Commander (Autohand)

Executive Summary

Commander by Autohand is an open-source Tauri v2 desktop app that orchestrates multiple CLI coding agents—Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini—against any git project. Unlike single-agent wrappers, Commander provides a unified interface for multi-agent workflows with workspace-aware execution, automatic worktree creation, and persistent session management. It runs on macOS (Apple Silicon/Intel) and Windows 11.

Attribute	Value
Company	Autohand AI
Released	2026
License	Open source
Platform	Tauri v2 (Rust + React)
Status	Active development

---

Product Overview

Commander solves the multi-terminal chaos that emerges when running several AI coding agents. Developers can start chats with /claude, /codex, or /gemini commands, and Commander handles output streaming, worktree creation when needed, and conversation persistence per project.

The app uses Shadcn/ui for the interface, providing file mentions, autocomplete for slash and @ commands, and a session control bar for replaying or clearing runs.

Key Capabilities

Capability	Description
Multi-Agent Chat	Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI with live streaming
Workspace Isolation	Git worktrees under .commander/ for each agent
Persistent History	Chat transcripts stored per project, resumable
Git Integration	Commit DAG, diff viewer, branch/worktree selectors
Provider Settings	API keys, models, flags with per-project overrides
Global Prompts	System prompt management across all agents

Product Surfaces

Surface	Description	Availability
macOS (Apple Silicon)	Native Tauri app	GA
macOS (Intel)	Native Tauri app	GA
Windows 11	Native Tauri app	GA
Linux	Planned	Roadmap

---

Technical Architecture

Commander is built with Tauri v2 using a Rust backend and React/Vite frontend. It wraps CLI agents, streaming their output through plan mode and parallel session tracking. Workspaces are isolated using git worktrees created under .commander/.

Project Structure

src/                     # React/Vite frontend
src-tauri/
├── src/lib.rs          # Tauri command registry
├── src/models/         # Data structures
├── src/services/       # Business logic (Git, agents, workspaces)
├── src/commands/       # Thin Tauri handlers
└── src/tests/          # TDD-required tests

Key Technical Details

Aspect	Detail
Framework	Tauri v2 (Rust + React)
Agents	Claude Code CLI, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI
Worktrees	Under .commander/ directory
Storage	tauri-plugin-store for local persistence
Open Source	Yes

---

Strengths

• Multi-agent support — Single interface for Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini; switch with slash commands
• Open source — Full transparency; community contributions welcome via TDD-required PRs
• Cross-platform — Works on macOS (both architectures) and Windows 11
• Workspace isolation — Automatic worktree management keeps agent work separate from main branch
• Persistent sessions — Close Commander, reopen later, resume conversations exactly where you left off
• TDD discipline — Strict test requirements (12+ baseline tests must stay green) ensure quality

---

Cautions

• Development maturity — Still evolving; some features marked as "what's next" in roadmap
• CLI dependency — Requires each agent CLI to be installed and authenticated separately
• Electron-adjacent overhead — Tauri is lighter than Electron but still has some resource overhead
• Linux not yet supported — Only macOS and Windows currently; Linux on roadmap
• Documentation sparse — README is comprehensive but lacks user guides

---

Pricing & Licensing

Tier	Price	Includes
Open Source	$0	Full app, all features

Licensing model: Open source

Hidden costs: Agent CLI subscriptions (Claude, Codex, Gemini) required for each provider

---

Competitive Positioning

Direct Competitors

Competitor	Differentiation
Commander AI	Autohand Commander is open source + multi-agent; Commander AI is polished native SwiftUI
Codex Monitor	Autohand supports multiple agents; Codex Monitor is Codex-only
Agentastic	Autohand is GUI-first; Agentastic is terminal-first with Ghostty

When to Choose Commander (Autohand) Over Alternatives

• Choose Commander (Autohand) when: You want open-source multi-agent orchestration
• Choose Commander AI when: You prioritize native Mac polish over multi-agent flexibility
• Choose Codex Monitor when: You only use Codex and want the deepest integration

---

Ideal Customer Profile

Best fit:

• Developers using multiple agent CLIs who want a unified interface
• Open source advocates who want transparency and customizability
• Windows users who need coding agent orchestration (limited options)
• Teams wanting to extend or customize their agent workflow

Poor fit:

• Users wanting the most polished native Mac experience
• Developers who prefer terminal-based workflows
• Teams needing production support guarantees

---

Viability Assessment

Factor	Assessment
Financial Health	Open source (Autohand backing)
Market Position	Niche (open source multi-agent)
Innovation Pace	Steady
Community/Ecosystem	Growing
Long-term Outlook	Positive

Commander benefits from Autohand's broader AI infrastructure focus. The open-source model and multi-agent flexibility create a unique position.

---

Bottom Line

Commander by Autohand fills an important gap: open-source, cross-platform orchestration for multiple CLI coding agents. While less polished than native Mac alternatives, its combination of multi-agent support, workspace isolation, and transparent codebase makes it valuable for developers wanting flexibility and customization.

Recommended for: Developers using multiple agents who want open-source orchestration, Windows users, and teams wanting to customize their workflow

Not recommended for: Users prioritizing polish over flexibility, terminal enthusiasts, or those needing commercial support

Outlook: Solid foundation with active development; success tied to Autohand's broader ecosystem growth

---

Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology