Herdr
Run multiple AI coding agents in one terminal, persistent over SSH
If you live in the terminal and juggle multiple AI coding agents across machines, Herdr is the most pragmatic solution we've seen. It's not an IDE or orchestrator, but for persistent, agent-aware terminal multiplexing over SSH, nothing else comes close at this price (free).
- Developers running multiple concurrent AI coding agents (Claude Code, OpenCode, Codex) in one terminal
- Power users who need persistent agent sessions across laptops, remote servers, and multiple devices
- Terminal-first engineers who want agent-aware multiplexing without Electron or web dashboards
- Teams collaborating via shared, persistent remote agent terminals accessible over SSH
- Non-technical users who prefer graphical desktop apps or browser-based interfaces
- Users needing built-in agent orchestration, RAG pipelines, or multi-step workflows
- Developers who only use a single local agent and never need session persistence across devices
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In short
Herdr — Run multiple AI coding agents in one terminal, persistent over SSH. Best for Developers running multiple concurrent AI coding agents (Claude Code, OpenCode, Codex) in one terminal, Power users who need persistent agent sessions across laptops, remote servers, and multiple devices, Terminal-first engineers who want agent-aware multiplexing without Electron or web dashboards. Free to use.
Viability Score
How likely is Herdr to still be operational in 12 months? Based on 4 signals — momentum (how recently it shipped), wrapper dependency, revenue model, and web presence.
Last calculated: July 2026
How we score →Key Features
- Multiple concurrent AI agent terminals in one TUI
- Persistent server keeps agent sessions alive across sleep/close
- Reattach from any device via SSH (including phone)
- Real PTY per agent—not TMUX or screen multiplexing
- SSH bridge for running agents on remote boxes
- Visual agent status: blocked, working, done, idle
- State buffering per tick prevents UI flicker
- Live handoff—agent PTYs survive server replacement
- Responsive TUI with mobile-friendly narrow-screen layout
- CLI and JSON socket API for workspace/pane control
- Self-hosted, open-source Rust binary, no Electron
- No account or telemetry required
- Supports Claude Code, OpenCode, Codex, and other CLI agents
- Mouse-first panes, tabs, and workspaces
- 150+ community plugins via marketplace
About Herdr
Herdr is an open-source, terminal-based agent multiplexer that lets developers run multiple AI coding agents (Claude Code, OpenCode, Codex, and more) simultaneously in real PTY-backed terminals. Unlike desktop agent managers tied to one machine, Herdr runs as a single Rust binary on a persistent server, keeping agent sessions alive even when you close your laptop. You can reattach from any device—including a phone via SSH—and see agent status (blocked, working, done) at a glance in a responsive TUI. It installs via curl, Homebrew, or Nix flake, requires no account or telemetry, and works on Linux, macOS, and Windows (preview). Key features include real per-agent PTYs (not TMUX or screen multiplexing), an SSH bridge for remote execution, a control surface with CLI and JSON socket API, and a state buffering system that eliminated sidebar flicker. The TUI adapts to narrow screens (mobile-first) and supports mouse-first panes, tabs, and workspaces. Agents themselves can orchestrate Herdr via its API, enabling workflows where agents split panes and run commands. A marketplace of 150+ community plugins extends functionality. Herdr is built for developers who already use multiple CLI-based AI coding assistants and need persistence across machines or remote servers. It compares directly to tmux/Zellij (which handle terminal persistence but lack agent awareness) and to desktop agent managers (which are GUI-bound to one machine). Herdr occupies a unique niche: a lightweight, agent-aware multiplexer that doesn't add a browser dashboard or cloud dependency.
Behind the Verdict
Herdr fills a distinct gap for terminal-native developers. When you're running Claude Code on a server, OpenCode in a sandbox VM, and Codex on a remote machine, switching between tmux windows is clunky and agent-unaware. Herdr gives you a single TUI that understands agent states and keeps sessions alive across device hops. The SSH bridge is the killer feature—you can detach from a headless box and reattach from a phone, which is genuinely useful for long-running experiments. Where it falls short: if you only run one agent locally and never need persistence, you don't need Herdr. And it's not an agent orchestrator—you can't define workflows, RAG pipelines, or multi-step chains within Herdr itself. The agents do their thing, Herdr just manages their terminals. Also, Windows support is still preview, so Windows-first teams should wait. Compared to tmux/Zellij, Herdr adds agent awareness (state icons, semantic status, direct agent attach) and a plugin ecosystem. Compared to desktop agent managers like AgentKit or TaskWeaver, it trades a GUI for universal SSH reach. For our money, Herdr is a perfect fit for anyone who already uses CLI agents and needs a persistent, lightweight multiplexer—especially on remote boxes. It's free, open source, and doesn't phone home, which is rare in this space.
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Use Cases
- Run three different coding agents (Claude Code, OpenCode, Codex) simultaneously on separate projects from one terminal.
- SSH into a remote build server and start a long-running agent session, then close your laptop and reattach from your phone later.
- Monitor agent progress at a glance – see which agents are blocked, working, or done without switching windows.
- Develop and test a live handoff feature where a server replacement does not interrupt running agent terminals.
- Use the persistent server to keep an agent working on a long-running task (e.g., code migration) while you switch devices.
- Leverage the API to integrate Herdr with your own CI/CD pipeline for automated agent runs.
Limitations
- Herdr is a terminal multiplexer, not an agent orchestration platform – it does not manage agent workflows, memory, or RAG.
- It does not include its own AI models; it relies on external agent tools like Claude Code.
- The Windows version is currently in preview/beta.
- The tool is self-hosted, so security and uptime depend on your own infrastructure.
12-month cost
Project the real annual outlay, including the implied monthly cost when only an annual tier is published.
Vendor list price only. Add-on usage, seat overages, and contract minimums are surfaced under Hidden costs & gotchas.
Integrations
Resources & Guides
- Resourceherdr.dev
Home · Herdr
Helpful link from herdr.dev
- Quickstartherdr.dev
Quick Start · Herdr
Get up and running fast from herdr.dev
- Resourceherdr.dev
Install · Herdr
Helpful link from herdr.dev
- Documentationherdr.dev
Docs · Herdr
Full product docs from herdr.dev
- API Referenceherdr.dev
Api · Herdr
Methods, params, types from herdr.dev
Official links
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