Unpeel is a terminal multiplexer and agent orchestration harness designed for managing persistent developer tasks and AI coding agents. It provides a structured workspace across macOS, remote Linux hosts, and iOS devices, running agent processes independently of GUI window lifecycles so that long-running operations survive restarts, crashes, and network disconnections. Developers interact with Unpeel via a native macOS interface or a terminal UI (TUI). Both interfaces operate over shared local state files located in ~/.unpeel without relying on external databases or cloud synchronization services. The environment hosts arbitrary CLI tools and provides recognized runtime integrations for agents like Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, and Gemini, tracking busy/idle status, conversation history, and project scopes across local or SSH-connected instances. What sets Unpeel apart is its local Model Context Protocol (MCP) hub, which allows distinct agent sessions across different harnesses to communicate and delegate subtasks to each other. Additionally, Unpeel integrates an isolated browser automation layer using the host machine's existing Google Chrome installation, paired with mobile terminal control that supports push notifications and image-based markup feedback directly from iOS devices. As of version 0.3.x, Unpeel runs as a local-first system with direct peer-to-peer device connections over local networks/VPNs or via an end-to-end encrypted relay (Unpeel Link) for remote access.
Tags: agent harness, cli, coding agent, developer tools, terminal