Key takeaways
- Introduces 'Spec-Driven Development' where living specs evolve as agents implement and update the source of truth
- Multi-agent architecture: Coordinator plans, Specialists execute in parallel, Verifier validates
- Works with Augment's Context Engine or BYOA (Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode)
FAQ
What is Augment Intent?
Augment Intent is a Mac desktop workspace for orchestrating AI coding agents using spec-driven development—define a spec, approve the plan, and let coordinated agents implement it in parallel.
What is Spec-Driven Development?
Spec-Driven Development puts a living spec at the center of your workflow. Agents implement the spec and update it as they work, keeping humans and agents aligned.
Can I use other agents with Intent?
Yes, Intent supports Bring Your Own Agent (BYOA) including Claude Code, Codex, and OpenCode, though Augment's Context Engine provides the best experience.
Executive Summary
Augment Intent represents a new paradigm in AI-assisted development: spec-driven development with multi-agent orchestration. Rather than prompting individual agents, developers define a living spec that evolves as a Coordinator agent plans work, Specialist agents execute in parallel, and a Verifier validates results against the spec. Augment, backed by $472M in funding, positions Intent as "what comes after the IDE."
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Augment Code |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Funding | $472M (Series B) |
| Employees | ~150 |
| Headquarters | Palo Alto, CA |
Product Overview
Intent solves the coordination problem that emerges when running multiple AI agents. Instead of juggling terminals, copy-pasting context, and tracking which branch has which changes, Intent provides a unified workspace where agents share context through a living spec.
The key innovation is the living spec: a self-maintaining document that serves as the source of truth for project goals, tasks, completed work, and decisions. As code changes, the spec updates automatically, ensuring all agents and humans work from the same context.
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Living Specs | Self-updating specs that evolve with code changes |
| Agent Orchestration | Coordinator → Specialists → Verifier workflow |
| Parallel Execution | Multiple agents working simultaneously on related tasks |
| Isolated Spaces | Git worktree-backed workspaces for each task |
| Built-in Browser | Chrome integration for previewing local changes |
| Full Git Workflow | Commit, PR, merge without leaving the app |
Product Surfaces
| Surface | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| macOS App | Desktop workspace | Public Beta |
| Windows App | Desktop workspace | Waitlist |
Technical Architecture
Intent uses a three-agent architecture by default:
- Coordinator — Analyzes codebase, drafts spec, generates tasks for specialists
- Specialists — Six personas (Implementation, Architecture, Testing, etc.) execute in parallel
- Verifier — Validates results against spec before human review
All agents are powered by Augment's Context Engine, which provides deep codebase understanding. Each workspace is backed by an isolated git worktree.
Key Technical Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deployment | Local Mac app |
| Models | Opus 4.5, Sonnet 4.5, GPT 5.2, Haiku |
| Context | Augment Context Engine (or MCP for BYOA) |
| Isolation | Git worktrees per Space |
| Open Source | No |
Strengths
- Novel paradigm — Spec-driven development is genuinely new; living specs that maintain themselves address a real pain point
- Multi-agent coordination — Agents share context via spec, not redundant prompting; Coordinator handles handoffs automatically
- Well-funded company — $472M backing from Index, Lightspeed, and Eric Schmidt reduces viability risk
- Context Engine integration — Augment's 100M-line codebase understanding provides superior context vs. BYOA options
- Resumable sessions — Close Intent, reopen tomorrow, everything exactly as you left it
- BYOA flexibility — Use Claude Code, Codex, or OpenCode if you prefer
Cautions
- Public beta — Still in beta with potential instability and missing features
- Mac-only currently — Windows on waitlist; no Linux timeline
- Learning curve — Spec-driven development is a new mental model that may take adjustment
- Best with Augment — BYOA works but misses Context Engine features; creates vendor pull
- Pricing unclear — Public beta is free; production pricing not announced
- Complex architecture — Coordinator/Specialist/Verifier model adds abstraction layers
Pricing & Licensing
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Public Beta | Free | Full features during beta |
| Augment Subscription | TBD | Context Engine + Intent |
| BYOA | Free | Use Claude Code/Codex/OpenCode |
Licensing model: Freemium expected; BYOA likely always free
Hidden costs: Augment subscription for Context Engine; agent provider costs for BYOA
Competitive Positioning
Direct Competitors
| Competitor | Differentiation |
|---|---|
| Auto-Claude | Intent uses living specs + coordinated agents; Auto-Claude is autonomous with Kanban |
| Sculptor | Intent is spec-driven with orchestration; Sculptor is merge/review focused |
| Codex App | Intent is agent-agnostic with specs; Codex App is OpenAI-specific |
| Tembo | Intent is a desktop app; Tembo is infrastructure for agent orchestration |
When to Choose Intent Over Alternatives
- Choose Intent when: You want spec-driven development with automatic agent coordination
- Choose Auto-Claude when: You prefer autonomous execution with manual task management
- Choose Sculptor when: You focus on merge workflows and code review
Ideal Customer Profile
Best fit:
- Developers working on complex, multi-component features
- Teams wanting structured AI workflows with living documentation
- Engineers comfortable with new paradigms and beta software
- Augment users wanting a native orchestration experience
Poor fit:
- Developers preferring simple prompt→code workflows
- Windows or Linux users (currently)
- Teams needing production stability over new features
- Users wanting fully autonomous, unsupervised agent execution
Viability Assessment
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Financial Health | Strong ($472M raised) |
| Market Position | Innovator/Leader |
| Innovation Pace | Rapid |
| Community/Ecosystem | Growing (Augment user base) |
| Long-term Outlook | Positive |
Augment has the resources and technical depth to make Intent a category-defining product. The spec-driven paradigm, if proven, could reshape how developers interact with AI agents.
Bottom Line
Augment Intent is the most ambitious entry in the Mac coding agent app space, introducing spec-driven development as a new paradigm for AI-assisted coding. The living spec concept addresses real coordination pain, and the multi-agent architecture is technically sophisticated.
Recommended for: Developers working on complex features who want structured AI workflows with automatic coordination and living documentation
Not recommended for: Users needing production stability, Windows/Linux developers, or those preferring simple prompt-based workflows
Outlook: Potential category leader if spec-driven development gains adoption; strong backing and technical team
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology