent that spawned it, which then decides… (115 words)
- [Can I use crystl instead of tmux? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-i-use-crystl-instead-of-tmux/index.html): Yes, and it’s built for it. tmux multiplexes panes but knows nothing about your agents. (59 words)
- [Can I contribute to crystl? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-i-contribute-to-crystl/index.html): The source isn’t public, so there are no pull requests to send. If you want to help make crystl better, get in touch. (147 words)
- [Crystal Rail · crystl Docs](/content/docs/crystal-rail/index.html): The frosted-glass bar for managing gems, approvals, and navigation. (460 words)
- [Codex says “Hooks need review”. What do I do? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/codex-says-hooks-need-review-what-do-i-do/index.html): Trust it once and you’re done. Codex asks you to approve any hook it hasn’t seen before, and crystl’s hook is how your Codex sessions get approval cards… (79 words)
- [Does crystl work on Linux or Windows? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/does-crystl-work-on-linux-or-windows/index.html): No. crystl is macOS only today. It’s a native Swift app and relies on macOS features like the Keychain for secure API key storage. (119 words)
- [Can shared shards edit the same working tree at the same time? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-shared-shards-edit-the-same-working-tree-at-the-same-time.html): Yes. Every shared shard in a gem sees the same checkout, including uncommitted edits. (71 words)
- [Can I use crystl for regular terminal work? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-i-use-crystl-for-regular-terminal-work/index.html): Yes. Every shard is a full terminal session: git, npm, docker, ssh, whatever you need. (130 words)
- [Does crystl work fully with Codex? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/does-crystl-work-fully-with-codex/index.html): Yes. Codex supports hooks, so approval cards and notifications work just like they do for Claude Code, and Codex sessions feed the history navigator and… (77 words)
- [tmux vs git worktrees for running multiple AI agents](/content/compare/tmux-vs-git-worktrees/index.html): tmux and git worktrees solve different problems when you run multiple Claude Code or Codex sessions: persistence vs isolation. What each does, why most setups need both, and what neither covers. (853 words)
- [Does closing a gem delete its folder, repository, or shards? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/does-closing-a-gem-delete-its-folder-repository-or-shards.html): Closing a gem removes it from the current crystl workspace and stops its terminal sessions. It does not delete the project folder or ordinary Git history. (70 words)
- [Getting Started · crystl Docs](/content/docs/getting-started/index.html): Install crystl and create your first gem. (1,801 words)
- [Can I use crystl on a remote server over SSH? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-i-use-crystl-on-a-remote-server-over-ssh/index.html): Yes. SSH into any machine from a shard and every crystl feature keeps working: approval cards, file drag-and-drop, click-to-open, and even isolated… (47 words)
- [Does an isolated shard create a branch, a worktree, or both? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/does-an-isolated-shard-create-a-branch-a-worktree-or-both.html): Both. The branch holds the isolated commit history, and the worktree supplies a separate working directory checked out on that branch. (30 words)
- [Your agent can drive crystl · crystl Docs](/content/docs/agent-drives-crystl/index.html): Your agent can read crystl's own docs, see what every shard is doing, and open gems and spawn workers for you. The fastest way to learn crystl is to ask the agent already sitting in it. (816 words)
- [Claude Code alternatives: Codex, Gemini CLI, opencode, Aider and more compared](/content/compare/claude-code-alternatives/index.html): A dated comparison of the coding agents people move to from Claude Code: Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, opencode, goose, Aider, Qwen Code, Crush, Copilot CLI, Cursor and Cline. Licenses, model support, cost and whether each is still maintained. (1,254 words)
- [Can multiple gems point to folders inside the same repository? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-multiple-gems-point-to-folders-inside-the-same-repository.html): Yes. This can be useful for a monorepo with distinct services or packages. Those gems still share one Git checkout and history, so edits and Git… (55 words)
