An open-source AI IDE Shell — Cursor alternative: Agent, Editor, Git, Terminal, all in one place.
Bring the Cursor workflow to your own machine with a fully open-source tech stack.
The goal is simple: match Cursor in features and experience — the AI-native IDE shell with Agent, Monaco editor, workspace tools, diff review, and terminal all integrated — but delivered as open source: Apache 2.0 license, BYOK model access, and local-first conversations and configuration.
You can think of it as an AI-native desktop workspace: Agent, Monaco editor, Git, diff/review flow, and terminal are all in one place, but the stack underneath is transparent and hackable. The project uses Apache 2.0 license, BYOK for model access, and keeps threads, settings, and plans local-first by default.
| Aspect | Cursor | Async IDE |
|---|---|---|
| License / delivery | Proprietary product | Open source codebase you can inspect and fork |
| Model access | Product billing / built-in integrations | BYOK for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and compatible APIs |
| Storage model | Product-managed workflow | Local-first threads, settings, and plans |
| Focus | Full IDE product | Desktop shell centered on agent workflow, editor, Git, and terminal |
Async IDE is an open-source AI-native desktop application designed as your command center for working with coding agents. Rather than being a chat plugin bolted onto the side of an editor, it starts from the Agent Loop and brings multi-model conversations, autonomous tool execution, and review workflows into a single workspace.
- Agent-first — The agent can directly access your workspace, tools, and terminal through a clear Think → Plan → Execute → Observe loop.
- Transparent process — Streaming tool parameters (JSON rendered as it generates) + tool trajectory cards (
Read,Write,Edit,Glob,Grep, Shell, etc.), so every step is visible. - Full control — Use your own API keys, keep conversation history and repo state entirely local, with no dependency on cloud services.
- Git-native — Status, diffs, and agent-driven changes stay in sync with your actual repository.
- Four Composer modes — Agent (autonomous execution), Plan (review first, then run), Ask (read-only Q&A), and Debug (systematic troubleshooting), covering various development scenarios.
- Lean shell — Electron + React with Agent / Editor dual layout, Monaco + embedded terminal, following the same philosophy as Cursor but with a more focused codebase.
- Streaming tool parameters with trajectory cards for clear execution visibility.
- Plan and Agent dual modes: review the plan first, or let the agent run directly.
- Approval gates for shell commands and file writes.
- Editor context sync so agent edits can focus on the relevant file and line range.
- Support for nested sub-agents, background execution, and timeline-style activity rendering.
- Built-in adapters for Anthropic, OpenAI, and Gemini.
- Support for OpenAI-compatible endpoints like Ollama, vLLM, aggregators, or self-hosted services.
- Streaming thinking blocks on supported models.
- Auto mode to automatically pick the best available model.
- Monaco editor with multi-tab support, syntax highlighting, and diff review flows.
- Git integration: status, diff, staging, commit, and push all available from the UI.
- xterm.js terminal: for both user commands and observing agent shell operations.
- Composer with
@file mentions, rich segments, and persistent threads. - Quick Open palette (
Ctrl/Cmd+P) and keyboard-first navigation. - Built-in i18n support for English and Simplified Chinese.
- Support for local disk skills, workspace config merge, and tool approval controls.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Renderer Process │
│ React + Vite │ Monaco Editor │ xterm.js Terminal │
│ Composer / Chat / Plan / Agent UI │
└──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┘
│ contextBridge (IPC)
┌──────────────────────────▼──────────────────────────────┐
│ Main Process │
│ agentLoop.ts │ toolExecutor.ts │ LLM Adapters │
│ gitService │ threadStore │ settingsStore │
│ workspace │ LSP session │ PTY terminal │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
| Technology | Version | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| React | ^19.2.4 | UI framework |
| Electron | 41.1.0 | Desktop app shell |
| Vite | ^6.0.3 | Build tool & dev server |
| TypeScript | ^5.9.3 | Type-safe development |
| Monaco Editor | ^0.52.0 | Code editor component |
| xterm.js | ^5.5.0 | Terminal emulator |
| OpenAI SDK | ^4.96.0 | OpenAI API client |
| Anthropic SDK | ^0.39.0 | Claude API client |
| Google Generative AI | ^0.21.0 | Gemini API client |
| MCP SDK | ^1.29.0 | Model Context Protocol |
| node-pty | ^1.1.0 | PTY terminal support |
- Main / renderer IPC via Electron
contextBridgeandipcMain. **agentLoop.ts** handles multi-round tool calls, partial JSON streaming, tool repair, and aborts.- Structured assistant messages are persisted locally and expanded to provider-native tool formats when needed.
