Key takeaways
- Purpose-built terminal for parallel agents — not just a wrapper, but a rethought workflow
- Automatic git worktree creation with environment setup scripts and notifications
- Open source (Apache 2.0), active development, small team of 3 engineers
FAQ
What is Superset?
Superset is an open-source terminal app for macOS that runs 10+ parallel coding agents with git worktree isolation and built-in diff viewer.
How much does Superset cost?
Superset is free and open source under Apache 2.0. Download from superset.sh.
Who competes with Superset?
Conductor, Claude Squad, Supacode, and Skwad offer similar multi-agent orchestration capabilities.
Executive Summary
Superset is an open-source macOS terminal built specifically for running multiple coding agents in parallel. Created by three engineers (Kiet, Avi, Satya) who "use Superset to build Superset," it focuses on git worktree isolation, notifications when agents need attention, and quick code review via built-in diff viewer.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Superset (indie startup) |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Funding | Bootstrapped |
| Employees | 3 co-founders |
| Headquarters | Unknown |
Product Overview
Superset positions itself as "a turbocharged terminal" — not just a wrapper around existing agents, but a rethought workflow for parallel development. The core insight: git worktrees are the right isolation primitive, but they're annoying to manage. Superset automates worktree creation, environment setup, and switching.
The team claims Superset "more than doubles" their productivity and that many users replace their IDE or terminal entirely with Superset because it augments existing tools rather than replacing them.
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Parallel Execution | Run 10+ coding agents simultaneously |
| Worktree Isolation | Each task gets its own branch and working directory |
| Agent Monitoring | Track status, get notified when changes are ready |
| Built-in Diff Viewer | Inspect and edit agent changes without leaving the app |
| Workspace Presets | Automate env setup, dependency installation |
Product Surfaces
| Surface | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| macOS App | Electron-based desktop app | GA |
| Homebrew | Installation via brew | Planned |
Technical Architecture
Superset is built with Electron, React, and xterm.js — the same terminal stack used by VS Code and Hyper. This provides proven PTY handling while enabling rapid feature development.
Key Technical Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deployment | Local macOS app (Windows/Linux untested) |
| Terminal Engine | xterm.js + node-pty |
| Framework | Electron, React, Tailwind |
| Build System | Bun, Turborepo, Vite |
| Open Source | Yes (Apache 2.0 License) |
Tech Stack
- Electron — Cross-platform desktop runtime
- React — UI framework
- xterm.js + node-pty — Terminal emulation (same as VS Code)
- Bun — Package manager and runtime
- Turborepo — Monorepo build system
- Drizzle ORM + Neon — Database (for cloud features)
- tRPC — Type-safe APIs
- Biome — Linting/formatting
Configuration
Workspace setup and teardown can be configured via .superset/config.json:
{
"setup": ["./.superset/setup.sh"],
"teardown": ["./.superset/teardown.sh"]
}
Setup scripts have access to environment variables like SUPERSET_WORKSPACE_NAME and SUPERSET_ROOT_PATH.
Strengths
- Thoughtful UX for Parallel Work — The team has clearly experienced the pain of juggling agents and designed around it; notifications, quick switching, and built-in diff review reduce context-switching overhead
- Agent-Agnostic — Works with Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, or any CLI agent; doesn't lock you into one ecosystem
- Active Development — Frequent releases (v0.0.68 as of February 2026), responsive team on Discord
- Dogfooding — "We use Superset to build Superset" — the team eats their own cooking daily
- Proven Terminal Stack — xterm.js + node-pty is battle-tested in VS Code; fewer edge cases than custom terminal implementations
Cautions
- Electron Overhead — Unlike native apps (Supacode, Skwad), Electron adds memory and CPU overhead; may matter for resource-constrained machines
- macOS Only (Tested) — Windows and Linux are "untested" per README; don't expect reliable cross-platform support yet
- No Issue Tracker Integration — Unlike Emdash, no Linear/Jira/GitHub Issues integration for tracking work
- Neon Database Dependency — Full setup requires Neon (Postgres) and Clerk (auth) credentials for cloud features
- Small Team — 3 engineers is lean; feature requests may move slowly
Pricing & Licensing
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | $0 | Full app, Apache 2.0 license |
Licensing model: Apache 2.0 — permissive, commercial-friendly, patent grant included
Hidden costs: Requires AI coding CLI subscriptions (Claude Code, Codex, etc.)
Competitive Positioning
Direct Competitors
| Competitor | Differentiation |
|---|---|
| Conductor | Superset has 10+ agents vs Conductor's 2; Superset has built-in diff viewer |
| Supacode | Superset works on current macOS; Supacode requires unreleased Tahoe |
| Claude Squad | Superset is GUI-first; Claude Squad is TUI (terminal-based) |
| Skwad | Superset focuses on UX/workflow; Skwad focuses on MCP agent coordination |
When to Choose Superset Over Alternatives
- Choose Superset when: You want a polished GUI with diff viewer and notification workflow
- Choose Supacode when: You want native performance (once on macOS Tahoe)
- Choose Claude Squad when: You prefer terminal-based tools and tmux
- Choose Conductor when: You want the simplest possible two-agent setup
Ideal Customer Profile
Best fit:
- Developers who run multiple agents throughout the day and want workflow optimization
- Teams exploring parallel development who prefer GUI over terminal-only tools
- Claude Code or Codex users who find raw CLI limiting
- macOS users who want active community and rapid updates
Poor fit:
- Developers on Windows or Linux who need tested support
- Resource-constrained machines where Electron overhead matters
- Teams needing issue tracker integration (use Emdash instead)
- Developers who prefer native apps to Electron
Viability Assessment
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Financial Health | Uncertain (bootstrapped, no announced funding) |
| Market Position | Challenger (good UX, growing adoption) |
| Innovation Pace | Rapid (frequent releases, responsive team) |
| Community/Ecosystem | Active (Discord community, HN engagement) |
| Long-term Outlook | Positive (strong UX focus, dedicated team) |
The Superset team has shown consistent execution since launching in late 2025. Two HN Show HN posts received positive reception (96+ points). The focus on workflow over raw features is differentiated. Main risk is sustainability without funding.
Bottom Line
Superset is the most workflow-focused option in the Mac agent orchestrator space.
Recommended for: Developers who want a polished, GUI-based workflow for parallel agent development on macOS.
Not recommended for: Windows/Linux users, teams needing issue tracker integration, or developers who prefer native apps.
Outlook: Superset's UX-first approach could win the mainstream developer market as parallel agents become standard practice. The team's dogfooding and rapid iteration create a virtuous cycle of improvement. Watch for funding announcements that would accelerate development.
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology