Installation

No prerequisites - the app can detect supported runtimes/providers and guide setup from the UI.

May trigger SmartScreen — click "More info" → "Run anyway"

Build for distribution

pnpm dist:mac:arm64  # macOS Apple Silicon (.dmg)
pnpm dist:mac:x64    # macOS Intel (.dmg)
pnpm dist:win        # Windows (.exe)
pnpm dist:linux      # Linux (AppImage/.deb/.rpm/.pacman)
pnpm dist            # Current platform

Distribution scripts run the production build and stage the bundled multimodel runtime from runtime.lock.json before packaging. Use pnpm clean:runtime to remove staged runtime files after local packaging.

Quick start

1. Download the app for your platform (see Installation)
2. Launch the desktop app - start with the free model with no auth, or let the setup wizard detect runtimes and guide provider authentication
3. Create a team — Pick a project, define roles, write a provisioning prompt
4. Watch — Agents spawn, create tasks, and work. You see it all on the kanban board

Use the desktop app as the primary product. The browser/web path is not needed for normal use and does not provide the full desktop runtime, IPC, terminal, provider auth, or team lifecycle behavior.

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Comparison

Fact sources checked on May 18, 2026: detailed research notes, Gastown README, Gastown provider guide, Gastown scheduler, Gastown dashboard source, Gastown release, Paperclip README, Paperclip adapters, Paperclip heartbeat protocol, Paperclip org chart, Paperclip OrgChart source, Paperclip budgets, Paperclip runtime services, Paperclip Kanban source, Paperclip work products, Paperclip release, Cursor Background Agents, Cursor Diffs & Review, Cursor Bugbot, Cursor pricing, Claude Code agent teams, Claude Code subagents, Claude Code workflows, Claude Code costs, Claude pricing.

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FAQ

<details> <summary><strong>Do I need to install a runtime before using this app?</strong></summary> <br /> No. You can start with the free model with no auth right away. If you want Claude, Codex, OpenCode/OpenRouter, or other provider-backed models, the app guides runtime detection/setup and provider authentication from the UI. </details>

<details> <summary><strong>Does it read or upload my code?</strong></summary> <br /> The app is not a cloud code-sync service. It reads local runtime/session data to power the UI, and your project stays on your machine unless you choose a provider/runtime path that sends data to that provider. In multimodel mode, startup may also perform runtime access and capability checks before launch. </details>

<details> <summary><strong>Can agents communicate with each other?</strong></summary> <br /> Yes. Agents send direct messages, create shared tasks, and leave comments - all coordinated by the app's own orchestration layer. </details>

<details> <summary><strong>Is it free?</strong></summary> <br /> Yes. The app is free and open source, and you can start with a free model with no auth - no registration, API keys, or credit card. If you want more models, connect the provider access you already have, such as Claude, Codex, OpenCode/OpenRouter, or other supported runtimes. </details>

<details> <summary><strong>Can I review code changes before they're applied?</strong></summary> <br /> Yes. Every task shows a full diff view where you can accept, reject, or comment on individual code hunks — similar to Cursor's review flow. </details>

<details> <summary><strong>What happens if an agent gets stuck?</strong></summary> <br /> Send a direct message to course-correct, or stop and restart from the process dashboard. If an agent needs your input, you'll get a notification and the task will show a distinct badge on the board. </details>

<details> <summary><strong>Does it support multiple projects and teams?</strong></summary> <br /> Yes. Run multiple teams in one project or across different projects, even simultaneously. To avoid Git conflicts, ask agents to use git worktree in your provisioning prompt. </details>

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