Overview:
OpenWork is an open-source desktop application designed as an alternative to Claude Cowork/Codex. It provides a local-first interface for running agentic workflows powered by OpenCode. The project aims to make agentic processes repeatable and productized, suitable for both individual developers and teams. OpenWork can operate in host mode, running locally on a user's computer, or client mode, connecting to an existing OpenCode server. It emphasizes composability, allowing users to choose between a desktop app, a CLI host, or connectors like Slack/Telegram.
Core Features:
Host Mode: Runs OpenCode locally on the user's computer to execute agentic workflows.
Sessions: Create, select, and manage sessions for sending prompts and tracking progress.
Live Streaming: Subscribe to Server-Sent Events (SSE) for real-time updates on workflow execution.
Permissions System: Surface permission requests from OpenCode, allowing users to allow once, always, or deny.
Skills Manager: List, import, and manage installed
.opencode/skillsfolders to extend capabilities.Templates: Save and re-run common workflows, with templates stored locally.
Use Cases:
Developers who want to run agentic workflows locally: Use Host mode to execute OpenCode tasks entirely on a personal machine without a remote server.
Teams looking to standardize agentic processes: Package and share repeatable, productized workflows using templates and the skills system.
Users needing remote orchestration: Connect the desktop UI as a client to an existing OpenCode server by URL.
Debugging and troubleshooting workflows: Export runtime debug reports and developer logs from the Settings panel for bug reporting.
Why It Matters:
OpenWork repositions OpenCode's agentic capabilities from a developer-centric CLI into a composable desktop application. It offers multiple deployment options—desktop app, CLI host, or server connector—without locking users into a single interface. The local-first design means workflows run entirely on the user's machine by default, while explicit opt-in sharing enables remote scenarios. As an open-source alternative to tools like Claude Cowork, it provides a transparent, auditable, and permissioned environment for building and managing agentic processes.
