backchat

<p align="center"> <img src="src/website/public/logo.svg" alt="OpenMA" width="144" /> </p> <h1 align="center">Backchat</h1> <p align="center"> <a href="https://github.com/openma-ai/deepseek-harness-acp"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/dsh--plugin-supported-4D6BFE?style=flat-square" alt="dsh-plugin supported" /></a> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/protocol-ACP-7C3AED?style=flat-square" alt="Agent Client Protocol" /> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/chat-multi--agent-059669?style=flat-square" alt="Multi-agent chat" /> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/app-desktop-334155?style=flat-square" alt="Desktop app" /> </p> <p align="center"> <strong>A multi-agent desktop for Agent Client Protocol (ACP) harnesses, tools, and outputs.</strong> </p> <p align="center"> <a href="https://backchat.openma.ai/"><strong>Visit the official website →</strong></a> </p> <p align="center"> <strong>New: <a href="https://github.com/openma-ai/deepseek-harness-acp">DeepSeek Harness</a> support through <code>dsh-plugin</code> and <code>dsh-acp</code>.</strong><br /> _{Use your existing dsh profile or the standalone ACP server from the same desktop.} </p> Backchat gives developer agents a shared desktop without taking away the things that make each harness useful. Bring multiple agents into one conversation and keep the built-in browser, files, terminal, MCP Apps, and Codex plugins close. <p align="center"> <img src="artifacts/theme-system/default-spec-v1.png" alt="Backchat home screen with project and agent selection" width="900" /> </p> ## Why Backchat - **One workspace, many agents.** Run Claude Code, Codex CLI, DeepSeek Harness, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Hermes, or OpenClaw from the same desktop surface. - **Agent-aware, not vendor-shaped.** Backchat surfaces the capabilities, commands, models, modes, and permissions reported by the active harness instead of inventing a generic capability layer. - **Project-scoped context.** Sessions are grouped by their working directory, so files, terminals, browser state, and conversations stay attached to the project where the work happened. - **Projects can span related folders.** One primary folder supplies the chat cwd, Git context, and project instructions; secondary folders extend the agent's file scope through ACP `additionalDirectories`. - **Built-in tools that stay in the flow.** Browse the web, inspect files, start a terminal, attach images, and work without leaving the conversation. - **Native extensions and apps.** Render interactive MCP Apps directly in a turn and use Codex plugins without flattening them into generic text output. - **Multi-agent conversations.** Bring several harnesses into one chat, or use side chats, ACP forks, and native subagent activity when available. - **Repeatable work.** Create one-time or recurring schedules that run against a project and harness, with local run history. ## A few things you can see These are representative UI snapshots from the current artifact/E2E suite. <table> <tr> <td width="50%"> <img src="artifacts/activity-states/06-complete-expanded.png" alt="Completed turn with expanded tool activity" /> <p align="center">_{Readable activity history with grouped tool calls.}</p> </td> <td width="50%"> <img src="artifacts/interactive-containers/01-inline.png" alt="Interactive MCP App rendered inline with the chat" /> <p align="center">_{Interactive MCP Apps rendered directly in a turn.}</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%"> <img src="artifacts/interactive-containers/03-picture-in-picture.png" alt="Interactive MCP App in picture-in-picture mode" /> <p align="center">_{Pop out a live result when the work needs more room.}</p> </td> <td width="50%"> <img src="artifacts/theme-system/appearance-plugin-workbench.png" alt="Backchat appearance settings with the Workbench theme" /> <p align="center">_{Theme, language, density, and font settings are first-class.