- [Facet Inserts · crystl Docs](/content/docs/facet-inserts/index.html): Save and reuse prompts, commands, and shortcuts across all your gems. (437 words)
- [API Key Storage · crystl Docs](/content/docs/api-keys/index.html): Store provider API keys securely in macOS Keychain and auto-inject them into shell sessions, from the providers & keys settings page. (722 words)
- [Blog · crystl](/content/blog/index.html): Updates, deep-dives, and design notes from the crystl team. (1,757 words)
- [Settings · crystl Docs](/content/docs/settings/index.html): Every settings page in crystl: what each toggle controls, and how to read your current config from an agent. (2,263 words)
- [Can I see what crystl changes on my Mac? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-i-see-what-crystl-changes-on-my-mac/index.html): Yes. md are plain text files you can open and read. The CLI reference documents every command and flag. (49 words)
- [Can I schedule an agent to run on its own? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-i-schedule-an-agent-to-run-on-its-own/index.html): Yes. Scheduling runs an agent prompt at a set time, once or on a repeating cadence (daily, weekdays, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly), with its own… (106 words)
- [AI Agent Orchestration · crystl](/content/features/orchestration/index.html): Multi agent orchestration on your own Mac. Run independent agents across projects and CLIs: Claude, Codex, and more. crystl surfaces what needs your attention the moment it matters, so you keep more plates spinning from one place. (1,840 words)
- [Can I start a worktree from a specific branch? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-i-start-a-worktree-from-a-specific-branch/index.html): Yes. Click the worktree button for a fresh branch off your default, or control-click (or right-click) it to open the branch picker and fork from any… (49 words)
- [Can I switch between the yearly and monthly plan? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-i-switch-between-the-yearly-and-monthly-plan/index.html): Yes, any time, from Stripe’s customer portal — no need to cancel and re-subscribe. (53 words)
- [Can crystl run agents on open models? · crystl FAQ](/content/docs/faq/can-crystl-run-agents-on-open-models/index.html): Yes. Point an agent at a model on your own hardware, or at a hosted open model, and run it next to agents like Claude Code or Codex. See open models. (38 words)
- [Agent Instruction Files · crystl Docs](/content/docs/agent-files/index.html): Create, edit, and manage CLAUDE.md, rules, skills, and other agent config files from within crystl. (1,774 words)
- [FAQ · crystl Docs](/content/docs/faq/index.html): Frequently asked questions about crystl: platform, agents, gems and shards, isolated worktrees, quest, scheduling, pricing, security, and more. (1,529 words)
- [CLI & Scriptability API · crystl Docs](/content/docs/cli/index.html): Control crystl from the command line. Open gems, manage shards, schedule agents, approve permissions, and read terminal output programmatically. (24,847 words)
- [Report a bug · crystl](/content/bug-report/index.html): Found a bug in crystl? Report it here. Tell us what happened, what you expected, and how to reproduce it, and we'll get it fixed. (98 words)
- [Isolated Sessions · crystl Docs](/content/docs/isolated-sessions/index.html): Multitask with parallel coding agents using git worktree-backed shards, locally or on remote servers. (1,953 words)
- [Community · crystl](/content/community/index.html): Join the crystl community on Slack to connect with other users of the macOS terminal for Claude Code · share tips, get help, and stay in the loop on updates. (88 words)
- [Sequences: agent automation that runs itself · crystl](/content/features/sequences/index.html): Automate the work you keep redoing by hand. A crystl sequence runs a job through agent stages start to finish, started by a schedule, a file landing, or a watched URL, with nobody at the keyboard. (1,585 words)
- [Schedule Agents · crystl](/content/features/schedule-agents/index.html): Schedule AI coding agents to run on their own: once, daily, weekdays, or a longer cadence. Or schedule a plain shell command with no agent, and rotate through a list so each run does the next task. (744 words)
- [Mobile App · crystl Docs](/content/docs/mobile-app/index.html): Supervise and steer your agents from your phone with the crystl iPhone companion. (1,484 words)