- Local persistence stores threads, settings, and plans as JSON / Markdown under user data.
**gitService** provides the Git layer used by the UI for status, diff, staging, commit, and push.- LSP integration uses TypeScript Language Server for in-editor intelligence.
Async/
├── main-src/ # Bundled -> electron/main.bundle.cjs (Node / Electron main)
│ ├── index.ts # App entry: windows, userData, IPC registration
│ ├── agent/ # agentLoop.ts, toolExecutor.ts, agentTools.ts, toolApprovalGate.ts
│ ├── llm/ # OpenAI / Anthropic / Gemini adapters & streaming
│ ├── lsp/ # TypeScript LSP session
│ ├── mcp/ # Model Context Protocol integration
│ ├── memdir/ # Memory directory management
│ ├── ipc/register.ts # ipcMain handlers (chat, threads, git, fs, agent, ...)
│ ├── shell/ # Shell command execution
│ ├── threadStore.ts # Persistent threads + messages (JSON)
│ ├── settingsStore.ts # settings.json
│ ├── gitService.ts # Porcelain status, diff previews, commit/push
│ ├── workspace.ts # Open-folder root & safe path resolution
│ ├── workspaceFileIndex.ts # File indexing for workspace
│ ├── workspaceSemanticIndex.ts # Semantic search indexing
│ ├── workspaceSymbolIndex.ts # Symbol indexing
│ └── workspaceUsageStats.ts # Workspace usage statistics
├── src/ # Vite + React renderer
│ ├── App.tsx # Shell layout, chat, composer modes, Git / explorer
│ ├── AgentChatPanel.tsx # Agent chat interface
│ ├── AgentLeftSidebar.tsx # Agent activity sidebar
│ ├── AgentRightSidebar.tsx # Agent tools and results
│ ├── ChatComposer.tsx # Message composer component
│ ├── EditorMainPanel.tsx # Monaco editor panel
│ ├── SettingsPage.tsx # Settings UI
│ ├── WorkspaceExplorer.tsx # File explorer
│ ├── hooks/ # Custom React hooks (19 files)
│ ├── i18n/ # Locale messages (en / zh-CN)
│ └── ... # Agent UI, Plan review, Monaco, terminal, ...
├── electron/
│ ├── main.bundle.cjs # esbuild output (do not edit by hand)
│ └── preload.cjs # contextBridge -> window.asyncShell
├── docs/assets/ # Logo, screenshots
├── scripts/
│ └── export-app-icon.mjs # Rasterize SVG -> resources/icons/icon.png
├── esbuild.main.mjs # Builds main process
├── vite.config.ts # Renderer build
└── package.json
Default location under Electron's userData directory:
async/threads.json: threads and chat messages.async/settings.json: model configuration, API keys, layout, and agent options..async/plans/: Markdown plan documents generated in Plan mode.
The renderer may use localStorage for lightweight UI state, but the authoritative data source for conversations is threads.json.
- Node.js >= 18
- npm >= 9
- Git (recommended)
-
Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/ZYKJShadow/Async.git cd AsyncIf you prefer Gitee, you can also use:
git clone https://gitee.com/shadowsocks_z/Async.git cd Async -
Install dependencies:
npm install
-
Build and launch the desktop app:
npm run desktop
This will build both the main and renderer processes, then open the app with Electron.
npm run devTo open DevTools during development:
npm run dev:debugnpm run iconsThis will rasterize docs/assets/async-logo.svg into resources/icons/icon.png and public/favicon.png.
We genuinely need to thank Claude Code for its "open-source moment" — Async IDE as an open-source alternative is, in a way, an indirect beneficiary of that.
Have questions, ideas, or just want to chat with a community of developers?
- Forum: linux.do — Join the discussion, share your setup, report issues, and stick around.
This project is open-sourced under the Apache License 2.0.