Practical overview
When it fits
Use Kooky when you want a macOS desktop terminal to group coding-agent sessions by project and monitor their activity while working across multiple panes.
Who it is for
- macOS developers who run command-line coding agents across projects.
- Developers who want multiple agent sessions visible in one workspace.
- Users who need project-level organization and agent activity indicators.
Documented uses
- Open folders as project workspaces and organize terminal tabs by workspace.
- Launch supported coding-agent CLIs and arrange their sessions in horizontal or vertical panes.
- See which supported agents are running or waiting for a response or tool approval.
- View workspace details and switch Node versions or Git branches.
- Create or adopt Git worktrees as separate workspaces.
Requirements & limits
The README identifies macOS 14 or later as the platform requirement. Kooky is open source under the MIT license.
- Built-in agents have differing activity signals and session-history support; check the README’s agent table for the specific CLI.
- Custom commands can be launched, but activity tracking requires basing the entry on a built-in agent.
- Kooky uses libghostty for GPU rendering.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Open a project workspace and split its terminal
Create a kooky workspace for a folder and arrange its terminal into multiple panes.
Before you start
- A Mac running macOS 14 or later.
- A project folder available in Finder.
Steps
Open kooky.
Drop the project folder from Finder onto the sidebar, or press ⌘O to open it as a new workspace.
Split the active pane to the right or down using the split buttons on its tab bar, or press ⌘D or ⌘⇧D.
Expected outcome
The folder appears as a workspace, and its terminal can be arranged in separate panes.
Guide limitations
- The documented system requirement is macOS 14 or later.
Launch a coding agent in a project workspace
Open an agent session from a kooky workspace and observe its activity status.
Before you start
- A Mac running macOS 14 or later.
- A project folder opened as a kooky workspace.
- The desired agent's command-line tool available for kooky to launch.
Steps
Open the workspace in kooky.
Choose an agent from the + menu to start a session.
Check the agent's activity indicator; supported activity signals vary by agent.
Expected outcome
The selected agent starts in a session tab, with activity visibility where supported.
Guide limitations
- The README documents built-in agents and custom agent entries, but activity reporting is not available for every agent. Grok Build and Kiro CLI do not expose a waiting signal.
- A standalone custom command can launch but does not provide the built-in wrapper's activity reporting.
Compare options for AI coding assistance
These projects document a common task and share a project role. This is a source-based comparison, not an execution benchmark or a guarantee of interchangeability.
| Project | Documented purpose | Platform | Access and requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kooky | Open folders as project workspaces and organize terminal tabs by workspace. | Desktop, macOS | The README identifies macOS 14 or later as the platform requirement. Kooky is open source under the MIT license. |
| Llmcode | Inspect a project's directory structure with `/tree`. | CLI | The documented setup requires an API key and supports an API base URL and model setting. The project is open source under Apache-2.0. |
| Klaat Code | Open a project directory for terminal-based coding assistance. | CLI, Server | The README provides a global npm installation command and documents browser sign-in with a KlaatAI account. It also identifies the repository as open source under Apache 2.0. |
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 14 October 2026
- Original website title
- iAmCorey/kooky · Official homepage title · retained in its source language