- [Licensing · crystl Docs](/content/docs/licensing/index.html): How crystl license keys work: activation, renewal, and offline use. (846 words)
- [Approval Modes · crystl Docs](/content/docs/approval-modes/index.html): Auto-approval is off, in gem, or all. What each one lets an agent do, and why the gem is the ceiling. (949 words)
- [Scheduling · crystl Docs](/content/docs/schedule-agents/index.html): Run an agent or a plain shell command at a set time, once or on a cadence, and rotate through a list of tasks so each firing does the next one. (1,393 words)
- [Agent Accounts and Plan Usage · crystl](/content/features/agent-accounts/index.html): Run Claude Code and Codex on more than one login on the same Mac. Type claude@work in any shard, and see how much of each plan's limits you have used and when they reset. (925 words)
- [Open source acknowledgments · crystl](/content/acknowledgments/index.html): Third-party open source libraries used in crystl. (854 words)
- [Use Claude Code with crystl · crystl Docs](/content/docs/agent-claude-code/index.html): Install Claude Code, sign in, launch it in a crystl shard, and see what crystl can do with it: approvals, history, resume, and model sizes. (1,232 words)
- [Use Codex with crystl · crystl Docs](/content/docs/agent-codex/index.html): Install OpenAI's Codex CLI, sign in, launch it in a crystl shard, and see what crystl can do with it, including the approval modes that map onto its own launch flags. (902 words)
- [Privacy Policy · crystl](/content/privacy/index.html): How crystl handles your data: what we collect, why, and how we use it. The crystl app runs on your Mac · your code and AI conversations stay local. (1,005 words)
- [Token Tracking · crystl](/content/features/token-tracking/index.html): Know what every turn costs, see how many turns a shard has left, and reclaim context window by disabling the heavy plugins and skills you don't need. (444 words)
- [Updating crystl · crystl Docs](/content/docs/updating-crystl/index.html): How crystl updates itself, where to find the version and the update badge, how to see what changed, and what to do when a release breaks something. (630 words)
- [CLI coding agents · crystl](/content/agents/index.html): A directory of CLI coding agents: what Claude Code, Codex, Antigravity CLI, Aider, goose, and others are, what each costs, which models they run, and how each works in crystl. (471 words)
- [Codex · CLI coding agents · crystl](/content/agents/codex/index.html): OpenAI's open-source terminal coding agent, part of the wider Codex product spanning CLI, IDE, cloud, and web. (351 words)
- [Press & Media Kit · crystl](/content/press/index.html): Press kit for Crystl, a multitasking terminal for AI coding agents: boilerplate, logos, screenshots, founder bio, and contact. (423 words)
- [crystl's north star](/content/about/north-star/index.html): How crystl decides what to build: who it is for, the five questions every feature has to answer, and the rules that hold across every release. (541 words)
- [The story of crystl](/content/about/story/index.html): Why crystl exists: from leaving an agency job to study AI, to building a terminal for running many coding agents across many projects, to cavrn. (510 words)
- [Kimi Code · CLI coding agents · crystl](/content/agents/kimi/index.html): Moonshot AI's open-source terminal coding agent, bundled with Kimi memberships and built around the Kimi model family. (328 words)
- [Kiro · CLI coding agents · crystl](/content/agents/kiro/index.html): AWS's terminal coding agent and successor to Amazon Q Developer CLI, with credit-based pricing shared across the Kiro IDE and CLI. (357 words)
- [Affiliate Program · crystl](/content/affiliates/index.html): Earn 25% commission on every crystl Guild membership you refer. Your audience gets 20% off their first year on the annual plan, and attribution lasts a full 60 days. (192 words)
- [crystl on your iPhone: manage your coding agents from anywhere](/content/features/mobile/index.html): Monitor, approve, and chat with your crystl coding agents from your iPhone. See every gem and shard, approve tool calls on the go, and steer work from anywhere. Now on the App Store. (222 words)
- [goose · CLI coding agents · crystl](/content/agents/goose/index.html): An open-source AI agent for code and automation, created at Block and now stewarded by the Linux Foundation's Agentic AI Foundation. (323 words)
