Parallel Agent Development with Multiplexer: A Desktop Application
Introduction
Mux is a desktop tool designed to facilitate simultaneous, isolated development with multiple AI agents. It enables users to run parallel workspaces, improving efficiency and project management.
Main Features and Use Cases
Parallelization allows for various specialized workflows:
– Maintaining context continuity across related tasks like code reviews, refactoring, and new feature development.
– Running the powerful GPT-5-Pro model for tackling complex issues, even during long hours or intermittent connections.
– Performing A/B testing by running different approaches side-by-side and discarding less effective ones.
– Exploring tangents separately from the main project to facilitate creative workflows.
Core Functionality
Mux provides isolated workspaces with a centralized view of git divergence, accessible via local git worktrees or remote SSH clones. It supports multiple models, including Sonnet-4, Grok, GPT-5, and Opus-4, with integrations for Ollama and OpenRouter for local and extensive LLM options.
A VS Code extension allows seamless switching between mux workspaces. Its user interface features efficient agent management, rich markdown outputs (e.g., Mermaid diagrams, LaTeX), and familiar UX elements inspired by Claude Code, with enhancements like opportunistic compaction and mode prompts.
Installation and Usage
Currently in preview, mux is still subject to bugs but remains highly productive, used internally during development. Binaries are available for macOS and Linux on the releases page, with detailed installation instructions provided.
Screenshots illustrate key features:
– Integrated code review for rapid iteration
– Status reports from agents in the sidebar
– Git divergence UI for managing changes and conflicts
– Mermaid diagrams for complex proposals
– Project secrets for separating human and agent identities
– Cost and token tracking
– Context management through opportunistic compaction
Additional Resources
Further details are available in the official documentation and GitHub development guidelines.
Licensing Information
Mux is open source under the GNU Affero General Public License v3, maintained by Coder Technologies, Inc.
FAQs
Q: What is mux primarily used for?
A: It’s designed for parallel, isolated agent-based development to improve productivity on complex projects.
Q: Can I run mux on my local machine?
A: Yes, it supports local git worktrees, SSH clones, and multiple language models.
Q: Is mux stable for production?
A: It’s currently in preview, so expect some bugs, but it’s highly functional for internal development.
Q: What integrations are available?
A: It integrates with VS Code, supports various LLM APIs, and provides visual markdown outputs.
Q: How do I get started with mux?
A: Download binaries from the releases page and consult the documentation for setup.

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