Worktree interface for parallel Agents
Orca places each feature or bug fix in its own Git worktree. Each has its own branch, files and agent terminals, keeping multiple agents from overwriting the same working directory simultaneously.
Users can run Codex, Claude Code, OpenCode, Pi or any other terminal-based CLI agent in one project. Orca displays workspace state, terminals, editors, browsers and diffs; agents still use the user's provider subscriptions and command-line tools.
The standard lifecycle includes creating a workspace, executing tasks, reviewing diffs, committing and pushing, then archiving or deleting it. All worktrees are real Git worktrees and support direct use of git status, git rebase and git cherry-pick.
Create
Work
Review
Ship
Archive / Delete
“Each worktree has its own branch, its own files on disk, and its own agent terminals.”
Orca installation and CLI verification
Choose a macOS, Windows or Linux installer from the official Orca download page. macOS also supports Homebrew; Arch Linux supports AUR installation.
brew install --cask stablyai/orca/orcaArch Linux installation
Use the AUR binary package. For other platforms or historical versions, download installers from the official page or GitHub Releases.
yay -S stably-orca-binParallel execution and diff review
Orca combines multi-agent execution, code review and remote workspaces in one product model. Create worktrees according to task isolation needs, then choose terminal, browser, mobile or SSH features.
Execute · 01
Parallel Worktrees
Isolated Git workspaces
Assign the same prompt to multiple agents, each with its own branch and files.
Observe · 02
Terminal Splits
Side-by-side terminal monitoring
View multiple agents in split panes; terminal scrollback persists across application restarts.
Review · 03
Annotate AI Diff
Inline batch feedback
Annotate lines in agent-generated diffs, then send all feedback to a specified agent for correction.
Design · 04
Design Mode
Element code context
Select browser elements to send HTML, computed CSS, a cropped image and available source locations.
Remote · 05
SSH Worktrees
Remote execution environment
Create worktrees and run agents on an SSH host while keeping the editor, diff and state interface local.
Mobile · 06
Mobile Companion
Mobile monitoring and follow-up
View agent state, receive completion notifications and send follow-up instructions from a phone.
Integrate · 07
GitHub & Linear
Tasks and review integration
Browse PRs, issues and project items in the application and create worktrees from work items.
Automate · 08
Orca CLI
Workspace automation interface
Manage worktrees, agent terminals, files, the built-in browser and scheduled automation from a shell.
Feature selection
| Task | Feature | Observable result |
|---|---|---|
| Compare implementations of one task | Parallel Worktrees | Each solution has an independent branch and diff |
| Fix a browser UI element | Design Mode | The agent receives DOM, styles and a cropped image |
| Run long tasks on a remote host | SSH Worktrees | Agents run remotely with the editor and diff shown locally |
| Send multiple inline comments to an agent | Annotate AI Diff | Comments enter one correction round as a batch |
Worktree operating principles
Parallel execution requires isolated working directories, explicit shared-file policies and human review. These rules come from the official Orca documentation.
Principle · Separate Worktree for each task
Create a worktree from an explicit base ref. After comparison, keep the selected branch; before deleting others, confirm they contain no commits you need to retain.
Source · Orca Docs / Worktrees
Principle · Explicit shared and copied paths
New worktrees do not include gitignored dependencies, caches or secrets. Use Shared Paths or worktree.sharedDirectories for large rebuildable directories, and .worktreeinclude for settings requiring separate copies.
Source · Orca Docs / Worktrees
Principle · Batch review comments
Finish inline diff comments before sending them together with Send to agent. Keep original comments after corrections, confirm each item and mark Resolve.
Source · Orca Docs / Annotate AI Diff
Principle · Decide telemetry settings first
Packaged applications send anonymous product-usage events. If policy requires disabling them, turn them off in Settings → Privacy or set DO_NOT_TRACK=1 and ORCA_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=1.
Source · Orca Docs / Privacy & Telemetry
Three Agents on the same task
This workflow follows the official "Your first 3-agent session" guide. Three agents handle the same task from the same base ref; choose an implementation using diffs and test results.
$ Operator ›
Add Repo → Select a local checkout
$ Operator ›
Create three worktrees, with start-from set to origin/main for each
fix-login-race → Claude Code
fix-login-race-2 → Codex
fix-login-race-3 → Cursor CLI
$ Operator ›
Send the same login race-condition fix request to all three agents
claude: Orca ›
Each of the three worktrees gets its own branch, terminal and diff.
$ Operator ›
Open split panes to monitor status; when complete, open each diff in turn.
$ Operator ›
Add inline comments to the candidate diff → Send to agent
ok: [Review comments resolved · checks reviewed]
$ Operator ›
Commit and push the selected branch in Orca; before deleting the other worktrees, confirm that none contains commits you need to keep.
$ Terminal › command -v orca
$ Terminal › orca status --json
“Three branches. Three diffs. Same prompt.”
Acceptance criteria
Each candidate must retain an independent diff and test evidence. After choosing, confirm review feedback has been addressed before committing the selected branch; unused worktrees must contain no unsaved commits.
Parallel workspace acceptance criteria
Desktop workspaces, automation and remote execution
After the first three-agent session, add CLI, automation, Design Mode or SSH according to need. Extend one execution area at a time and retain repeatable state checks and Git acceptance criteria.
Advanced features
1. Register Orca CLI. Open Settings → General → Orca CLI, then run orca status --json after registration. To let agents operate Orca, run npx skills add https://github.com/stablyai/orca --skill orca-cli.
2. Create an SSH target. Open Settings → SSH, add a host, test the connection and save it. When creating a worktree, change Run on to that SSH target.
3. Fix UI with Design Mode. Open the page in Orca's browser, enable Design Mode and select an element. Confirm attachments contain HTML, computed CSS and a cropped image before describing the required change.
4. Contribute to the source. Read CONTRIBUTING.md first. At the source-fetch date, the development engine was Node 24 with pnpm 10.24.0 as package manager; check the repo's current package.json before running.
Further official documentation
① Orca CLI overview: Commands for worktrees, terminals, files and browser automation. ② SSH worktrees: Connections, remote terminals, file downloads and port forwarding. ③ CONTRIBUTING.md: Source development and contribution rules.
“If it runs in a terminal, it runs in Orca.”