- [Claude Code · CLI coding agents · crystl](/content/agents/claude-code/index.html): Anthropic's agentic coding tool: a terminal agent that also ships as IDE extensions, a desktop app, and a web surface, all on one engine. (319 words)
- [Antigravity CLI · CLI coding agents · crystl](/content/agents/antigravity/index.html): Google's terminal agent (agy), sharing one agent harness with the Antigravity desktop app and replacing Gemini CLI. (254 words)
- [Terms & Conditions · crystl](/content/terms/index.html): Terms of use for the crystl application and website. (545 words)
- [opencode · CLI coding agents · crystl](/content/agents/opencode/index.html): An open-source AI coding agent that runs as a terminal TUI, desktop app, or IDE extension, with any model provider you bring. (317 words)
- [MCP Servers · crystl Docs](/content/docs/mcp-servers/index.html): Manage a global catalog of MCP servers and sync them to projects automatically. (269 words)
- [GitHub Copilot CLI · CLI coding agents · crystl](/content/agents/copilot/index.html): GitHub's agentic coding assistant for the terminal, with native access to repos, issues, and pull requests. (273 words)
- [Muse Code · CLI coding agents · crystl](/content/agents/musecode/index.html): Meta's terminal coding agent on the Muse Spark model family, built by Meta Superintelligence Labs for terminal and CI use. (291 words)
- [Aider · CLI coding agents · crystl](/content/agents/aider/index.html): The original open-source terminal pair programmer: it edits code in your local git repo with almost any LLM, including local models. (313 words)
- [Pricing · crystl](/content/pricing/index.html): crystl pricing. Start free with the Apprentice plan, or join the Guild for agent orchestration, sequence automation, custom heroes and parties, full CLI access, unlimited scheduling, and crystl on iPhone from anywhere. (175 words)
- [Changelog · crystl](/content/changelog/index.html): Release notes and version history for crystl. (55,585 words)
- [Claude Code Stuck on a Permission Prompt While You're AFK: The Fix](/content/blog/claude-code-stuck-on-permission-prompt-afk/index.html): An agent that sat on an approval prompt for an hour has a fix: change the permission mode, pre-approve the commands, and route the ones that still wait. (2,358 words, 2026-10-20)
- [Desktop Apps and GUIs for Multiple Claude Code Sessions (2026)](/content/blog/desktop-app-gui-multiple-claude-code-sessions/index.html): Yes, several. Anthropic's own desktop app, VS Code's Agents window, JetBrains Air, Claude Squad, and crystl, with what each one is good at. (2,216 words, 2026-10-20)
- [What is meta-orchestration for AI agents?](/content/blog/meta-orchestration/index.html): Orchestration is one agent splitting work and running workers in a project. Meta-orchestration is the layer above: watching every project, routing work. (1,028 words, 2026-09-15)
- [Best AI Agent Orchestration Tools for Coding (2026 Comparison)](/content/blog/best-ai-agent-orchestration-tools/index.html): Comparing tools that run multiple AI coding agents at once: Conductor, Vibe Kanban, Claude Squad, crystl, Cursor cloud agents, Sculptor, and plain tmux. (1,971 words, 2026-08-17)
- [Agent Communication Protocols: A2A vs ACP vs MCP (2026)](/content/blog/agent-communication-protocols/index.html): A2A is agent to agent, MCP is agent to tool, and two different things are both called ACP. What each is, who governs it, and where the confusion starts. (1,631 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Claude Code Agent Teams in tmux: How to Wire One Yourself](/content/blog/agent-team-in-tmux/index.html): A pane per role, send-keys to dispatch, a shared file as the channel, a polling loop for idle. The real wiring for a tmux agent team, and what it skips. (1,618 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Agent to Agent Communication: 4 Ways to Get Your Agents Talking](/content/blog/agents-talk-to-each-other/index.html): Two coding agents, neither can see the other. Four real options for agent to agent communication, worst to best, and what each one actually guarantees. (1,652 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Claude Code Subagents Best Practices (With Good and Bad Examples)](/content/blog/claude-code-subagents-best-practices/index.html): Scope a subagent to one question, state the return shape, never delegate work you'd want to watch. Subagent tasks that work, and ones that waste tokens. (731 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Cursor Background Agents vs crystl: Cloud VMs or Your Machine](/content/blog/cursor-background-agents-vs-crystl/index.html): Cursor's cloud agents run Cursor's own agent in isolated VMs and hand back a pull request. crystl runs any CLI agent locally, across all your projects. (1,421 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Fix: "Cannot Delete Branch Used by Worktree" (Git Error)](/content/blog/git-cannot-delete-branch-used-by-worktree/index.html): Git refuses to delete a branch a worktree has checked out, even with -D. Find the worktree with git worktree list, remove it, then delete the branch clean. (570 words, 2026-07-31)
