Herdr

What is Herdr?

Herdr is a runtime for running several AI coding agents side by side in a terminal. Instead of an app you must keep open, it is a background server that owns real terminals, so agents keep working after you close the lid, drop the network or detach, and your layout and sessions return after a restart. The text interface groups work into spaces and shows each agent's state as working, blocked, done or idle, so you can spot the one waiting on you. It detects 22 agent command-line tools, such as Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode, and lets you attach directly to a single agent. A CLI and local socket API let scripts and agents read panes, send input and wait on each other. Herdr runs inside your existing terminal on macOS, Linux and Windows, connects local and saved SSH machines in one window, and is licensed under Apache 2.0. It is free to install, and a Herdr Cloud waitlist is open for connecting machines without SSH setup.

Use cases

• Run multiple coding agents at once
• Keep agents working after detaching
• Spot which agent is blocked
• Reattach to sessions over SSH
• Script agents through the API
• Extend workflows with plugins

Who it's for

• Developers using coding agents
• Terminal power users
• Teams running remote dev machines

Why use Herdr

• Agents survive closed laptops, dropped connections and UI crashes because the server, not the window, holds the terminals.
• State labels show which agent is blocked on a prompt, so you do not need to cycle through panes checking.
• It runs inside the terminal you already use rather than replacing it.
• The Apache 2.0 license and one-line install make it free to try with no account.
• The API lets one agent read, send to and wait on others, which helps in multi-agent setups.

Herdr features

• Background server that owns real terminals
• Workspaces grouped into spaces
• Agent states: blocked, working, done and idle
• Detection of 22 agent command-line tools
• Direct attach to a single agent
• Session restore after detach or restart
• Local and saved SSH machines in one window
• CLI and local socket API for scripts and agents
• Plugins with manifest actions and event hooks
• Mouse-first controls with tmux-style prefix keys

Herdr integrations

• Claude Code
• Codex
• OpenCode
• tmux
• Zellij
• Homebrew
• Nix

How to get started with Herdr

1. Install Herdr with the curl install script, or via Homebrew, Nix or a manual download.
2. Start Herdr in your terminal and create spaces for each project or branch.
3. Launch coding agents in panes; Herdr detects them and shows whether each is working, blocked, done or idle.
4. Detach, close the terminal or switch machines, then reattach later and find the agents where you left them.

Herdr limitations

• The interface is a terminal UI; other clients are described as coming later
• Herdr Cloud is only a waitlist at present
• Work with git worktrees and diff review relies on pairing with other tools

Herdr pricing

Herdr is open source, so you can use and self-host it for free.

Prices can change and may vary by country or exclude tax. Check the official pricing page.

Herdr alternatives

The main Herdr alternatives listed on Debuly are cmux, Warp, Conductor, Blackbox AI, numbat and AI/ML API. The table compares pricing and platforms; order is A–Z.

1. 

   AI/ML API

   One API key for more than a thousand AI models across chat, image, video and audio, billed pay-as-you-go with prepaid credits.

   Developer platformsCodingAutomation and agents
   PaidVisit AI/ML API (official site)
2. 

   Blackbox AI

   Inference platform with one OpenAI-compatible endpoint for 300+ open and closed models, encrypted connections, and dedicated enterprise deployments.

   Developer platformsCodingAutomation and agents
   Contact salesVisit Blackbox AI (official site)
3. 

   cmux

   Open-source macOS terminal built for running several coding agents side by side, with cloud VMs on paid plans.

   CodingDeveloper platformsAutomation and agents
   FreemiumVisit cmux (official site)
4. 

   Conductor

   Enterprise platform for AI search (AEO) and SEO: content creation, visibility reporting, site monitoring and agent tooling.

   Marketing and SEOWritingResearch and search
   Contact salesVisit Conductor (official site)
5. 

   numbat

   Open-source endpoint tool that watches AI agent activity, flags risky behavior locally and can optionally block actions.

   Developer platformsAutomation and agentsCoding
   Open sourceVisit numbat (official site)
6. 

   Warp

   Terminal with a built-in coding agent, shared team workspace and cloud agents, plus factory-as-code for automating software work.

   CodingDeveloper platformsAutomation and agents
   FreemiumVisit Warp (official site)

Herdr FAQ

Sources & verification

Facts on this page come from the official sources below, each with the date we read it. Written by Debuly; the vendor did not review this page.

Image credits

• Logo: from herdr.dev · fetched 23 Oct 2026 · Vendor trademark, used only to identify the product; removed on request
• Cover: none collected yet, so a generated tile is shown.

Spot an error? Report an issue with this listing. We also remove a logo or image on the owner's request.