Termy

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Termy is a macOS-native desktop application that functions as a system-level overlay terminal and productivity hub specifically designed for AI-powered coding agents like Claude Code and Codex CLI. It integrates directly with the macOS window manager to provide a persistent, context-aware interface.
2. Core Value Proposition: Termy exists to eliminate context-switching and workflow friction for developers using AI coding assistants. It provides a dedicated, always-accessible workspace that centralizes agent interaction, project management, and real-time status monitoring directly from the MacBook's notch area, turning the agent into a seamless extension of the developer's environment.

Main Features

1. Notch-Integrated Terminal Panel: A system-level panel that drops down from the MacBook's screen notch on hover or via a hotkey (⌥`). It functions as a floating, always-on-top terminal window that can be pinned open or auto-hides. This provides instant, app-agnostic access to the AI agent without disrupting the current workspace or requiring window management.
2. Live Agent Status & Notch Approvals: Termy reads native hook events from Claude Code and Codex CLI to display precise, real-time status (spinner, warning, checkmark) in the notch, menu bar, and per tab. When an agent requires command approval, a contextual prompt with "Allow" and "Deny" buttons appears directly in the notch, enabling permission grants without switching focus. Notifications for external displays include actionable buttons.
3. Project-Aware Session Management & Checkpoints: Automatically detects and opens tabs for projects active in Xcode, VS Code, or Cursor. Each tab maintains a persistent session with its AI agent, surviving app restarts. The Pro version's Checkpoints feature automatically takes Git-based snapshots (stored as separate refs, not on branches) before each agent prompt, allowing visual diff comparison and one-click restoration with a safety snapshot created first.
4. Agent Office & Integrated Browser (Pro): Agent Office is a visual dashboard (⌘E) representing each agent and subagent as pixel-art characters at desks, organized by project. It centralizes status, approvals, and inter-agent chat. The Termy Browser is a WebKit-based inspector that runs alongside the terminal, allowing developers to select page elements and automatically inject their HTML, CSS, screenshot, and console errors into the agent's prompt.
5. On-Device Whisper Dictation & Workflow Tools (Pro): Integrates OpenAI's Whisper model for offline, private voice-to-text dictation (⌥V) that recognizes technical terminology and project-specific names. The Workflow Toolbar provides per-turn file change summaries, revert actions, prompt templates, and Review Notes—click-to-annotate diffs that can be compiled into a single feedback message for the agent.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Severe workflow disruption caused by constant alt-tabbing between a code editor, a separate terminal window running the AI agent, and a browser. This fragments attention, hides agent status, and makes command approvals cumbersome.
2. Target Audience: macOS-based software engineers, full-stack developers, and engineering teams who regularly use Claude Code or Codex CLI for iterative coding, debugging, and feature development. It is particularly valuable for developers working on multiple projects simultaneously or those utilizing AI for complex, multi-step tasks.
3. Use Cases: Multi-Project Development: Managing separate AI agent sessions for a frontend React app and a backend API server without window clutter. Long-Running Tasks: Approving a series of shell commands from the notch while reviewing code in another app, and receiving a clear notification upon completion. Safe Experimentation: Using automatic checkpoints to fearlessly let an agent refactor a module, with the ability to instantly visualize changes and revert. Integrated Debugging: Using the Termy Browser to diagnose a UI bug and feed the exact element data to Claude Code in one click.

Unique Advantages

1. Strengths & Limitations (Pros & Cons):

   • Pros:
     • Unparalleled macOS Integration: The notch UI is a genuinely innovative use of hardware, providing zero-friction access. System-level menus and notifications are deeply native.
     • True State Awareness: Leveraging the agents' own hooks (Claude Code, Codex) provides accurate status, unlike screen-scraping alternatives.
     • Context Preservation: Automatic project detection and session persistence maintain workflow continuity across days and reboots.
     • Pro Features Depth: Checkpoints, Agent Office, and the integrated browser are powerful, unique tools that extend beyond a simple terminal wrapper.
   • Cons:
     • Platform Lock-in: Exclusively for macOS 26+, with the full experience limited to MacBook Pro/Air models with a physical notch.
     • Agent Dependency: Core functionality is optimized for Claude Code and Codex. Support for other agents (Gemini CLI, plain shell) is more basic.
     • One-Time Purchase Model: While consumer-friendly, this may impact long-term sustainability and feature development pace compared to subscription-funded competitors.

2. Key Alternatives & Differentiation:

   • Native Terminal/iTerm2 + Manual Management: The default workflow. Termy differentiates by eliminating manual window management, providing system-wide status/approvals, and adding project session persistence and safety features (checkpoints) that do not exist in standard terminals.
   • Cursor or Windsurf (AI-Native IDEs): These integrate the agent directly into the editor. Termy differentiates by being editor-agnostic (works with Xcode, VS Code, Cursor), providing a unified interface for all projects, and offering system-level features (notch access, notifications, menu bar control) that an IDE cannot.
   • Other AI Agent Launchers (e.g., MacOS utilities): Termy's differentiation is its comprehensive feature set. It's not just a launcher; it's a full management suite with visual session tracking (Office), a dedicated browser, offline dictation, and deep Git-integrated versioning (checkpoints), all wrapped in a unique system UI.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Does Termy work without a MacBook notch? Yes, Termy functions fully via its menu bar icon and actionable notifications. The notch-specific features (hover-to-open pill, inline approval buttons) are the only elements that require a notched MacBook display.

2. Is my code sent to Termy's servers? No. Termy is a local macOS application. Your code and interactions with AI agents (Claude, Codex) remain between you and their respective services. The only external calls Termy makes are for license validation (Pro), update checks, and a one-time download of the Whisper model if local dictation is enabled.

3. How do Termy's checkpoints affect my Git workflow? Termy's checkpoints are designed to be non-invasive. They are stored as separate Git references (like refs/termy/checkpoints/*) and never commit to or alter your working branches, staged files, or Git history. Restoring a checkpoint first creates a safety snapshot, allowing for easy undo.

4. Can I use Termy with GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT? Termy is specifically engineered for terminal-based AI coding agents that accept command-line input and provide hook events, primarily Claude Code and Codex CLI. It does not directly integrate with IDE plugins like GitHub Copilot or web-based interfaces like ChatGPT.

5. What happens after the 14-day Pro trial ends? After the trial, features marked as "Pro" (unlimited sessions, split view, checkpoints, Agent Office, Browser, Whisper dictation, etc.) will be disabled. The core Free features (one session, notch status, basic approvals, session resume) will remain active. You can purchase a one-time Pro license within the app to restore all features permanently.