- [git worktree add: Examples for New, Existing, and Remote Branches](/content/blog/git-worktree-add/index.html): git worktree add with a new branch, an existing branch, a remote branch, a commit, or a detached HEAD. Every flag that matters, with examples and errors. (823 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Git Worktree vs Branch: The Difference, With Commands](/content/blog/git-worktree-vs-branch/index.html): A branch moves one working copy. A worktree adds a second, on the same history. A clone is a separate repo entirely. The commands, and when to use each. (857 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Git Worktree Workflow and Best Practices](/content/blog/git-worktree-workflow/index.html): Where to put worktrees, how to name them, what to do about node_modules and .env, and when to remove them. The habits that keep worktrees from sprawling. (895 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Does IntelliJ Support Git Worktrees? Plus Cursor and Zed](/content/blog/git-worktrees-in-your-editor/index.html): Yes. IntelliJ's Worktrees tab in the Git tool window handles them natively. Where to find it, plus how Cursor and Zed handle worktrees instead. (833 words, 2026-07-31)
- [How Many Parallel Agents Can You Actually Run at Once?](/content/blog/how-many-agents-can-you-run/index.html): The ceiling on parallel agents isn't your machine. It's tokens, rate limits, and your own review capacity. What binds first, and how to pick a number. (1,346 words, 2026-07-31)
- [How to Manage Multiple Projects (When Each One Has an AI Agent)](/content/blog/managing-multiple-projects-with-agents/index.html): Managing several projects used to be about your own time. With a coding agent in each one, the constraint moves to your attention. Six rules that hold up. (1,399 words, 2026-07-31)
- [What Is AI Agent Orchestration? The Honest Version](/content/blog/orchestration-when-you-have-too-many-tabs/index.html): Agent orchestration is code deciding which agent runs when, inside a program you write. Searched it over nine terminal tabs? That's a different problem. (1,204 words, 2026-07-31)
- [git worktree remove, prune, and delete: The Clean Way](/content/blog/remove-git-worktree/index.html): git worktree remove deletes a directory and its metadata in one step. git worktree prune cleans up what you deleted by hand. Neither touches the branch. (752 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Can You Run Multiple Instances of Claude Code? Yes, Here's How](/content/blog/run-multiple-claude-code-instances/index.html): Yes. Claude Code has no cap on concurrent instances. What two sessions share, what breaks when they share a directory, and the real limit you'll hit first. (960 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Claude Code Skills vs Subagents: Which One You Actually Need](/content/blog/skills-vs-subagents-claude-code/index.html): A skill loads instructions into the conversation you're already having. A subagent runs where you can't see it and returns a summary. The real difference. (1,362 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Claude Code and tmux: The Setup Everyone Builds for Parallel Agents](/content/blog/tmux-setup-for-parallel-agents/index.html): Claude Code ships a --worktree --tmux flag that covers one agent. Running several converges on the same hand-built setup, and where it stops working. (1,777 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Claude Code GUI: why a chat window is the wrong answer](/content/blog/what-a-claude-code-gui-should-do/index.html): Claude Code has a desktop app, a web app, IDE extensions, and community GUIs. Almost all build the same thing: a prettier chat window. The easy problem. (1,455 words, 2026-07-31)
- [Warp vs. crystl: Cloud Agent Platform or Local Fleet Cockpit · crystl](/content/blog/warp-vs-crystl/index.html): Warp vs. crystl for running AI coding agents: where Warp's cloud, enterprise, and platform strengths differ from crystl's local, own-your-costs approach. (957 words, 2026-07-20)