}</p> </td> </tr> </table> ## Supported agents Backchat currently ships registry entries for: | Agent | ACP entry | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Claude Code | `claude-acp` | Claude Code through the official ACP adapter | | Codex CLI | `codex-acp` | Codex through `codex-acp` | | Pi | `openma-acp-pi-acp` | Pi through [`@openma/pi-acp`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@openma/pi-acp) | | [DeepSeek Harness](https://github.com/openma-ai/deepseek-harness-acp) | `dsh-acp` or `dsh --profile acp` | Standalone ACP server or dsh profile plugin | | Gemini CLI | `gemini` | Gemini CLI's ACP mode | | OpenCode | `opencode` | OpenCode's ACP mode | | Hermes | `hermes` | Hermes ACP entry | | OpenClaw | `openclaw` | OpenClaw ACP entry | DeepSeek Harness can be connected in either form: ```bash # Standalone ACP server npm install -g @openma/deepseek-harness-acp dsh-acp login # Or install it into an existing dsh profile dsh plugin --profile acp add -w @openma/deepseek-harness-acp ``` See [openma-ai/deepseek-harness-acp](https://github.com/openma-ai/deepseek-harness-acp) for authentication, profile, model, permission, and MCP configuration. Agent binaries are discovered or configured from **Settings → Agents**. The registry and setup layer are deliberately separate from the chat UI, so adding or updating a harness does not require changing the conversation model. ## Quick start ### Run from source Requirements: Node.js 24 and [pnpm](https://pnpm.io/) 11.24.0 (matching CI). ```bash git clone https://github.com/openma-ai/backchat.git cd backchat pnpm install --frozen-lockfile pnpm dev ``` The shared `@openma/common` dependency is pinned to an immutable Git commit; no sibling checkout or local link is required. The OpenMA SDK and daemon connection snapshots live under `packages/` with their upstream provenance. On first launch, open **Settings → Agents** to install or point Backchat at an ACP-compatible agent, then choose a project and start a chat. ### Build and package ```bash pnpm build # production renderer/main bundles pnpm package # unsigned local installer for the current OS pnpm package:dir # unpacked app directory ``` Signed release packaging and notarization are documented in [`docs/releasing.md`](docs/releasing.md). ## Development commands ```bash pnpm typecheck pnpm test:ci # curated contract + release-regression lane (GitHub Actions) pnpm test pnpm test:e2e:fast pnpm test:verify # typecheck + full unit tests + fast E2E lane ``` Pull requests run `test:ci` and `test:e2e:fast`. Pushes to `main` also build an unsigned macOS DMG, then check that the packaged app can import its runtime and complete a first prompt. The website download button always points at https://github.com/openma-ai/backchat/releases/latest/download/Backchat-arm64.dmg ; tagged releases upload that stable filename next to the versioned DMG. GitHub's official Dependency Review, CodeQL, and Dependabot for Actions run alongside those gates. The desktop shell is built with Electron, TypeScript, React, Vite, Tailwind CSS, and shadcn/ui. The ACP runtime is vendored from [`open-managed-agents`](https://github.com/open-ma/open-managed-agents) and trimmed to the local desktop use case. ## How the pieces fit together 1. **Choose a project.** A project is a working directory and the anchor for sessions and local artifacts. 2. **Choose a harness.** Backchat starts the selected ACP agent as a local child process and keeps its real configuration and capabilities visible. 3. **Work in one surface.** Conversation events, tool activity, MCP Apps, files, browser tabs, and terminals are projected into the same task. 4. **Branch when useful.** Continue in a side chat, fork an ACP session when supported, or follow native subagent activity emitted by the harness. ## Status Backchat is **pre-release** and under active development. The product shape, packaging, persistence format, and ACP integration surface may change before a stable release. It is ready for local evaluation and development, not yet a promise of backwards compatibility. Issues and focused pull requests are welcome. For a useful bug report, include your OS, Backchat build, agent/harness, project type, and the smallest reliable reproduction. ## Learn more - [Agent Client Protocol](https://agentclientprotocol.com/) - [ACP session and subagent model](docs/session-subagent-levels.md) - [Codex / ChatGPT plugin compatibility](docs/codex-plugin-compatibility-spec.md) - [File-first storage RFC](docs/file-first-storage-rfc.md) - [Release and signing guide](docs/releasing.md)