Unpeel is a terminal multiplexer and agent orchestration harness designed for managing persistent developer tasks and AI coding agents. It provides a structured workspace across macOS, remote Linux hosts, and iOS devices, running agent processes independently of GUI window lifecycles so that long-running operations survive restarts, crashes, and network disconnections. Developers interact with Unpeel via a native macOS interface or a terminal UI (TUI). Both interfaces operate over shared local state files located in ~/.unpeel without relying on external databases or cloud synchronization services. The environment hosts arbitrary CLI tools and provides recognized runtime integrations for agents like Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, and Gemini, tracking busy/idle status, conversation history, and project scopes across local or SSH-connected instances. What sets Unpeel apart is its local Model Context Protocol (MCP) hub, which allows distinct agent sessions across different harnesses to communicate and delegate subtasks to each other. Additionally, Unpeel integrates an isolated browser automation layer using the host machine's existing Google Chrome installation, paired with mobile terminal control that supports push notifications and image-based markup feedback directly from iOS devices. As of version 0.3.x, Unpeel runs as a local-first system with direct peer-to-peer device connections over local networks/VPNs or via an end-to-end encrypted relay (Unpeel Link) for remote access.
Durable process execution — Runs terminal sessions and CLI agents as hosted background processes on local macOS or remote SSH servers that persist across window closures and restarts. - Inter-agent MCP coordination — Exposes a local Model Context Protocol server enabling one agent (e.g., Claude Code) to list, inspect, and dispatch instructions to other agent sessions (e.g., Codex). - File-based shared state — Synchronizes workspace state, project definitions, and session history between the GUI app and TUI via plain files in ~/.unpeel with no central database. - Isolated browser automation — Drives the host's existing Chrome browser via an MCP toolchain using dedicated, project-isolated profiles without requiring Playwright or headless Chromium downloads. - iOS companion and markup — Connects mobile devices directly over Wi-Fi/VPN or encrypted relay for terminal input, push notifications on turn completion, and visual screenshot markup. - Direct markdown transcript export — Extracts complete session logs directly from the underlying agent provider storage as clean Markdown files.
Use cases
Use Case: Autonomous Multi-Agent Triage A developer can set up an orchestrator agent in Claude Code to monitor an issue queue and use the Unpeel MCP interface to assign reproduction tests to an OpenAI Codex terminal session and documentation fixes to another agent in parallel.
Use Case: Remote Monitoring and Visual Annotation A software engineer can kick off a complex migration or UI build on a local workstation, step away, and receive an iOS push alert when the agent finishes. If the agent takes a browser screenshot of a layout issue, the developer can draw arrows and annotations on their phone to immediately inject the image back into the agent's input stream.
Use Case: Headless VPS Workspace Management A DevOps engineer can attach Unpeel to a remote cloud server using standard SSH keys and aliases. Agents run directly on the VPS while providing real-time transcripts, status updates, and session recovery across native Mac and mobile interfaces.
Who it is for
Unpeel is designed for developers, systems engineers, and technical leads who run multiple CLI-based AI coding agents simultaneously and need durable session multiplexing across local machines, remote servers, and mobile devices. It is less suitable for users looking for a single cloud-hosted IDE extension or an all-in-one proprietary agent that replaces standard shell workflows.
Install guide
Installation Download the native macOS desktop build directly from the official website, or launch a remote session over SSH from your terminal: bash # Connect your local terminal to an Unpeel workspace on a remote server unpeel --host ssh://your-box
First Run 1. Launch the Unpeel desktop app on your Mac. 2. Add your project directories to create separate workspaces. 3. Configure your desired agent CLIs (e.g., ensure claude or codex binaries are installed and authenticated in your standard shell environment). 4. (Optional) Scan the in-app pairing QR code using the Unpeel iOS app to enable mobile control and push notifications.
Example Session Launch an orchestrator loop in an Unpeel session to coordinate child agent sessions via MCP: bash # Start a coordination loop in an Unpeel terminal session /loop triage open issues, assign fixes, and keep going until CI is green The orchestrator will query the Unpeel MCP server, inspect active terminal sessions across your project, and send commands to specialized agents running in parallel.
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