- [Claude Code Worktrees: The Complete Guide (Including --worktree)](/content/blog/git-worktrees-claude-code/index.html): Claude Code worktree commands explained: the --worktree flag, what it does, real parallel-agent workflows, the gotchas, and how to automate it. (2,168 words, 2026-06-19)
- [What Is a Footgun? Meaning, Origin, and Why Claude Code Says It](/content/blog/footgun-and-other-things-claude-says/index.html): A footgun is a feature that makes it easy to hurt yourself by accident. Real Claude Code quotes using the word, plus a glossary of its other dev slang. (2,083 words, 2026-06-18)
- [Introducing roundtable agent orchestration · crystl](/content/blog/roundtable-agent-orchestration/index.html): Most multi-agent orchestration hides the agents inside one controller's head. Roundtable orchestration, the model behind crystl quest, makes it visible. (1,440 words, 2026-06-17)
- [How to Optimize Claude Code's Context Window (Without Just Buying a Bigger One) · crystl](/content/blog/optimize-claude-code-context/index.html): Practical tactics for stretching Claude Code's context window: what to compact, what to delegate to subagents, and which plugins to disable first. (1,708 words, 2026-05-21)
- [Do You Need a Code Editor to Build with Claude Code? · crystl](/content/blog/do-you-need-a-code-editor-with-claude-code/index.html): Claude Code runs in the terminal, reads your files, and writes your code. So do you still need VS Code open? The pros and cons of both setups. (1,088 words, 2026-04-12)
- [Voice, Loops, and the Slow Disappearance of the Command Line · crystl](/content/blog/claude-code-march-2026-features/index.html): Claude Code's March 2026 features hint at something bigger than incremental updates. The relationship between developer and tool is shifting. (963 words, 2026-03-26)
- [Claude Can Use Your Computer Now. That's a Stranger Sentence Than It Sounds. · crystl](/content/blog/claude-computer-use/index.html): Anthropic's computer use feature lets Claude control your Mac: clicking, typing, opening apps. What that actually means depends on who you are. (1,341 words, 2026-03-26)
- [The Agentic Coding Workflow Nobody Talks About: Managing the Agents Themselves · crystl](/content/blog/managing-ai-agents/index.html): The bottleneck in agentic coding isn't AI capability. It's managing multitask workflows where multiple AI agents are working simultaneously. (933 words, 2026-03-24)
- [Why Your Terminal Wasn't Built for AI Pair Programming (And What To Use Instead) · crystl](/content/blog/terminal-not-built-for-ai/index.html): Terminals were designed for human-typed commands, not for supervising AI agents. AI pair programming needs a different kind of tool. (911 words, 2026-03-24)
- [Claude Code + iTerm2 Integration: What Works, What Doesn't](/content/blog/iterm-vs-crystl/index.html): Claude Code runs fine in iTerm2. Here's where the integration gets awkward: approvals, parallel sessions, scrollback, notifications, feature by feature. (998 words, 2026-03-23)
- [From Terminal Chaos to Crystal Clarity: Migrating Your Claude Code Workflow · crystl](/content/blog/terminal-chaos-to-clarity/index.html): A step-by-step guide to organizing your Claude Code setup on macOS. Move from scattered terminal sessions to a structured workflow. (929 words, 2026-03-23)
- [Test Suite Broken? Run Claude Code on the Fix While You Keep Building · crystl](/content/blog/parallel-test-fix/index.html): How to multitask with parallel Claude Code sessions: fix a broken test suite in one session while continuing feature work in another. (953 words, 2026-03-22)
- [How I Use Claude Code to Ship a PR Every Hour · crystl](/content/blog/ship-pr-every-hour/index.html): A workflow for structuring parallel Claude Code tasks across sessions so you always have something ready to review and merge. (954 words, 2026-03-22)
- [Managing Claude Code API Keys Across Multiple Projects · crystl](/content/blog/api-key-management/index.html): How to avoid leaking API keys across projects when using Claude Code, and a cleaner approach to per-project key management. (788 words, 2026-03-21)
- [My Claude Code Workflow for Refactoring a Legacy Codebase · crystl](/content/blog/refactoring-legacy-codebase/index.html): How I used Claude Code to refactor a legacy codebase by breaking the work into parallel tracks and merging incrementally. (931 words, 2026-03-21)
