Summary
A macOS application for managing multiple CLI coding agents and allowing local AI-driven control of their sessions.
About
CLI Manager coordinates multiple command-line coding agents through a shared macOS interface and exposes local controls for agent orchestration. Its value is primarily in developer workflow management rather than providing a coding model itself.
CLI Manager provides a sidebar for Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini CLI sessions on macOS. Its AI Control API allows Claude Code, Codex, or scripts to open sessions, send prompts, wait for responses, and read terminal screens. Sessions under AI control are marked in the sidebar, and users can disconnect the AI to resume control. The API uses REST and MCP on 127.0.0.1 and is disabled by default. The application is free and MIT-licensed.
Key Features
Sidebar access to Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini CLI sessions
AI Control API for opening sessions and sending prompts
Ability to wait for agent activity and read terminal screens
REST and MCP interfaces bound to 127.0.0.1 and disabled by default
Visual indicators for AI-controlled sessions and an option to return control to the user
Real-World Use Cases
Multi-agent development workflows
Developers can manage sessions for several CLI coding agents in one interface and use an orchestrator to direct work across them.
Scripted coding tasks
Scripts can open CLI sessions, submit prompts, wait for activity, and inspect terminal output through the local control API.
Human-supervised agent operation
Developers can monitor which sessions are AI-controlled and disconnect the AI when they want to resume direct control.
Business Opportunities
Internal multi-agent development orchestration
Problem: Teams using multiple CLI coding agents may need to manage separate sessions and coordinate agent activity manually.
Solution: Use CLI Manager as a shared session interface and connect scripts or an orchestrating agent through its local API.
Estimated ROI: Potential time savings from reduced session switching and more repeatable agent workflows; financial return is not quantifiable from the available information.
Execution: Pilot the tool with developers already using supported CLI agents, define supervised workflows, and assess whether session coordination reduces context switching.
Repeatable agent-assisted engineering tasks
Problem: Recurring development tasks can require repeated manual prompting and monitoring across terminal sessions.
Solution: Create scripts that use the local API to open sessions, submit prompts, wait, and read terminal screens, with human oversight available.
Estimated ROI: Possible efficiency gains for repetitive workflows, offset by setup and supervision costs; no quantified return is established.
Execution: Identify bounded, repeatable tasks, build scripts around the documented session-control actions, and retain human review and disconnect controls.