Exploring NestMux: A Tool for Running Multiple Coding Agents

In the world of programming, efficiency is key. This article dives into a tool called NestMux. This desktop application allows users to run five different coding agents simultaneously in one window. This topic is especially relevant as developers increasingly rely on AI tools to enhance their coding experience.

What is NestMux?

NestMux is a desktop application designed to run five AI coding agents: Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Copilot, and OpenCode. Each agent operates in its own terminal pane, allowing them to maintain separate accounts and git worktrees. This isolation prevents conflicts and ensures that each agent can work independently.

How Does It Work?

NestMux uses a grid layout where each cell represents a pane. Each pane is configured with specific attributes:

• id: A unique identifier for the pane.
• aiType: The type of AI agent being used (e.g., 'claude', 'codex').
• accountName: The name of the account associated with the agent.
• accountDir: The HOME directory for the pane's processes.
• cmd: The command to execute; an empty string indicates a plain shell.
• repoPath: Overrides the current working directory to point to a specific git worktree.
• borderColor: The color of the pane's border.

This structure allows for flexible management of multiple agents within the same interface.

Key Features of NestMux

1. Broadcast Functionality

One of the standout features of NestMux is its ability to send input to multiple panes at once. This is done by capturing keystrokes and writing them to the designated panes. Here’s a simplified version of how it works:

term.onData((data) => {
    const targets = broadcastMode ? panes.map(p => p.id) : [pane.id];
    targets.forEach(id => window.pty.write(id, data));
});

This means that any input you type can be sent to all agents simultaneously, making it easier to coordinate tasks. However, it’s important to note that this feature broadcasts all inputs, including control characters like Ctrl+C and arrow keys, which could lead to unintended actions if not managed carefully.

2. Resource Attribution

Attributing system resources like CPU and memory to each pane is a complex task. NestMux resolves the entire process tree for each pane during each polling cycle. This ensures that resource usage is accurately tracked, but it can be resource-intensive.

What Works and What Doesn’t

NestMux has its strengths and limitations. It successfully allows multiple coding agents to run in parallel, but there are areas for improvement. For instance, while the application saves the layout and configuration of panes, it does not save the terminal state. This means that if you restart the application, the conversation on screen is lost, although most agents can resume their sessions.

Conclusion

NestMux is an innovative tool for developers looking to leverage multiple AI coding agents in a single workspace. Its design promotes efficiency and collaboration, though it does come with some limitations regarding session persistence.

Merits

• Allows simultaneous use of multiple coding agents.
• Each agent operates in its own isolated environment.
• Simple broadcast functionality for coordinated input.

Demerits

• Does not save terminal state between sessions.
• Broadcasting includes all inputs, which can lead to issues.
• Resource attribution can be complex and resource-intensive.

Caution

This article is for educational purposes. Any placeholder values in examples should be replaced with actual values as needed. Always verify claims against the original source before relying on them.

Frequently asked questions

• What is NestMux? — NestMux is a desktop application that allows users to run multiple AI coding agents in one window.
• Which AI agents does NestMux support? — It supports Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Copilot, and OpenCode.
• How does the broadcast feature work in NestMux? — It captures keystrokes and sends them to all active panes simultaneously.
• Can I save my terminal state in NestMux? — No, the application does not save terminal state between sessions, but agents can resume their sessions.
• What are the benefits of using NestMux? — It enhances productivity by allowing simultaneous use of multiple coding agents in an isolated environment.
• What are the limitations of NestMux? — It broadcasts all inputs without checking readiness, which can lead to unintended actions.

Tags

#nestmux #codingagents #ai