- [Per-Project MCP Server Configs for Claude Code: Why and How · crystl](/content/blog/per-project-mcp-configs/index.html): How to manage different MCP server configurations for each Claude Code project, and why a per-project setup prevents config headaches. (870 words, 2026-03-20)
- [Running Claude Code in the Background: A Workflow Guide · crystl](/content/blog/claude-code-background/index.html): How to run Claude Code agents in the background, check their status, and structure tasks for async AI workflows. (928 words, 2026-03-19)
- [How to Monitor Multiple Claude Code Agents: Status, Alerts, Observability](/content/blog/monitor-multiple-agents/index.html): Monitoring parallel Claude Code agents: telling which is blocked, which finished, which went off the rails, without clicking through every tab. (963 words, 2026-03-18)
- [The Tab-Hunting Problem: Finding Which Claude Code Session Needs Your Attention · crystl](/content/blog/tab-hunting-approval/index.html): Running 5+ Claude Code sessions? Why you can't find the one waiting for approval, and how to fix it. (930 words, 2026-03-18)
- [Why Your Claude Code Agents Keep Overwriting Each Other's Files · crystl](/content/blog/agents-overwriting-files/index.html): Running multiple Claude Code agents on the same repo? Why they conflict and how to fix it with isolated worktrees. (916 words, 2026-03-17)
- [Fix a Bug and Build a Feature at the Same Time with Claude Code · crystl](/content/blog/fix-bug-build-feature/index.html): A walkthrough of running two Claude Code sessions in parallel, one fixing a bug and one building a feature, in separate git worktrees. (812 words, 2026-03-16)
- [How to Run Two Claude Code Agents on the Same Repo Without Destroying Your Git History · crystl](/content/blog/two-agents-same-repo/index.html): Multitasking with two Claude Code agents on the same branch causes merge conflicts. The fix is git worktrees, and you can automate it. (865 words, 2026-03-14)
- [The Case for a Persistent Claude Code Session Log · crystl](/content/blog/persistent-session-log/index.html): Why your Claude Code session history should be persistent and browsable, not trapped in terminal scrollback that disappears when you close the tab. (741 words, 2026-03-13)
- [What Did Claude Do While I Was Gone? Reviewing Agent Work After the Fact · crystl](/content/blog/reviewing-agent-work/index.html): Kicked off a Claude Code task and stepped away? How to review what your agent did, what it changed, and what it asked while you were gone. (805 words, 2026-03-12)
- [I Closed My Terminal and Lost Everything: How to Never Lose a Claude Code Session Again · crystl](/content/blog/lost-claude-code-session/index.html): Lost a Claude Code conversation after closing your terminal? Why it happens and how to preserve your session history. (671 words, 2026-03-10)

## Listings & Categories

- [git worktrees · crystl blog](/content/blog/category/worktrees/index.html): The mechanics of git worktrees, and why they became load-bearing for agent work. (336 words)
- [orchestration · crystl blog](/content/blog/category/orchestration/index.html): Running more than one agent at a time, and keeping track of what they are all doing. (634 words)
- [setup · crystl blog](/content/blog/category/setup/index.html): Context windows, sessions, keys, and MCP configs. The plumbing around an agent. (211 words)
- [comparisons · crystl blog](/content/blog/category/comparisons/index.html): Honest looks at how the tools in this space differ. (158 words)
- [notes · crystl blog](/content/blog/category/essays/index.html): Opinions, design notes, and things worth thinking about. (244 words)

## About Pages

- [About crystl](/content/about/index.html): The story behind crystl, a macOS terminal built for multitasking with AI coding agents: organizing projects into gems and running isolated shards. (435 words)
- [Contact · crystl](/content/contact/index.html): Get in touch with the crystl team. Send us a question, feature request, or feedback about the macOS terminal for Claude Code, and we'll get back to you. (23 words)

## Resources

- [Full Page Index](/index.html): Browse all cached pages with rich metadata
- [About This Cache](/about.html): Methodology, technical details, and usage guidelines
- [XML Sitemap](/sitemap.xml): Machine-readable sitemap for crawler discovery
- [Robots.txt](/robots.txt): Crawler directives
- [Agentsite Network](https://agentsite.network/network.html): Public index of Agentsites and their machine-readable resources