What is Emdash?
Emdash is an open-source desktop application for developers working with AI coding agents. Each task runs in its own Git worktree and branch, allowing developers to explore fixes or features in parallel before reviewing and merging changes. It detects installed agent CLIs and supports tools including Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, and Amp.
The application runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, with support for local projects and remote codebases accessed through SSH/SFTP. Application state is stored in a local SQLite database. Emdash states that it does not send code or chats to its own servers, but agent CLIs may transmit code, prompts, and context to their providers. Telemetry is optional and can be disabled.
Emdash is released under the Apache-2.0 license. It installs on macOS with Homebrew (brew install --cask emdash), on Windows as an installer or portable build, and on Linux as AppImage, DEB or RPM packages. Issues and tickets from Linear, GitHub, Jira, GitLab, Asana and Featurebase can be sent into an agent.
Key capabilities
- Parallel agent execution Runs multiple coding agents with each task isolated in its own Git worktree and branch.
- Agent CLI support Automatically detects installed provider CLIs and supports multiple coding agents.
- Issue intake Sends issues and tickets from supported services, including GitHub, Linear, Jira, and GitLab, into an agent.
- Change review Provides diff review, pull request creation, CI check inspection, and merging in one application.
- Remote projects Connects to remote codebases over SSH/SFTP, with credentials stored in the operating system keychain.
- Session tracking Uses lifecycle hooks for compatible agents to track status, notifications, and resumable sessions.
Where Emdash fits
Emdash fits development workflows where several agent-assisted fixes or features need to progress independently. Developers can assign tasks from supported issue trackers, compare changes in separate branches, and review work before merging. The same workflow can operate on local repositories or codebases on remote machines.
Before deployment, teams should check the setup and behavior of their chosen agent CLIs, including lifecycle-hook support and any user-level configuration changes. They should also review provider data-handling policies, decide whether to disable telemetry, and verify remote authentication requirements when using SSH/SFTP.
Install
brew install --cask emdashReviews of Emdash
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Alternatives to Emdash
AiderOpen-source command-line tool for editing code with LLMs inside a local git repository. It builds a repository map, applies model edits to files, commits each change, runs linters and tests, and works with most hosted and local models.AAirshipAirship is a local CLI with a browser visual editor for existing web apps; Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode implement the selected changes.
ClineApache-2.0 coding agent from Cline Bot Inc. that edits files, runs commands and uses MCP tools with per-action approval. Ships as a VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, npm CLI, desktop app and TypeScript SDK, with BYOK or Cline-billed models.