Key takeaways
- In-browser Claude Code with automatic page context — URL, route, controller, Livewire component, and authenticated user
- Screenshot and annotate: capture the current page and attach visual context to prompts so Claude can see what you see
- Plan/Execute workflow — safe read-only mode by default, upgrade to full permissions when the plan looks right
FAQ
What is Orca?
Orca is a Laravel Composer package that injects a Claude Code widget into every page of your app, enabling in-browser AI coding sessions with automatic page context, screenshots, and live streaming output.
How much does Orca cost?
Free to use. Requires a Claude Code subscription for the underlying AI.
Who competes with Orca?
Polyscope (also from the Laravel/Beyond Code ecosystem, but a standalone Mac app), Cursor (IDE-based agent), and Tembo (orchestration platform).
Is Orca a Mac app?
No. Orca is a Laravel PHP package that runs in your browser. It can pop out sessions to macOS Terminal, but the primary interface is an in-app browser widget.
Executive Summary
Orca is a Laravel Composer package that embeds Claude Code directly into every page of your web app.[1] It automatically captures page context — URL, route, controller, Livewire component, authenticated user — and feeds it to Claude Code sessions running in your browser with real-time streaming output. Sessions can pop out to macOS Terminal for full interactive use.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | lets-make-dev |
| Founded | 2026 |
| Funding | Bootstrapped |
| Headquarters | Unknown |
| GitHub Stars | ~2 |
Product Overview
Orca takes a unique approach: instead of being a standalone app or terminal, it's a widget that injects into your existing Laravel application.[2] Every page becomes a potential coding session with automatic context about what you're looking at.
The Plan/Execute workflow adds safety: sessions start in read-only Plan mode, and you upgrade to full Execute permissions only when the plan looks right.
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| In-Browser Claude Code | Real-time streaming output in your app's browser |
| Page-Aware Context | Automatic URL, route, controller, component, user capture |
| Screenshot & Annotate | Capture and highlight elements, attach to prompts |
| Plan/Execute Workflow | Safe read-only mode by default |
| Pop Out to Terminal | Seamlessly hand off to macOS Terminal and back |
| Auto-Login URLs | Signed URLs for Claude to browse as current user |
Product Surfaces
| Surface | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Laravel Package | Composer install, auto-injects in local env | GA |
Technical Architecture
Orca is a PHP/Livewire package that communicates with Claude Code via its stream-json protocol.[3] CSS and JS are auto-served. No JavaScript framework required.
Key Technical Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deployment | composer require make-dev/orca + php artisan migrate |
| Runtime | PHP/Laravel/Livewire |
| Model(s) | Claude Code only |
| Integrations | Laravel routes, Livewire components, macOS Terminal |
| Open Source | Yes (license unclear) |
Strengths
- Page-aware context is the killer feature — Claude automatically knows the URL, route, controller, and authenticated user; no manual context copying[1]
- Visual prompting — Screenshots with annotations let Claude see exactly what you see; unique in the Laravel ecosystem
- Zero-config setup —
composer require+migrateand it auto-injects; friction-free for Laravel developers - Plan/Execute safety — Read-only by default prevents accidental changes; explicit upgrade to full permissions
Cautions
- Laravel-only — Requires Laravel + Livewire; not usable outside the PHP ecosystem
- Claude Code only — No support for Codex, OpenCode, or other agents
- Very early — 2 GitHub stars; essentially pre-launch
- Not a parallel agent tool — Single-session, page-scoped; doesn't manage worktrees or run agents in parallel
- In-app widget, not a standalone tool — Different category than Mac desktop apps
Pricing & Licensing
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | Free | Full functionality |
Hidden costs: Requires Claude Code subscription.
Competitive Positioning
Orca is in a different category than most tools in this comparison. It's not a standalone Mac app or terminal — it's an in-app widget for Laravel developers.
When to Choose Orca
- Choose Orca when: You're a Laravel developer wanting Claude Code integrated directly into your app's browser
- Choose Polyscope when: You want a standalone Mac agent orchestrator (also from the Laravel ecosystem)
- Choose Emdash when: You want a general-purpose agent dashboard
Bottom Line
Orca is a creative approach to the coding agent problem: instead of bringing your code to the agent, bring the agent to your code. The page-aware context and visual prompting are genuinely useful for Laravel developers. But it's a niche tool (Laravel-only, Claude-only, single-session) that belongs more in the "framework-specific agent integration" category than "parallel agent desktop apps."
Recommended for: Laravel developers wanting in-browser Claude Code with automatic page context.
Not recommended for: Anyone not using Laravel, or developers needing parallel agent orchestration.
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology